NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s handling of the NFL Draft has become a source of controversy within the NFL.
Goodell is pushing ahead with a virtual draft on the scheduled dates of April 23-25. This comes despite many teams wanting to see the event postponed. Perhaps worse, Goodell has threatened disciplinary action against anyone who publicly criticizes his decision not to postpone the draft.
That last act has particularly infuriated team personnel, according to Peter King in his “Football Morning in America” column. King says personnel are “angry” with Goodell for both the decision to go ahead with the draft, as well as his public censorship of dissent.
“Why on earth would you ever threaten an opinion?” one prominent NFL individual texted King.
Teams have voiced their opinion privately about the status of the draft. There is frustration that teams cannot scout and interview prospects due to travel restrictions. Those restrictions are in place for a good reason, but that may be more reason to just postpone the event. That won’t be happening, and there isn’t anything these personnel can do about it.
