Roger Goodell Will Cut Salary To $1 If Lockout

NEW YORK — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will cut his salary to $1 if there is a work stoppage after the collective bargaining agreement expires in March.

Goodell, who makes about $10 million a year including bonuses, said in a memo to his staff Wednesday that chief negotiator Jeff Pash will do the same. Pash makes nearly $5 million a year.

Goodell also has asked the league's compensation committee to delay any bonus payments to him until after a deal is reached with the NFL Players Association.

"Let me emphasize that we are fully committed to doing everything possible to reach a new collective bargaining agreement without any disruption to our business," Goodell said. "The entire senior leadership team stands with me in its commitment to resolving the CBA issues with the player's union.

"While several other executives have also volunteered to make additional reductions to their compensation, I have asked them not to take that step at this time as we continue our negotiating efforts."

NFL owners opted out of the agreement in 2008.

Union chief DeMaurice Smith has predicted the owners will lock out the players after the March 4 expiration of the contract with the league. Smith tweeted in reaction to Goodell's pledge: "NFL executives reducing salaries in the event of a lockout? If we have a deal by Super Bowl, I'll go down to 68 cents."

NFLPA communications director Carl Francis was not impressed by Goodell's memo.

"I have been around long enough to know that this decision is irrelevant to the process," Francis said. "He should also guarantee there won't be a lockout."

Comments

[Thomas Bradley]

04:49 PM on 01/27/2011

As tyrants go, for $1 Roger would be quite a bargain.

[Nutcase]

03:34 PM on 01/27/2011

Don't let him cut in line ahead of you for food stamps.

[MBG-9]

02:00 PM on 01/27/2011

The media are going to side with the owners all the way on this, just like they did in '82 and '87. They're already calling the lockout a potential "work-stoppage." Etc. etc.

[RTFanatic]

12:40 PM on 01/27/2011

It's no sacrifice for Goodell. He doesn't need the money.

[Design4you]

01:50 PM on 01/30/2011

I disagree. When it comes to earning potential, enough is never enough. Especially when we're talking about pro sports.

[OneTop]

02:11 AM on 01/27/2011

Hey Roger .... just quit and I will give you $2.00

Double your money ... just like that.

[smolensk-lies]

12:48 AM on 01/27/2011

his burning of the spygate tapes likely saved the NFLs ability to continue to practice its illegal monopoly. well done rog

[vu jade]

11:37 PM on 01/26/2011

You know you've made it, and "earned" alot of money when you can tell people, I'll take a salary of a BUCK.

Come to think of it, wasn't that what those bankers said?

[ErikW65]

11:26 PM on 01/26/2011

Since "the bonus paid to Goodell after the CBA is finalized easily could be inflated to compensate him for his lost compensation*" I'd be more impressed if he actually pledged to give it to the stadium workers. If he only takes a dollar,that's just that much more money the league has available to them if there is a work stoppage!

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/26/goodell-pash-will-reduce-their-pay-to-1-in-event-of-work-stoppage/

[Rocktopus]

10:55 PM on 01/26/2011

Tell ya what, Roger: Just fire yourself and we'll forget the whole thing.

[okakura]

08:00 PM on 01/26/2011

An empty, symbolic gesture which the player's union will certainly ignore.

[Rush 2112]

06:25 PM on 01/26/2011

Yawn......

[wespenn56]

05:51 PM on 01/26/2011

Big freakin' deal...he made over $10 million with bonuses this year.

[Rush 2112]

06:26 PM on 01/26/2011

I think he will have enough to get by on.

[thinkingwomanmillstone]

05:19 PM on 01/26/2011

I think the NFL, the owners and the players are discounting what a lockout will do to their fan base. Millionaire players and owners and negotiators are whining and sniping at each other as if their families will not eat. They charge an arm and a leg for tickets that an average person can not afford. The country has real economic issues and they are willing to put an additional burden by laying off thousands of people who work in the stadiums, who supplies the stadiums, who work for the teams. Both sides are spoiled ungrateful brats. Sit down and think about how fortunate and privileged you are. Then settle the stupid contract.

[ErikW65]

11:31 PM on 01/26/2011

I hear your frustration but don't forget the owners unilaterally voided the current contract. The players have suggested continuing to work under the current terms until a new deal can be reached, but some owners hate the current CBA more than they want to have a 2011 season.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/17/king-some-owners-would-rather-lose-season-than-keep-current-system/

[Please-Play-Fair]

04:21 PM on 01/26/2011

ridiculous?  Not even close.  Is it a committed to his job pledge?  Absolutely.  Most people who despise big business should applaud leaders that do this stuff.  Steve Jobs takes a $1.  Scharzenegger took a $1 as governor.  How does one fault the integrity?

[Winthorpe]

04:37 AM on 01/27/2011

Thank you, I'm struggling with those questions as well.

[roger g]

06:17 AM on 01/27/2011

It's easy to say you will work for a dollar a year when you have millions in the bank to fall back on--just like our congress who while making a few hundred thousand and mostly being millionaires would not give even a 13 week extension to the 99ers--Hard to applaud those whose greed made them wealthy in the first place.

[Please-Play-Fair]

12:13 PM on 01/27/2011

He didn't have to make the commitment.  Liberals take such issue with people who are financially successful.  You get mad because somebody has made money.  Maybe try to figure out how to do the same vs whining about the fact that someone else has found a way to earn it.

[Jo Kurrent]

02:55 PM on 01/26/2011

Well, at least one good thing will come out of a lockout, if it happens... Goodell will finally be making what he's worth.