NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has struggled badly over the last year or so, with both his office and his league confronted with ugly scandals. There’s been ample discussion about whether Goodell, lacking credibility and dealing with a tarnished legacy, would even be able to stay in his position.
But in football’s off-season, he’s nevertheless found some fans. Politico reported yesterday that the NFL commission will be on Capitol Hill next week for “several large-scale private meetings with House Republicans.” From the report:
On Monday, Rep. Steve Scalise is hosting Goodell at a closed meeting of his whip team, according to an invitation sent to lawmakers this week.House Republican Conference Chairman Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington State is holding what she calls a “Power House Lunch” with more than 40 lawmakers Tuesday, so they can hear leadership lessons from Goodell.
Perhaps I shouldn’t be too surprised. After all, House Republicans have turned to Dick Cheney for leadership lessons, too.
But GOP lawmakers are aware of Goodell’s recent troubles, aren’t they?
I’m reminded of this Vox report from September: “The public’s anger and frustration over the NFL’s domestic violence problem — provoked by its handling of Ray Rice’s assault on his then-fiancée (now wife) Janay Rice in February — has been focused on commissioner Roger Goodell. Women’s groups, sports commentators and former players have called for Goodell to resign.”
Soon after, HBO’s John Oliver mocked Goodell’s ineptitude, saying the commission had “lost the moral high ground to TMZ.”
In January, Goodell conceded it had been “a tough year” for him.
Perhaps House Republicans haven’t noticed?
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."