Roger Goodell, according to a 2012 New York Times article, made a cool $44 million that year and has averaged nearly $25 million over his tenure as NFL commissioner. Now I think Roger is a nice guy, and, I don’t disagree with his decisions on fines and suspensions exacted on NFL players over the last several years. However, $25MM, are you kidding me; that’s a lot of money.

Roger Goodell is making more money than most realize

The NFL has grown into an over $10 billion business since the AFL-NFL merger in the late 1960’s. There have been lots of feel-good stories during the growth of the NFL.

However, the league has reached a point where maintenance, not growth, presents the biggest challenge for the National Football League.

Holding on to big viewership and merchandising numbers is the priority, more so than say, adding another expansion team. And, doling out fines and suspensions for domestic violence offenses, "deflate-gate," unnecessary roughness, and concussion protocol is not growing the business. Moreover, the National Football League is working on expanding interest in football while the attention brought to traumatic head injuries is working in just the opposite direction.

The National Football league is not expanding its reach

Although Roger Goodell might tell you that there is great interest in expanding the NFL internationally, It is hard to see this from where the casual American fan sits.

Usually, the games that are played in England each year, are just plain awful. Leadership in the current social environment, with player's equal treatment for all concerns, requires a stronger presence. This is a business environment in which the commissioner of the NFL needs to be a statesman and a darned good one. After hearing Roger Goodell speak to reporters outside of league offices, on October 18, one was left wanting.

In what should have been a declaration of progress following two days of league meetings, regarding players kneeling for the national anthem, his words lacked conviction at a time when firmness was needed.

Roger Goodell is not the right leader for the times

The lack of decisiveness in his public speaking and the lack of a clear vision for solving the "kneeling issue" at the start of NFL games is casting a shadow on this commissioner.

However, there is an interesting twist in this little bit of drama. It is the Dallas Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones whose feelings are hurt by Goodell and the NFL ruling that his darling running back, an alleged abuser of women, should be suspended for six games, who is shining the hottest light on Goodell.

It is in this bright light that all can see the extraordinary compensation, for a seemingly unextraordinary commissioner. The league could hire another commissioner at less than a quarter of the salary, and put the remaining $25 million toward social programs in the inner cities that may assuage player's concerns, and get them off their knees.