An Open Letter From NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Regarding New NFL Conduct Policy And To Say “Thank You”

Yesterday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that owners had approved a new conduct policy.  He later released this official letter to fans to address the policy and to say "Thank you".

Do you think there is real sincerity on his behalf, is he saving face, or a little a both?

Here is the official letter, as well as a link to the conduct policy, from the commissioner's office:

Dear Fans,You give so much to our game and its success. In return, as you should, you hold us to high standards, both on and off the field. We have listened and we have heard you. We hold ourselves to these high standards as well.The majority of people in the NFL are individuals of high character who make incredible contributions to the game and their communities. However, a small percentage conduct themselves improperly at times. We recognize these actions damage the entire league. We now are taking significant steps to strengthen our programs to prevent and address incidents of misconduct. Today at a league meeting in Dallas, our teams unanimously endorsed a revised and strengthened Personal Conduct Policy for all NFL employees. The policy was developed after an extensive series of meetings and discussions over the past four months with a wide range of experts and others inside and outside of the NFL, including current and former players, the NFL Players Association, domestic violence/sexual assault experts and advocates, law enforcement officials, academic experts, and business leaders. The revised policy is clear, consistent, accountable and transparent and applies to everyone including owners, general managers, coaches, players, other team employees, game officials, and all league employees. We wanted to share this revised policy directly with you as soon as possible.

 

Our communities are the heart of our teams and we put everything into making a positive impact on them. While we are stewards of the game of football, we know that virtue isn’t earned on the field alone. Character and values sits above everything else because we represent something that means so much to so many people.

 

Thank you for your passion and support of the NFL, and for helping make us better. Enjoy the rest of the season, which promises to be an exciting race to Super Bowl XLIX.