National Football League

Goodell encourages NFL teams to fairly pay cheerleaders

Published Feb. 5, 2016 8:20 p.m. ET

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he is encouraging NFL teams to properly compensate cheerleaders.

Goodell, speaking at his annual Super Bowl news conference Friday, said he respects the cheerleaders' role for each team and is discussing the issue with NFL teams on a regular basis.

Goodell says: ''The cheerleaders perform a very valuable function for us. They are very active in the communities. ... They do a lot of charitable work and they are passionate about our game. So, I think they should be properly compensated.''

In September 2014, the Oakland Raiders agreed to pay $1.25 million to settle a lawsuit alleging they failed to pay their ''Raiderettes'' cheerleaders minimum wage - and the lawsuit covered 90 members of Oakland's squad from 2010-'13. Cheerleaders from other teams have filed similar lawsuits or made formal complaints.

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