National Football League

Roger Goodell's reign as NFL commissioner has never been stronger

Published Dec. 12, 2014 5:48 p.m. ET

Alex Marvez

His reputation was sullied along with that of the multibillion-dollar league he is paid to govern.

His standing as the NFL's judge, juror and jailer was rocked to its core.

His future as the most powerful commissioner in professional sports was cast in doubt.

But none of this ultimately mattered.

Roger Goodell not only is staying put. He has as much power as ever.

The Ruler's Back — and even Jay Z could admire the hustle that Goodell has pulled off.

Any remaining thoughts or hopes that Goodell's eight-year reign would end were put to rest this past week.

First, Goodell's ultimate authority over disciplinary matters was reinforced Wednesday with the unveiling of the league's new player/employee conduct policy. Further reaffirmation came Friday when an arbitrator upheld Goodell's decision to indefinitely suspend Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson following his no-contest plea to a child-abuse charge against his four-year-old son.

Goodell refused to relinquish any of his clout over such matters when the league jostled with the NFL Players Association over a new labor pact in 2011. He isn't about to now after surviving the Ray Rice scandal.

That's because the owners aren't making him do so and the NFLPA has insufficient juice to force a change.

To his credit, Goodell has helped raise off-field player accountability during his commissionership. That probably wouldn't have happened without the personal-conduct policy Goodell instituted in 2007 (with the NFLPA's blessing, I might add). Cincinnati cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, New York Jets quarterback Michael Vick and ex-Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson are among those who benefited from Goodell's heavy hand when trying to get their personal lives in order.

Goodell, though, got in way over his head the past few years with rulings that were inconsistent and arbitrary in nature. His suspensions of four New Orleans Saints players in the "Bountygate" scandal were overturned by predecessor Paul Tagliabue, who was assigned to handle the appeals after Goodell removed himself from the process under heavy pressure. Goodell was shot down again last month when Rice won his appeal of an indefinite NFL suspension stemming from the running back's domestic-violence incident with his now-wife Janay.

The Rice scandal also revealed how much of a blind eye Goodell had turned toward domestic violence during his commissionership. USA Today reported that 57 players were arrested or convicted on domestic-violence charges from 2006 through early this season yet most received a slap on the wrist from the NFL.

Considering the public embarrassment and image damage suffered by the NFL this fall, Goodell's mistakes should have led NFL owners to take away his sheriff's badge. Instead, Goodell was just given a different caliber of gun by those whose coffers he continues to help fill. The league announced Wednesday that a "special counsel for investigations and conduct" will now oversee initial discipline with Goodell hearing the appeals.

The NFLPA was furious at this shuffle and equally angry at the Peterson ruling. Goodell's indefinite suspension was upheld as well as the subjective claim that the running back hadn't shown enough "remorse or appreciation for the seriousness of his actions." Peterson now isn't eligible for reinstatement until April 15, 2015 and must complete league-mandated steps that include counseling by a league-appointed psychologist.

The players union issued a statement claiming the process was poisoned because arbitrator Harold Henderson once worked for the NFL and that the Collective Bargaining Agreement was violated with Peterson not receiving due process.

"Our union is considering immediate legal remedies," the NFLPA said.

I don't expect Goodell will lose any sleep over it. His nightmare is over.