National Football League

Report: Goodell interviewing players about locker-room conduct

Published Feb. 17, 2014 11:08 a.m. ET

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has already reportedly been looking into professionalism in the locker room, meeting with players over the past 60 days.

According to Peter King at MMQB.com, Goodell met with more than 30 players asking them about making the locker room a more professional place.

Philadelphia wide receiver Jason Avant reportedly told Goodell that the commissioner needed to set standards "to make it black and white," and if players fail to meet those they are not part of the game, later confirming those comments with King.

These meetings came prior to the release of the Ted Wells report into the alleged bullying of Dolphins Jonathan Martin by teammate Richie Incognito last week. The report deemed that Martin had been the victim of bullying.

Vice president of player engagement Troy Vincent told King that players should have a code in line with that of other members of a football organization, including executives and coaches.

"I think you'll see workplace training conducted for the football side," Vincent said in the report. "The kind of respect-at-work training that happens on the second floor, in the business offices, needs to happen on the first floor, with the players."

He added that he'd like to see a group formed to discuss issues and solutions and for teams to begin workshops to train players and employees on issues including sexual orientation, diversity, domestic violence and professionalism in the workplace.