Roger Goodell Admits During Court Testimony He Wasn't A Fan Of NFL Network Broadcasts

The NFL obviously employs Roger Goodell as its chief steward, and birthed the NFL Network as its media arm to ultimately cover and promote the league.

Except that there was a time when the league's chief steward was not thrilled with the league media arm's coverage and promotion on Thursday Night Football.

Goodell, you see, thought the NFL Network's broadcasts were lacking.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 05: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell listens to a question during a news conference ahead of Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 05, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Roger Goodell Not Thrilled With Broadcasts

And that was likely a reason the league eventually headed in a different direction.

"I had my own opinion that our production was below standards that the networks had set," Goodell said this week. 

He was referring to the standards set by CBS and FOX.

"We had not met that standard," Goodell said.

Goodell was testifying in Federal Court on behalf of the NFL (he hopes) as the league defends against a suit in which Sunday Ticket subscribers contend the league violated antitrust laws by selling the Sunday Ticket package at an inflated cost.

Oct 15, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA;  A general view of  the the Crucial Catch signage on a goalpost before a game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Stray Against NFL Network From Stand

In this suit, the NFL maintains it has the right to sell Sunday Ticket under its antitrust exemption for broadcasting. The plaintiffs say that only covers over-the-air broadcasts and not pay TV.

If the NFL is found liable, a jury could award $7 billion in damages.

Yes, big stakes. And amid those stakes, the NFL Network caught a stray from the stand.

NFL Network had the exclusive rights to Thursday night football from 2006 to 2013. The games were then split between CBS and NBC until 2017.

FOX took over the rights to the broadcasts through 2021.

And guess what?

Goodell was right. The broadcast production quality of the networks was far superior to that of NFL Network.  

Thursday night football has been on Amazon Prime Video since 2022 and although that is a streaming service that sometimes glitches or runs up to a minute behind live action, the telecast's production is otherwise good both before, during and after games.

Jun 10, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Bryant Gumbel speaks during the Muhammad Ali Memorial Service at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Network Crew Endured Criticism

During its early years, the NFL Network had Bryant Gumbel, Cris Collinsworth, and Dick Vermeil as its broadcast team. 

Gumbel, who had never served as a play-by-play man, had his work on NFL Network criticized over a perceived lack of knowledge about the game.

Gumbel lasted only two years before stepping down.