Ravens receiver Derrick Mason made some pointed comments about NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently, referring to Goodell as “a joke.” And Mason isn’t backing down.
Mason appeared on ESPN2 this morning wearing a shirt with “A JOKE” printed on it, and he said that NFL players are unanimous in backing him on what he said about Goodell.
“I don’t think anybody disagreed with me,” Mason said. “Anybody that understands what’s been going on in the game of football, on the inside, not just on the outside but anyone that’s been in it, they understand that. Honestly -- I’m not saying this to disrespect him in any way -- what has he done for the game of football to move it forward? Everything that has been done has been done by Pete Rozelle, [Paul] Tagliabue, people that came before him. But the thing is, he hasn’t done anything significant to change the game of football.”
Although Mason said repeatedly that he wasn’t trying to disrespect Goodell personally, it sure doesn’t sound like he has much respect for Goodell. Mason is particularly bothered that Goodell is insisting on blood tests for human growth hormone, which Mason views as too intrusive and a distraction from the league’s real labor issues.
And Mason had one parting piece of advice for rookies who are welcomed to the NFL by Goodell at the draft: “Once you shake his hand, now you become the guy on the other side.”