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Roger Goodell, Jeff Pash follow through on vow to slash salary to $1

Bears Vikings Football

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks at a news conference before an NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears Monday, Dec. 20, 2010, in Minneapolis. The game is being played at the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium because of damage to the Metrodome roof. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

AP

In January, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and chief negotiator Jeff Pash promised to cut their pay to an annual salary of $1 during a work stoppage. They’ve followed through.

The Associated Press reports that Goodell, who makes about $10 million a year, and Pash, who makes about $5 million, are both going down to $1 until the lockout is over.

But Goodell and Pash are far from the only ones: Everyone who works at the league office in New York, at NFL Films, at NFL Network and at NFL.com is getting a 12 percent pay cut. Those folks make a lot less than $5 million a year.

I’m not sure how exactly a $1 salary works: Will Goodell and Pash get paychecks for two cents each week while the lockout is going on? Furthermore, I’m not sure how relevant the $1 annual salary really is: The owners may give Goodell and Pash a nice fat bonus check if they’re able to resolve the labor situation in a way that is good for the owners’ bottom line.

So this sounds more like a PR move than a real sacrifice.