ATLANTA -- Roger Goodell came to town to help christen the new home of the Atlanta Falcons. But the NFL commissioner also left with an update about his contract talks.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who chairs the league’s compensation committee that recommends the commish's salary, said he told Goodell that an ESPN report suggesting that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has slowed down the process of finalizing his new contract was “mischaracterized.”
“The committee, including Jerry, is really in a good place,” Blank told USA TODAY Sports following the Falcons’ 34-23 victory against the Green Bay Packers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “I told that to the Commissioner tonight and I sent a note to the committee earlier.
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“We’re working within the structure of what the ownership wanted us to do. Sometimes, it takes a little bit of time, it’s a little bit of a complexity. It’s an important contract for the league, it’s an important contract for the commissioner. Jerry’s been positive, as have all the owners on the committee. It takes time to work through some issues, questions and things of that nature. But we’re in a good place.”
Goodell’s current pact expires in 2019. Last month, the SportsBusiness Journal reported that he's in line for a five-year extension, believed to be in the range of previous packages that have exceeded $30 million in annual pay (including salary and bonuses).
Jones maintained to reporters in Denver on Sunday that he is a strong supporter of Goodell.
“All of that is without substance,” Jones said of the reports.
But questions about his relationship with the commissioner have intensified in recent months amid the continuing Ezekiel Elliott saga. The Cowboys running back is legally challenging the six-game suspension that Goodell slapped on him for violating the league’s domestic violence policy. Jones has vehemently supported Elliott and openly questioned the NFL’s process for discipline.
That would seemingly provide Jones a motive for pumping the brakes on a new deal for Goodell.
Blank, though, disputes that theory even while insisting that Jones has indeed impacted the process. No, Jones didn’t muscle his way onto the compensation committee. Blank said that he invited him to join the group as an ad-hoc member for the specific purpose of addressing Goodell’s contract.
“He has a perspective and a voice that’s important to be heard,” Blank said, “and I think he’s been very helpful in that regard. He’s not overstepping anything. He’s been a good committee member for this purpose. He’s added value.
“I’ve talked to him, Lord knows how many times ... so we’re in a good place.”
The compensation committee — it includes the Kansas City Chiefs' Clark Hunt, New England Patriots' Robert Kraft, Houston Texans' Bob McNair, New York Giants' John Mara and Pittsburgh Steelers' Art Rooney — will ultimately make a recommendation on Goodell’s salary for the entire group of NFL owners to accept or reject.
Pressed on Jones' influence, Blank was careful to name each of the other members of the committee as having similar weight.
“They all ask good questions, they all have good input,” he said.
The committee will have a conference call Wednesday, Blank said, but he doesn’t expect the deal will be finalized at that point.
“That’s the next step,” he said. “But I thought the (ESPN) report was off base, and I wanted Roger to know that tonight when I saw him.
"I’m not sure where they were coming from, because the committee is very solid in terms of our commitment to the process we’re involved in. And both sides would like to get this completed as soon as possible. But it takes a little bit of time.”
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Follow NFL columnist Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell
