Richard Sherman Thinks NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is “Just a Suit”

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman is never shy about expressing his opinion. During a recent SportsCenter interview with ESPN’s Jim Trotter, Sherman gave his opinion on NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and some of the new rules the league is planning on implementing.

Goodell’s new rule proposals are often met with criticism and there’s no difference with this new one.  Back in February, Goodell recommended a rule that would result in ejections for players who committed two personal fouls during the course of a game. Sherman ripped the idea behind the proposal.

“I think it’s foolish,” he said. “But it sounds like something somebody who’s never played the game would say, something that they would suggest, because he doesn’t understand. He’s just a face. He’s just a suit. He’s never stepped foot on the field and understood how you can get a personal foul.”

Sherman was recently elected to the NFLPA executive committee and has previously served as the Seahawks’ union representative.

He was also asked why the rules governing what a catch is have generated so much controversy.

“Because you’ve got a bunch of suits doing it,” Sherman said. “Like I said before, you don’t have a bunch of guys … let Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin talk about it for about 20, 30 minutes. Maybe Cris Carter. Randy Moss, let those guys have a roundtable discussion about what a catch should be and come up with a rule.

“I guarantee you it’d be more effective than the rule they have now because those are the pass-catchers. Those are some of the best pass-catchers we’ve had. I think it’d be more straightforward and to the point. You’ve got a bunch of guys who have never played. They’ve probably touched a football to hold it out or to shake somebody’s hand, to take a picture, but they’ve never played the game.”

This is one of several rule changes the NFL’s competition committee will consider for the 2016 season.

Among eligible infractions that could result in an ejection include throwing a punch, a forearm, or kicking; using abusive, threatening, or insulting language; and using baiting or taunting acts. But if a player is penalized twice for personal foul facemasks, or personal fouls for excessive celebration, he would not be subject to ejection.

“The committee initially looked at all personal fouls, but I think the committee felt more comfortable isolating the personal foul penalty in terms of things that are directed at officials or opponents,” Blandino said, adding that game officials will be given discretion to make judgment calls on whether certain in-game actions are flagrant.