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SPORTS Monday 25 February 2019
Goodell has wide-ranging powers to fine or suspend Kraft

By BARRY WILNER
AP Pro Football Writer
NFL Commissioner Roger
Goodell has wide-ranging
powers to discipline teams,
coaches, players, and, yes,
owners.
Pending the completion of
police investigations in Flor-
ida — and likely a league
inquiry as well — Goodell
could punish New England
Patriots owner Robert Kraft
for being charged with two
counts of soliciting a prosti-
tute.
The 77-year-old Kraft was
twice videotaped in a sex
act at a shopping-center
massage parlor in Florida,
police said Friday. The
charges come amid a
crackdown on sex traffick-
ing in which hundreds of
arrest warrants have been
issued.
Under the NFL's personal
conduct policy that states
"ownership and club or
league management have
traditionally been held to a
higher standard and will be
subject to more significant
discipline," Goodell could
fine and/or suspend Kraft
from any activities involving
the Super Bowl champions.
"It is not enough simply to
avoid being found guilty
of a crime," the policy says.
"We are all held to a higher
standard and must con- In this Nov. 19, 2017, file photo, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, right, talks with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft before
duct ourselves in a way that the Patriots face the Oakland Raiders in an NFL football game in Mexico City.
is responsible, promotes the Associated Press
values of the NFL, and is
lawful." Even though Goodell is em- was arrested near his home was arrested. footballs.
Kraft has been accused of ployed by the owners, at in suburban Carmel and Irsay drew a six-game sus- The current Kraft case, of
misdemeanor charges and a cost of about $40 million was held overnight after pension and $500,000 fine course, has nothing to do
might not be required to annually in salary and bo- he failed sobriety tests and from Goodell. with NFL play. It has plenty
perform more than com- nuses, he views the com- police found prescription Last year, Jerry Richardson to do with Goodell's use of
munity service and attend missioner's role as one pro- medications in his car. The essentially was forced to his disciplinary powers, and
a course on the harmful ef- tective of the game and police said the drugs were sell the Carolina Panthers there will be a spotlight
fects of prostitution and sex the league. If you embar- not associated with any after allegations surfaced shining brightly on whatev-
trafficking. Goodell will be rass "the shield," you are of the prescription bottles of his sexual and racial mis- er decisions he makes.q
judging whether this was punished. found inside. conduct in the workplace.
"conduct detrimental to So he doesn't often hesitate He was charged with op- Following a six-month in-
the integrity of and public to discipline wayward own- erating a vehicle while in- vestigation by the league,
confidence in" the NFL. ers, basically penalizing his toxicated, along with four he was fined $2.7 million by
He's made many such judg- bosses. felony counts of possession Goodell. Richardson, like
ments before — including Only one of them, the In- of a controlled substance; Kraft, was a confidant of
fining Kraft and the Patriots dianapolis Colts' Jim Irsay, police also found $29,009 Goodell's on league busi-
$250,000 in 2007 for filming has been suspended by in cash. He again sought ness matters.
other teams' signals, and Goodell, who replaced treatment and in Septem- In 2012, following a long
$1 million in 2014 for de- Paul Tagliabue as com- ber 2014 pleaded guilty to investigation into the New
flating footballs during the missioner in 2006. Irsay a misdemeanor count of Orleans Saints' bounties sys-
AFC title game. The "De- acknowledged having a driving while intoxicated, tem, Goodell fined Saints
flategate" case damaged painkiller addiction in 2002 agreeing to undergo drug owner Tom Benson $500,000
Goodell's close relationship and sought treatment. The testing for a year. Irsay also and stripped the team of
with Kraft, one of his trusted DEA investigated, but lo- acknowledged he was second-round draft picks in
advisers on many NFL mat- cal prosecutors did not file under the influence of the 2012 and 2013. But that was
ters, including labor and charges. painkillers oxycodone and for an on-field issue — as
broadcast rights. Then, in March 2014, Irsay hydrocodone when he was Kraft's fine for deflated