Goodell: NFL prospers from listening, learning

"When you have people working together, listening to one another and that
level of respect, I think everyone feels better," Goodell said as the NFL fall
owners meetings wrapped on Wednesday.

Goodell said overall quality and competitiveness are up across the league with
a margin of victory on pace to be the third- or fourth-closest in NFL history.

While some are concerned with growing protection of quarterbacks, Goodell said
the focus on player safety is coming through in every game.

"People are focusing on football and the great play of the quarterbacks. The
safety of the game is better. The quality of the game is better," Goodell
said.

Goodell said he is proud of the collective work the league and union have done
on social justice issues.

"The focus has been on the efforts the players have brought in their
communities and they are working on the issues to make their communities
better. That's where our focus is," he said.

Goodell was upbeat discussing offensive numbers and officiating, which he said
are at some of the highest levels ever.

Players are healthy, as are viewer ratings, which Goodell chose to focus his
attention on Wednesday.

In other news:

--Owners did not discuss the future of the Seattle Seahawks following the
unexpected death of team owner Paul Allen. Speculation from the Los Angeles
Times indicated a cross-ownership policy ended by the NFL could be designed to
open the door for former Microsoft executive Steve Ballmer, who owns the Los
Angeles Clippers, to purchase the Seahawks and potentially move the NBA
franchise to the city.

"We didn't have any discussion of it. We think it's inappropriate at this time
to be having those discussion," Goodell said. "The Seahawks, Paul Allen made
plans, and there will be a time for those discussions."

A succession plan was not made public. Allen never married and has no
children. He has one sister.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the league as a whole expects the Seahawks to
stay in Seattle.

"I can't imagine the Seahawks not in Seattle. That hasn't even been a thought.
As a matter of fact, he was instrumental in establishing that certainty. It
would really be a little unjust -- the thing he did the most for in Seattle
was to stabilize that franchise. We are really going to miss him. He had such
influence in the league. I was certainly influenced by my interaction with
him. ... When we get someone of his stature to join ownership in the NFL, I
just completely throw a party."

--The Raiders are in limbo for 2019, Goodell said, saying he has not yet heard
how negotiations with the city of Oakland are progressing for the Raiders to
play one more season at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

"We know they are in the midst of negotiation," Goodell said, adding he
received an update on progress on the stadium construction project in Las
Vegas, where the Raiders are expected to relocate in 2020.

--Field Level Media