The NFL held its first-ever game in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday night when the Los Angeles Rams took on the San Francisco 49ers. Ahead of the game, which was broadcast by Netflix, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell appeared on the streamer’s pregame show to talk to studio host Elle Duncan.
During the segment, Goodell addressed the situation surrounding San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York, who was arrested in East Palestine, Ohio, and was initially charged with engaging in prostitution, but it was later amended to disorderly conduct. The 49ers owner pleaded no contest to the reduced charges after allegedly responding to a prostitution ad, offering to pay $140 for sex at an Ohio trailer park.
Goodell confirmed that the NFL’s investigation is still ongoing and that when it wraps, the league will make an announcement.
“When we get it completed, we’ll obviously make an announcement at that point in time,” he told Duncan.
Ironically, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers defended York in a podcast interview with teammate Cam Heyward that aired on Thursday, taking umbrage at ESPN’s coverage of York’s situation, while largely avoiding the scandalous relationship between Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel.
“Let’s see, the owner of the Niners, yeah, solicited a prostitute for $140 in Ohio. That literally was the number one topic,” Rodgers said. “When you click on ESPN.com, they will rotate the 8 stories or whatever they have, but they usually have the one story that’s featured. That was the featured story.
“So you’re bringing how many millions of eyes to that situation? Why do you want to throw Jed York under the bus? I don’t know. But does that have the same effect as a reporter who has intimate relations with a coach who has a vote for MVP, has a vote for Coach of the Year?… The fact that ESPN spent zero time on that story, but Jed York gets popped in San Fran, it’s literally on the top of their, of their roll right now. That’s hypocrisy.”
Former NFL stars Michael Irvin and Shannon Sharpe also defended York. Only time will tell what Goodell thinks of the situation, but it’s hard to imagine him feeling similarly to the players.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.