NEW YORK (AP) — A few years into Roger Goodell's tenure as NFL commissioner, a grad school professor polled students on who was the most effective leader in the major sports. Goodell romped.
That was before the league locked out the players in 2011. Before the Saints' bounties scandal. Before the behavior of Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson — and so many others — led to a stricter player conduct policy.
Before game officials were locked out. Before Tom Brady's suspension in "Deflategate." And before issues over head trauma and concussions brought player safety questions to the forefront.