The union indicated that there could be a work stoppage in 2011, but Goodell is optimistic that a new collective bargaining agreement could be in place.
The union on Thursday indicated that there could be a work stoppage in 2011, but Goodell is optimistic that a new collective bargaining agreement could be in place before the league goes into its 2010 season -- the final year of the current deal.
"We want an agreement and I think every owner will tell you the same thing," Goodell said. "The idea that ownership would be anxious for a work stoppage is false.
"There are no benefits to that. It's a negative. If it comes down to that, we'll all have failed."
Union leader DeMaurice Smith said Thursday he thought the possibility of a lockout for 2011 was 14 on a scale of 1 to 10. Goodell wouldn't put a number on it and hoped the NFLPA executive director was wrong.
"We don't need a lot of focus on that," Goodell said about a potential work stoppage. "We need to sit down and negotiate. "We will have an agreement; it's just a matter of when. Talking about work stoppages is not going to get us there. We need to sit down and get something accomplished.
"People want solutions, most importantly our fans."
Goodell was asked why, in 2006, owners voted 30-2 in favor of the current deal, knowing that it could lead to labor strife.
"I think there are a lot owners asking the same question," Goodell remarked. "There are a lot of things we agreed to that we shouldn't have. We need to go back and get that fixed.
"Since the 2006 agreement was struck, we have generated $3.6 billion in incremental revenue, $2.6 billion of that has gone to the players. The owners are $200 million worse off than they were in 2006. The system is not working on one side of the equation and that's the point."
Goodell said the league needs an agreement that will benefit everyone, owners, players and fans.
Safety issues were again discussed, as the NFL continues to monitor the effects of concussions on players.
"Concussions have been a major focus of the league for several years and we need to continue to improve on things to make the game safer," Goodell said. "That goes for all injuries, but especially concussions. We need to make people understand that they are major injuries."
Goodell said he was happy with the idea of the Pro Bowl being played before the Super Bowl and said there could be some modifications to the process. The game will head back to Hawaii for 2011 and 2012.
"People loved the concept, having the Pro Bowl during Super Bowl week," he stated. "There are, obviously, things we will modify and try to do better."
There were many injury defections for this year's Pro Bowl, which was played at Sun Life Stadium on the Sunday between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl. The Pro Bowl selections for the Super Bowl teams were also forced to attend the Pro Bowl, arriving in advance of their own teams at the Super Bowl site.
Indianapolis' Bill Polian was unhappy with the idea, especially the injured players who needed to receive treatment at their own facilities.
Goodell also said Donte' Stallworth would be reinstated after the Super Bowl. The Cleveland Browns receiver was suspended for the entire season after killing a pedestrian with his vehicle last March.
"Donte' and I met approximately a month ago," Goodell said Friday. "We spent about 45 minutes to an hour [meeting]. I think he's in a better place than he was. I think he recognizes what he did and the unfortunate outcome. He will be reinstated after the Super Bowl on Sunday."
Stallworth spent 24 days in a South Florida jail for a DUI manslaughter conviction.
Again, Goodell was asked about the overtime rule and said he didn't think there would be changes. The New Orleans Saints beat the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game in overtime, scoring on the only possession of the extra session.
"We spent an awful lot of time looking at the overtime rule," Goodell said. "Frankly, in discussions with owners and players, we haven't been able to find a better solution. The players and coaches all support the system."
The idea of expansion or relocation of a franchise to Los Angeles was again asked and Goodell said the league is working on issues surrounding the absence of pro football in the country's second-largest media market.
Other topics included the idea of a restructured season, expanding the regular season with the deletion of preseason games that Goodell calls "not up to NFL standards." He said that issue could be addressed in the CBA negotiations.
Goodell also indicated that the league would like to return to Mexico for a regular season game. Arizona and San Francisco played the league's first regular-season game outside of the United States in Mexico in 2005, but the NFL has since played its international games in London and Toronto.
