Joe Horn really, really doesn’t like Roger Goodell.
In a new interview with former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Joe Horn, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell comes in for harsh criticism with the player warning young, up-and-coming prospects to beware.
The 43-year-old retired player engaged in a long-ranging interview with Melissa Jacobs for her TheFootballGirl.com website on May 26. The interview was part of her “NFL Afterlife” series. In the interview Horn spoke of his businesses, his success in New Orleans, and other topics, but of real interest is his negative view of NFL commissioner Goodell.
The four-time Pro Bowler was quite dour on the commissioner, saying directly that he doesn’t like what Goodell is doing in the NFL, especially the frequent and massive fines on players.
Here’s what I don’t like. I don’t like what Roger Goodell is doing. He has so much power that he can almost shut people down. I just don’t like him. And I don’t like that on draft day these kids don’t know that they’re hugging the devil. I hate to see kids that are lost and then happy but they really don’t know that the man they’re hugging will rip their throat apart. If he has an opportunity to take money from them, or there’s a situation where they’re guilty before they go to court, he’ll rip them apart. And there’s nothing no one can do about it. If the owners are happy with Roger Goodell, the fans, the media, no one can take his job from him. I hate it.
Horn went on to pointedly state that Goodell does not work for the players but instead owes his fealty to the owners. Horn also felt that sportscasters won’t criticize Goodell because they are afraid of him.
“First of all, people need to understand he works for the owners and understands his power,” Horn added. “People like Cris Carter and Chris Berman—who can usually say what they want—they can’t say anything bad about Roger Goodell or he’ll cut their throats.
“They’re going to kiss his ass, too. They know their job could be snatched away by his power,” the former player concluded.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com
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