Roger Goodell open to removing himself from NFL punishment process

[Donger]

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/08/us/nfl...ing/index.html

(CNN)NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is open to changing his role in how the league disciplines its players, he told the "Mike & Mike" show on ESPN2 on Tuesday.

In his first public remarks since the NFL lost in federal court in the Tom Brady "Deflategate" case, Goodell said that he is open to changes in the player disciplinary process, with the potential of setting up a panel to handle punishment of players.

The process has become "extremely time-consuming," he said. "I have to be focused on a variety of other issues, and that's what I've discussed with many of the owners over the last couple years."

Goodell said he would not be at the NFL regular-season opener Thursday night, which has the Super Bowl-champion New England Patriots hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers. He said he didn't want to be a distraction. Instead, Goodell said he'll be attending the Green Bay Packers-Chicago Bears game in Chicago on Sunday.

"The focus should be on football," Goodell said. "It should be a great night on Thursday night. I certainly don't want to be a distraction to that, but I think everyone wants to get back to football, and certainly I do."