[ WP ] After 146 years , it is revealed that American Football is as fake as WWE .

*Text to: Roger Goodell ( 4/25/15 3:04PM ) 
 The owners' rep came back with $ 55 mil* 
 
 *Text to: Aaron Phillips ( 4/25/15 3:05PM ) 
 Not enough* 
 
 *Text to: Roger Goodell ( 4/25/15 3:05PM ) 
 That's not a bad number, Roger* 
 
 *Text to: Aaron Phillips ( 4/25/15 3:07PM ) 
 Considering what I'm doing for them, it is. 100 is nothing to them* 
 
 *Text to: Roger Goodell ( 4/25/15 3:07PM ) 
 Call me pls* 
 
 _____ 
 
 `` Hi.'' 
 
 `` It's not enough, Aaron. You know that. It was [ $ 44 million when the books were public ] ( http: //sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/roger-goodell-made-more-44-million-last-wait-211537621 -- nfl.html ). $ 55 million does n't approach the `` substantial'' raise they promised, never mind the fact that they do n't need to disclose it anymore. It's a flat-out'no'.'' Commissioner Roger Goodell had expected a low-ball offer from the owners on his new salary, but in his eyes a paltry $ 11 million raise went beyond simple negotiation tactics. Having spent the better part of a decade jumping through hoops for the owners, it was an insult. It was n't *just* about future value; he was owed blood money. 
 
 `` Look, Roger, I know you've been through a lot. But it's a 25 % raise. And all the other offers still stand: no controversy in the six months before you resign, a consulting job with the league, and a Hall of Fame spot in ten years. People will forget about the crap as time goes on, but nobody is going to forget about the guy who turned the league into a [ $ 12 billion, year-round monster ] ( http: //www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2015/03/09/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/NFL-revenue.aspx ). Your legacy will be secure.'' 
 
 Commissioner Goodell had stopped caring about his legacy a long time ago. Hell, he barely cared when he took over the office in 2006. The owners had been looking for someone to play a very specific role in their league, and he knew going in what that role would entail. The world was changing, and the league wanted to change with it. The internet, social media, 24-hour news coverage, reality shows, the commercialization of outrage - you could either fight against them or embrace it all. Why limit yourself to twenty Sundays when there were 365 days to take advantage of? Every story needs a villain, and the NFL needed one of their own narrative. The job description was clear: the new commissioner would need, from time to time, to be the public whipping boy to keep the league in the spotlight. Controversy, missteps, ineptitude - the owners were n't looking for a candidate free of these things, they were looking for someone *willing* to create and embrace them. A real-life `` bad guy'' that the public could unite against, talk about, and opine on. Someone who could turn a open-and-shut case of domestic abuse into two free months of news coverage. Goodell's approval rating had taken a hit, sure, but ratings and revenue went up. He was paid to act inept, and he was paid handsomely. But he had exceeded even their lofty expectations, and it was time for them to pay up. 
 
 The whole point behind the league [ dropping their non-profit status ] ( http: //www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/04/28/nfl_gives_up_tax_exempt_status_now_gets_to_hide_roger_goodell_s_salary.html ) was to give Mr. Goodell an `` under-the-table'' raise. With a wink and a nod, of course. The owners knew the public would be upset with their supposedly shady dealings, but hey - just another story for people to talk about. 
 
 `` Aaron, you know as well as I the timeline of these things. The $ 55 million does n't cut it because we both know I'm not making it through this contract. I've got, what, a couple more years before I have to resign? Maybe three? We've got to make the most of them. And you know they wo n't let me leave during a quiet period. I'll create something big, and they'll give me a week or two at most. Tell them I'm not budging.'' 
 
 `` Fine,'' Aaron responded. `` But just know they're going to be asking about what you've got on tap. Like you said, if you think we've got two years, we've got to show them it will be worth it.'' 
 
 `` Do n't worry about it. The guys are coming up with a few more things for the Brady case. And just wait til you hear what I've got planned for the summer of 2016...'' 

