Commissioner Says He'll Study Putting Radio Receivers In Players' Helmets to Negate Crowd-Noise Issues

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.--Roger Goodell said today that one of the issues he's studying in his early days as NFL commissioner is whether the league should take steps to nullify the competitive advantage that some teams get from crowd noise in their home stadiums.

In an afternoon meeting with reporters at Giants Stadium, Goodell said he loves having loud, enthusiastic crowds at games but wonders whether the offenses of visiting clubs should have to suffer when their players can't hear quarterbacks' signals. Goodell said that he and members of the league's competition committee will study possible remedies, including a suggestion to place radio receivers in the helmets of other offensive players so that they can hear the quarterback over the crowd noise.

Goodell attended the New York Giants' practice today and said he will visit each of the league's other 31 teams. He is attending three games on the season's opening weekend--the league's season opener between the Dolphins and Steelers on Thursday night at Pittsburgh, the Giants-Colts game here Sunday night and the Vikings-Redskins contest Monday night at FedEx Field.

During today's news conference, Goodell said the league had completed a five-year extension of its collective bargaining agreement with its referees, meaning that the NFL will have at least six more seasons of labor peace with its officials.

He pledged to be diligent in exploring ways to improve the league's steroid-testing program but said he's seen no evidence that the NFL has a significant problem with its players using human growth hormone.

By Mark Maske |  September 6, 2006; 3:51 PM ET  | Category:  Commissioner
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