Goodell Asks if It’s a Conflict of Interest NFL Works with Robert Mueller’s Law Firm

NN FEMALE REPORTER: "I’m not going to discuss the integrity of the ex-director of the FBI. I could leave it as a given that he’s a man of integrity."

GOODELL: "Yes."

NN FEMALE REPORTER: "But the law firm that he works for and that will help him carry out that investigation is a law firm with extremely close ties to the NFL. You guys paid that law firm recently to help you negotiate some television deals. The president of the Ravens, who will be key in this whole investigation, worked at that law firm for more than 30 years. Why hire someone with even the appearance of impropriety and how do you expect this to affect everything?"

GOODELL: "Rachel, I would respectfully disagree because you now are questioning the integrity of the director of the FBI. Yes, that firm’s represented us in the past, but they have also been on the other side in litigation against the NFL. So this is a highly respected individual that’s served as director of the FBI, the longest serving director in the history of that position. His credentials are unparalleled, unquestioned."

NN FEMALE REPORTER: "But part of the idea I guess is to restore public trust. So even if he does a flawless investigation, isn’t there an element here of your leaving the door open for doubt?"

GOODELL: "Rachel, unfortunately we live in a world where there’s a lot of litigation. There are a lot of law firms, a lot of people that have had maybe some interaction with us in the past. Robert Muller has not. Law firms may have. But we were hiring Robert Muller and his credentials and his credibility to do an independent investigation reporting to the owners, and I’m confident that will be the case."