STATEMENT BY COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL:
We had a very constructive 2 ½ -hour meeting today. I think everyone now has an even better understanding of the issues, which focus on the league's gambling policy as it relates to ownership, our 30 percent equity rule for principal owners, and the Rooney family issues.
There are also important league interests that are involved because the NFL owners are partners collectively in the NFL and our rules require that all ownership transfers be approved by three-quarters of the owners. So I thought it would make sense on that basis to have NFL owners involved in the meeting and I invited Tom Benson, Mike Brown, and Jerry Richardson to participate, which they did.
Today was another step in the process. We will continue the dialogue and I am optimistic that we will bring it to a resolution in the near future.
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