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NEW YORK (AP) – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the recession has helped build TV audiences for NFL games.

We’ve seen NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell interviewed in a variety of contexts and settings.  In a new video interview with William C. Rhoden of the New York Times, Goodell faces questioning in a Harlem barber shop. The topics range include Goodell’s contention that the game has been safer and still more exciting, the proper techniques…

SAN FRANISCO — Another power outage has knocked out the lights at Candlestick Park, raising questions about what would happen if play could not continue. The 2011 NFL rulebook covers that situation. “If the game must be called due to a state or municipal law, or by darkness if no lights are available, an immediate report shall be made to the Commissioner by the home club, visiting club and officials,” the rulebook states. “On receipt of all reports the Commissioner shall make a decision which will be final.

The Press Gazette reports Green Bay Packers LB Erik Walden was charged this morning with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, not the felony substantial battery for which he was arrested in November. The charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, is based on a Nov. 25 dispute between the 26-year-old Walden and his live-in girlfriend in their town of Lawrence apartment. Walden did not appear in Brown County Circuit Court this morning, but his lawyer, Steve Richards, entered a plea of not guilty on Walden’s behalf. Court Commissioner Lawrence Gazeley scheduled the matter for a Dec. 27 hearing. Walden remains free on a $1,000 signature bond.

CBS Sports reports the NFL has suspended DT Ndamukong Suh for two games without pay for unsportsmanlike conduct in the Lions’ Thanksgiving loss to the Packers. Suh joins DT Albert Haynesworth as the only players during Commissioner Roger Goodell’s tenure to be handed multi-game suspensions without pay. Haynesworth’s 2006 five-game suspension was also for a stomping offense. The terms of DT Ndamukong Suh’s suspension dictate that he may not practice or use team facilities until he is reinstated Dec. 12. Suh can appeal the suspension if he chooses. The league has indicated that any appeal hearing would take place before Sunday night’s nationally-televised game vs. New Orleans. The NFL said Thursday’s stomping incident was DT Ndamukong Suh’s fifth violation of on-field rules that has resulted in league discipline. Three of his four previous violations — hits on then-Browns QB Jake Delhomme, Bears QB Jay Cutler and Bengals QB Andy Dalton — were public knowledge. The origin of the fourth violation is unknown.

NBC Sports reports since 2006, the NFL has had the ability to shift late-season Sunday afternoon games to Sunday night. On Friday, Commissioner Roger Goodell said that the next wave of broadcast contracts, starting in 2014, could entail an earlier flexible scheduling option. ‘As we look toward extending our television agreements, there’s an idea that we would have some more flexibility between our partners to allow our games to be put into different time slots, and maybe start flex scheduling earlier in the year,’ Goodell told Darren Rovell of CNBC Sports Biz: Game On, via NFL.com. Though it’s in the league’s best interests to have the ability to, for example, dump the Colts-Saints game from primetime after it became obvious that QB Peyton Manning wouldn’t play, the move also adds value to the Sunday night package, currently held by NBC. Shifting out a bad game and replacing it with a good game translates to higher ratings, and thus increased revenues. In turn, an earlier flex option impacts the value of the daytime packages, currently held by FOX and CBS. The real question is whether flex scheduling ever would extend to Monday night. Given that ESPN already has extended its deal deep into the decade without any type of flex option, if flexible scheduling ever happens on Monday night it won’t be happening any time soon.

Since 2006, the NFL has had the ability to shift late-season Sunday afternoon games to Sunday night. On Friday, Commissioner Roger Goodell said that the next wave of broadcast contracts, starting in 2014, could entail an earlier flexible scheduling option. “As we look toward extending our television agreements, there’s an idea that we would have…

ESPN reports Commissioner Roger Goodell met with Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike Tomlin and the football staff on Thursday to review on-field issues that have been the focus of discussion recently, according to a source. Those attending were Tomlin, Goodell, executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson, vice president of officiating Carl Johnson, vice president of football operations Merton Hanks, competition committee member Jeff Fisher and deputy appeals officer Art Shell. Several Steelers have been fined for their play the past two seasons. S Ryan Clark’s hit on Ravens TE Ed Dickson two weeks ago resulted in a $40,000 fine. Clark disagreed with the fine.

In the wake of last week’s disclosure by Steelers safety Ryan Clark that the hit for which he was fined $40,000 previously had been shown to the team by coach Mike Tomlin as an example of the proper way to dislodge the ball, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell met Thursday with Tomlin and Steelers owner Art…

On November 9, 2010, Steelers safety Troy Polamalu incorrectly explained that appeals of fines imposed for illegal hits are resolved by the Commissioner’s office. Polamalu was incorrect.  The appeals are handled by two men who were jointly appointed and who are jointly paid by the NFL and NFLPA:  Art Shell and Ted Cottrell. Exactly one…