This day in 2006: Roger Goodell assumes duty as NFL commissioner

By JOHN DORN

It's been nine years since Roger Goodell replaced Paul Tagliabue as commissioner of the NFL. And in that time, the league surely has had its fair share of nationally newsworthy moments.

Starting with Goodell's immediate desire to be the league's ultimate decision maker, able to hand out punishments when and how he sees fit, he's ruffled feathers within the league since his very first months on the job.

These sentiments have more or less held true among the player base through his tenure, with newsworthy incidents ranging far and wide. There was the 2011 lockout -- which actually lowered the salary cap, defying inflation rates, and designated just 47 percent of league revenue to the players. The Bountygate scandal, in which he suspended various members of the New Orleans Saints organization -- though a judge and several legal experts indicated that Goodell overstepped his authority -- surely didn't help to repair his image among players.

Other newsworthy incidents include the league's maligned settlement with former players over head injuries, Goodell suspending Ray Rice for a mere two games upon learning of his domestic violence incident -- but then upgrading the suspension once video of the acts became public -- and frequent, seemingly inflated suspensions for relatively minor drug offenses (see Josh Gordon's full-season suspension for a positive alcohol test). His very public bouts with the New England Patriots, and specifically Tom Brady -- perhaps the league's most marketable player -- have certainly made rounds in the headlines, and have several people around the league with raised eyebrows.

Still, through all these newsworthy instances, the league has essentially printed its own money. The NFL spun out more than $11 billion in revenue last year, with eyes on a 10-figure revenue increase this season -- and a goal of $25 billion by 2027.

Goodell's reign as NFL king has been several things. But most importantly to the NFL, it's been profitable.

Click through the gallery above to view the commish through his years as head honcho, and watch the video below for a sincerely charitable effort by Goodell.

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