(Stacy Revere via Getty Images)
Roger Goodell has no better opportunity to make a grand entrance than when he takes the stage each year for the NFL Draft. While the NFL commissioner did his best to endear himself to the crowd at Lambeau Field, he was quickly upstaged by former Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews.
Goodell took the stage riding a bicycle, which some might have found endearing. But in keeping with NFL Draft tradition and NFL fan sentiment, the crowd in attendance booed the commissioner. However, the jeering of Goodell quickly subsided as he led a parade of former Green Bay stars pedaling bicycles on stage.
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Following Goodell across the stage and to the podium were Matthews, Jordy Nelson, Mason Crosby, Ahman Green and James Jones, along with Packers fan Lil’ Wayne.
However, what appeared to be a warm moment for Packers fans and NFL Draft diehards soon approached the danger of a cringe moment when Matthews took the microphone and said he just got off the phone with President Donald Trump, who had a message to pass along to “all 32 NFL franchises” and the audience watching the event.
A message from President Trump? What could he possibly say? TV producers for ESPN, ABC and NFL Network were surely dreading what might follow. How would the crowd react? What uproar would result on social media? Did Goodell know what was about to happen?
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Matthews seemed pretty excited about what was to come. The six-time Pro Bowl linebacker then took a piece of paper from an envelope and unfolded the memo to create more suspense for the moment.
“My fellow Americans,” Matthews said, “The Bears Still Suck!”
Matthews then held the message for cameras to see, and those four words were indeed typed out in large, bold font.
There was probably no better way to win over the crowd at Lambeau Field and throughout Wisconsin than taking a shot at the Packers’ hated rival, the Chicago Bears. Those two franchises and their respective fan bases have clashed for nearly 100 years.
Perhaps Goodell should’ve tried that instead of riding the bicycle, but the NFL commissioner couldn’t be seen publicly declaring that one of the league’s 32 teams “suck.” A beloved former Packer who played with the team for 10 seasons was a far better messenger. What a kickoff for the 2025 NFL Draft.
