Steelers

Rooneys, NFL Meet Over Team Ownership Situation

NEW YORK (KDKA) ― With the legacy of a storied NFL franchise hanging in the balance, the five Rooney brothers met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in New York.

"We had a good dialogue - good communications about the issues at hand and I think we have a better understanding of where things are," Goodell said.

They met for two and a half hours.

"I think they all felt it was productive," he told reporters.

Goodell declined specifics but says he and three team owners in attendance made one thing clear to Dan Rooney's brothers.

"There's great respect for the Rooney family in the National Football League and we want to do everything we can to ensure the Steelers continue to be operated by the Rooneys and the way they've been operating," Goodell said.

It's acknowledged that Dan Rooney's brothers have talked about selling their interests to billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller, but the NFL appears ready to flex its muscle to protect Mr. Rooney.

"We were very clear too that this issue is subject to three-quarters vote ... as any ownership transfer is," Goodell said. "And that's something that is very important to the league and we will make sure that our league interests are respected."

The commissioner says no deadline is set but he'd like to see the issues resolved before the end of the year.

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