Since being named commissioner Sept. 1, 2006, Goodell has alienated his two largest constituencies: fans and players. Unfortunately, they don’t pay him; owners do.

Along with overseeing lockouts of players and officials, Goodell burned the evidence from Spygate, kept at least some of the evidence from the bounty scandal private, battled with retired players, and created a punishment system that at times lacks consistency and due process.

But his bosses are thrilled with Goodell and have given him a raise.

Doesn’t that kind of say it all?

Goodell and the owners operate on the premise that because money, television ratings, and the popularity of the game increase every year, they must be doing a good job.

It’s almost comical that they think that is related. Correlation does not imply causation.

But the hands of the officials are just as dirty for the travesty that was the first three weeks of the season. They wanted to keep their pensions the way they were, and to keep young and upcoming officials from taking their jobs.

So the groups charged with protecting the game — the owners off the field, and the officials on it — put their own interests ahead of it.