Goodell says no deal ahead for network

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday reconfirmed the league’s desire for a negotiated end to its stalemate with cable companies over the NFL Network. But during a conference call with reporters, Goodell acknowledged that “we are not about to reach a deal, and we do not anticipate reaching a deal under the current circumstances.”

He said the league is continuing to pursue legislative and regulatory relief in statehouses nationwide and in Washington.

On Thursday, NFL Network is scheduled to carry the first of eight games that will be available only to households that get the 24/7 football channel via a cable, satellite or telephone provider.

Charter, Cablevision and Time Warner Cable do not carry the channel, however, and Comcast, the nation’s largest system, has moved the network to a digital sports tier that reaches fewer than 1 million homes. Goodell said the situation isn’t likely to change in coming days because cable operators refuse to engage in substantive negotiations.

Cable operators, meanwhile, say that consumer demand for the channel is weak and not worth the 70 cents per subscriber that the league wants.

When asked whether the NFL would reverse course and agree to sell an equity stake to cable companies, as Major League Baseball recently did, Goodell said: “That’s one of the reasons why independent programmers are down talking to the FCC . . . because they’re being forced as part of their distribution [deals] to give up equity and no longer be independent programmers.”

Goodell said “everything’s a negotiation,” but, later in the day, an NFL spokesman said, “There’s no chance we are giving up equity.”

The NFL could learn as soon as Tuesday whether the FCC accepts its proposal to create an arbitration system that would kick in when there is such an impasse.

In a related development, Comcast sent a cease-and-desist letter to the NFL Network demanding that the league, including Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, stop encouraging cable customers to drop cable service and switch to satellite and telephone companies that have struck carriage agreements with NFL Network.

-- Greg Johnson

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Giants Stadium will bolster security in an effort to crack down on rowdy New York Jets fans who chant obscenely at women during halftime.

George Zoffinger, president of the agency that runs the stadium, said he would increase the 370-member stadium security force for all remaining Jets and Giants home games.

Former USC and San Diego State coach Ted Tollner rejoined the San Francisco 49ers as an assistant coach in an effort to spark the club’s miserable offense. . . . San Diego Chargers linebacker Carlos Polk was put on the injured reserve list because of a shoulder injury.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Patrick Crayton sat out practice because of a sprained left ankle and might miss the Thanksgiving game against the Jets. . . . Baltimore Ravens defensive end Trevor Pryce has a severe tear in a chest muscle and will probably be out for the remainder of the season. . . . Joey Harrington will start at quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons against Indianapolis after Byron Leftwich sat out practice because of a bruised tailbone.