NFL Commissioner Fires 169, Takes 20% Pay Cut

National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell has taken a pay cut of more than 20%, and eliminated of 169 staff jobs.

Goodell took a voluntary cut from the $11 million salary plus bonuses he was to receive for 2008, and agreed to freeze his salary for 2009 along with other executive staff.

The job cuts, made in response to the struggling economy, represented 15% of NFL staff and affected the New York business office; NFL Films in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey; and the NFL Network and NFL.com production in Los Angeles.

They were made through a combination of buyouts, layoffs and open jobs not filled.

The league said it had reduced its projected 2009 expenses by 20%.

Other steps addressing the economic meltdown include staff reductions by clubs, with more than 200 announced so far; a reduction in playoff ticket prices by 10%; and a freezing of 2009 ticket prices by three-quarters of the teams.