NEW YORK — The NFL shouldn’t be contemplating dropping Unhealthy Bunny as its Tremendous Bowl halftime headline performer, commissioner Roger Goodell stated Wednesday, reaffirming a choice to place the Grammy-winning Puerto Rican artist on the league’s largest stage, which led to criticism from President Donald Trump and a few of his supporters.
Goodell addressed the Unhealthy Bunny controversy at his information convention following the NFL’s fall assembly. It’s the first time he has commented on the transfer introduced in late September that garnered worldwide consideration, together with a rise in streams of Unhealthy Bunny’s music, together with backlash.
“It is fastidiously thought via,” Goodell stated. “I am undecided we have ever chosen an artist the place we did not have some blowback or criticism. It is fairly onerous to do when you have got actually tons of of hundreds of thousands of individuals which might be watching.”
The 31-year-old Unhealthy Bunny, born Benito Antonio MartÃnez Ocasio, has been vocal in his opposition to Trump and his insurance policies. He determined to do a 31-day residency in Puerto Rico, avoiding stops within the mainland U.S., citing issues concerning the mass deportation of Latinos.
He performs in Spanish and is predicted to take action on the Tremendous Bowl.
“We’re assured it is going to be an important present,” Goodell stated. “He understands the platform that he is on, and I feel it is going to be thrilling and a united second.”
Tremendous Bowl LX can be held Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It’s unclear if Trump plans to be there, although he has made showing in particular person at main sporting occasions a major a part of his second time period within the White Home.
Trump in an interview on conservative information community Newsmax stated he had “by no means heard of” Unhealthy Bunny.
“I do not know who he’s,” Trump stated. “I do not know why they’re doing it. It is, like, loopy. After which they blame it on some promoter they employed to choose up leisure. I feel it is completely ridiculous.”
Goodell defended the choice Wednesday, explaining it was made due to Unhealthy Bunny’s immense recognition.
“He is one of many main and hottest entertainers on this planet,” Goodell stated. “That is what we attempt to obtain. It is an necessary stage for us. It is an necessary ingredient to the leisure worth.”
Banning the tush push has been tabled … for now
Echoing what government vice chairman of soccer operations Troy Vincent stated Tuesday, Goodell stated there has not been a lot dialogue concerning the tush push quarterback sneak since an effort to ban it narrowly didn’t move within the spring.
Vincent stated the first concern is how robust it’s to officiate the maneuver that the Philadelphia Eagles have efficiently executed so typically. It was not on the formal agenda at this assembly, although homeowners did get an replace on penalties and different soccer issues.
“It is one thing we’ll proceed to watch on all phases, similar to we do each different side of the sport,” Goodell stated. “We have no proposals to deliver it again up. It would not shock me if one thing does evolve. But it surely’s not one thing we’re actually centered on throughout the season.”
Extra from Goodell on the NFL homeowners assembly
• Requested about replay critiques and the size of time they’re taking, Goodell stated sport instances are literally down via the primary seven weeks in comparison with final season, regardless of a surge in kick returns after an adjustment was made to the so-called dynamic kickoff.
“That is fairly exceptional while you add the variety of kickoffs,” Goodell stated. “You are going to get extra fouls. You are going to get completely different units of fouls. You are going to have a bit bit [more] size of the sport.”
• Goodell stated he had breakfast with interim NFL Gamers Affiliation government director David White earlier than one of many league’s worldwide video games this season however expects any discuss a transfer to an 18-game common season and different collective bargaining settlement discussions to attend till the union chooses its long-term chief.
The present CBA runs via the 2031 league yr. White advised The Related Press final month that an 18-game season was not inevitable.
“The negotiations can be much more than simply merely the 18 and two [exhibition games],” Goodell stated. “There are lots of points that we’re going to increase and I am sure that the gamers will increase, and that is what it needs to be. That is what collective bargaining is all about. They are going to want time to be sure that they’re ready, that they are prepared for the negotiations [and] they’ve their priorities straight, after which we will start negotiations.”
• Goodell stated work is being achieved to decide on websites for the Tremendous Bowl to cap the 2028 and ’29 seasons and expects an announcement subsequent yr.
