Notebook: Roger Goodell impressed by Patriots' remarkable run of success

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Roger Goodell is a fan of the Patriots.

Yeah, you read that right. At his annual state of the game press conference on Wednesday, the NFL commissioner said he’s amazed at New England’s recent run of success, saying it’s “a great thing” for fans of the league.


“I marvel at that," Goodell said of the fact that the Patriots have a shot at their sixth Super Bowl. "I think our other clubs marvel at that. I think fans marvel at that. I think the balance of having new teams with teams that continue to find ways to win is a great thing for the NFL. I think it is a great thing for our fans. You can continue to win and then there are teams that can surprise you. That is what makes our game special."

For what it’s worth, Goodell also said he wants to simplify the catch/not-a-catch rule that has created so much furor in recent years.

"From our standpoint, I would like to start back, instead of adding to the rule, subtracting the rule. Start over again and look at the rule fundamentally from the start," Goodell said. "Because I think when you add or subtract things you can still lead to confusion. These rules are very complex -- you have to look at what the unintended consequences are of making a change, which is what the Competition Committee, in my view, does so well and with so much thought."

“We're trying to supplement that here a little bit by ... giving them some thought (and) starters of the ideas we think we can focus on,” he added.

“Clearly catch, no-catch has been a lot of discussion and a lot of disagreement, and I think we can clarify this rule and I think we can do it with a lot of hard work (and) focus and get to a place where … I'm not going to tell you there won't be controversy, but I believe we can get to a much better place."

Butler ‘feeling pretty good’ after struggling with illness

Cornerback Malcolm Butler, who missed opening night at the start of the week, has been suffering through an illness over the last week-plus. But on Wednesday afternoon, he said he was OK.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” the cornerback said Wednesday afternoon after he was limited at practice. “I don’t think they’d have me around if I wasn’t feeling good. I don’t want to get anyone on the team sick. I’m feeling pretty good, thanks to the great training staff we have. I’m ready to roll.”

Butler continues to get questions from national reporters about his future — he is set to be a free agent this spring. However, he said that’s not his focus, at least not right now.

“Right now, it’s all about giving 100 percent toward the team. Dedication toward the team. Giving them everything I have. Whatever happens after this happens,” he said. “That’s my main focus.”

Asked if wanted to return to New England, Butler didn't hesitate to respond.

"Without a doubt," he said. "Without a doubt."

Harrison and Amendola swap jerseys

During media availability on Wednesday afternoon, Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola and edge defender James Harrison swapped jerseys. Predictably, Harrison’s jersey hung on Amendola like a sweatshirt. The receiver — who has been spotted in the locker room with one of Harrison’s “Deebo” model T-shirts — laughed about the swap.

"It fits me nicely, doesn't it?" Amendola asked of the jersey.



“He's one of my favorite players, and we're all happy to have him,” Amendola added of the veteran.

Harrison joked that he was Amendola, and he had simply started working out and gotten a tan. Meanwhile, the receiver sounded like a guy angling for some snaps on the other side of the ball.

“I've been in the snow for a long time, gotta work on setting the edge, tackling,” Amendola said with a smile.

Hoyer happy for Cousins

The Patriots’ pride themselves on their tunnel vision, but backup quarterback Brian Hoyer certainly took notice of the report that had Alex Smith headed to Washington for draft picks. As someone who’s a friend of Kirk Cousins — who will likely come in for a big payday as a result — he was especially happy.

“That’s a big shakeup — good for Kirk,” said Hoyer. “Thing about it is the NFL is a crazy business. So things like that are going to happen. I think a lot of people think, ‘Oh, this guy is on my fantasy team.’ But people’s lives are changing. Alex Smith, I don’t know Alex very well, but he’s got to move his family. Kirk has to move his family. I think, for me, having gone through it so many times, that’s the side of it that I get. When one door closes, another door opens.

“But it’s great for those guys. Obviously, Alex is a great player, and he’ll have a new start there in Washington. Kirk is a great player who will get to choose where he gets to go play. It’s always revolving door, and you just never know.”

No curses for Bernard Reedy

We’ve written about the Patriots’ “Curse of No. 17” on many occasions — the franchise has struggled to find success with that number for the last decade-plus, with Aaron Dobson, Chad Jackson, Greg Salas and others having issues in New England. But wide receiver Bernard Reedy, who currently has the number, smiled when he was asked about the curse on Wednesday.

“Once I got here, this was the number that was in my locker,” he shrugged on Wednesday. “I don’t really get into the curses or anything like that. When I saw I just had any number, I was just grateful and blessed.

“They could have given me 117, and I still would have been ready to go,” he added with a laugh.