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Former NFL wide receiver calls Goodell "the devil"

By Alex Butler
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stands on stage during the first round of the NFL Draft on April 30, 2015 in Chicago. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stands on stage during the first round of the NFL Draft on April 30, 2015 in Chicago. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo

NEW ORLEANS, May 27 (UPI) -- After hauling in more than $44 million in salary in 2014 and botching NFL punishments along the way, commissioner Roger Goodell has invited a gauntlet of public pressure.

But now some former players are speaking out, including Joe Horn, who was a Pro Bowl wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints.

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Horn, a 12-year veteran, defended Tom Brady, who will be serving a four-game suspension for his role in 'DeflateGate.'

"I don't like what Roger Goodell is doing," Horn told TheFootballGirl.com's Melissa Jacobs. "He has so much power that he can almost shut people down. I just don't like him. And I don't like that on draft day these kids don't know that they're hugging the devil. I hate to see kids that are lost and then happy but they really don't know the man they're hugging will rip their throat apart."

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Goodell has made himself the arbitrator for Brady's appeal, despite opposition from the NFL PLayers Association, who has asked for a neutral arbitrator to hear the appeal.

"I'm not mad at Tom," Horn told TheFootballGirl.com. "He's a great athlete and he does what he needs to do to win the football game. If he deflated balls and the guys did it for him, I'm not mad at Tom for that. Guys do things all the time to get ahead that the NFL doesn't know about."

Goodell announced in April that the NFL's central office will drop its tax-exempt status. Although losing a tax break that amounts to about $108 million in 10 years, the NFL will not have to publicly disclose league information, including Goodell's hefty salary.

Goodell, 56, became commissioner in 2006 and has made $210 million since 2007, according to the Boston Herald's Jeff Howe.

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Horn, who retired in 2007, had 603 receptions, 8,744 yards and 58 touchdowns in 163 career games in New Orleans, Kanas City and Atlanta.

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