Goodell to break public silence on infamous no-call

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell holds a news conference today as part of the Super Bowl activities building up to the game on Sunday.

Goodell has been publicly silent since Saints head coach Sean Payton said that the NFL's head of officiating admitted to him that officials missed both a pass interference penalty and an illegal helmet to helmet hit late the in the NFC Championship that, if called, would have allowed the Saints to run down the clock and kick a game winning field goal to advance to the Super Bowl.

Goodell, though lawyers responding to a suit filed in New Orleans, did indicated that he cannot overturn the officials' calls.  An attorney for season ticket holders argues that the commissioner can order a game be replayed in part or in full. 

Frank D'Amico sites rule 17...

"The Commissioner has the sole authority to investigate and take appropriate disciplinary and/or corrective measures if any... calamity occurs in an NFL game which the Commissioner deems so extraordinarily unfair or outside the accepted tactics encountered in professional football that such action has a major effect on the result of the game."

It says the commissioner can take corrective action too...

"The Commissioner's powers... include... the reversal of a game’s result or the rescheduling of a game, either from the beginning or from the point at which the extraordinary act occurred."

The league, however, says that NFL Rule 15, Section 1, Article 3, states...

 "The Referee’s decisions upon all matters not specifically placed under the jurisdiction of other officials by rule are final."

So what will Goodell say publicly?  We find out today.  The news conference is scheduled for 12:00pm Central Time.

You can hear live on WWL AM&FM and WWL.com.

Before the commissioner breaks his silence, we will hear from New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton.  His end of the season news conference will be live on WWL around 10:00am.  Then at 6:40 tonight, hear from Saints QB Drew Brees live on WWL AM&FM and WWL.com.