Tony Dungy will lead communication between NFL and its players

Tony Dungy, retiring as coach of the Indianapolis Colts after last season, is now a special adviser to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. And he will also take a lead role in improving communication between the league and players by leading a new NFL player advisory forum.

The forum will meet with players, who wore or wear NFL jerseys, about league policies, programs and issues that affect their lives on and off the field, including player health and safety, personal conduct, game rules and procedures, career transition and player development. Both Goodell and union officials have been invited to attend the meetings.

Dungy expects as many as 50 players from all age groups will take part in the meetings. By so far it has been confirmed that Pro Bowl players Kurt Warner, Ray Lewis and Brian Dawkins are among the players to attend.

NFL wants expansion in Britain

The NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Friday he expects the league to play more regular-season games in Britain in the next few years and even to put a franchise in London.


Goodell said that “every indicator” shows the British market can support more games and that having a franchise here is of “tremendous interest” to the league. But the commissioner does not have a timeline for expanding the NFL’s overseas presence.

This year is the third year in a row the NFL is staging a regular-season game in London and the New England Patriots will play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium in London this Sunday. Goodell said at a sports conference Friday that the league is looking into playing at least two games a year in Britain and hoping to find potential venues in Manchester, Glasgow and Scotland.

According to Goodell, the league in considering expanding the regular season to 17 or 18 games and having every team play one game abroad. However, the commissioner said the league is not considering staging a Super Bowl abroad.