Former NFL star Chad Johnson still supports Goodell, calls him 'dad'

Roger Goodell has taken a lot of heat from both former and current players since taking over as NFL Commissioner for Paul Tagliabue in 2006.

These feelings on Goodell can appear a bit one-sided, but not everyone is against him. Former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson has been supportive of Goodell from the start, and that support hasn't wavered even after Johnson has retired from the league.

Via In Depth With Graham Bensinger:

Johnson told Bensinger that he even refers to Goodell as "dad" and has him listed in his phone contacts accordingly. However, Johnson might not be among a large group of players who have Goodell listed as a contact.

Back in 2013, NFLPA president Domonique Foxworth said that NFL players don't trust Goodell, citing how he handled the New Orleans Saints' bounty case as one key reason why. That overarching feeling hasn't changed much since. Seattle Seahawks defensive back Richard Sherman has called out Goodell on multiple occasions, most recently during media week before Super Bowl XLIX.

Goodell has not done much to publicly address his relationship with the current group of NFL players.