Tampa, FL (My Sportsbook) - NFL commissioner Roger Goodell gave his annual state of the league address on Friday and discussed a wide range of topics, including the impact of the nation's economy on the game, impending labor negotiations with the union, player safety issues and possible tweaks to the overtime rule.

In addition, there were questions about the league's continued desire to play games outside of the United States, new stadiums and negotiations to keep teams in their respective cities and player conduct.

Goodell said the country's economic status is hurting the league, which in December announced a 10 percent cutback to its own staff.

"We're not immune from what's going on out in the economy," Goodell said. "There's uncertainty.

"Our fans. There's less disposable income. Can they continue to afford to come to an NFL game? We are going to look at all our season ticket prices."

The economy may also have an effect on potential labor negotiations with the union. The collective bargaining agreement is set to expire in 2011 after owners decided to opt out of the current deal.

"The ownership has spent a great deal of time evaluating the current CBA," Goodell noted. "I'm optimistic we'll be able to sit down with the union and continue our labor peace."

A report Thursday gave strong indications the league's continued good health financially, despite the country's troubles, of which Goodell mildly disputed.

"There's a lot of fiction in that report," Goodell said. "It's not accurate."

Goodell said player safety was one of his utmost concerns and that the league needed to continue to look at tackling techniques that injure some of the top players.

"Low hits to quarterbacks, hits on defenseless receivers. That's a high priority."

As for the continuing questions of the fairness of overtime, Goodell said he believes the rule is fine as it is, but the competition committee will, as always, review it. In the playoffs, the San Diego Chargers won the coin flip for overtime against the Indianapolis Colts and went right down the field to score for the victory.

"The point of the game is to win it in regulation," Goodell remarked. "This game is about teamwork -- offense, defense and specials teams. We'll look at every alternative. We think what we have is a terrific rule and it has served us well.

"We have talked about different concepts and the [competition] committee will continue to consider options," Goodell added. "Should we move the kickoff, should we place the ball at the 25-yard line and force a long drive?"

Goodell spoke about the league's recent games in London and Toronto, and said the possibility of also playing a regular-season game in Mexico exists. He added that the league staging a Super Bowl in Los Angeles for the 50th anniversary of the game is a "unique opportunity," and also touched on the idea of the San Francisco Bay Area teams sharing a stadium, like the Giants and Jets in New Jersey.

Player conduct was not much of an issue on Friday, although Goodell reiterated his stance that players need to be aware of their surroundings and shouldn't put themselves in a bad situation.

Goodell was asked about the possibility of switching the Detroit Lions, who finished this past season 0-16, out of their traditional Thanksgiving Day game, but said that was not being considered.

"It will not change for this season," commented the commissioner. "If the [league] ownership feels they want to address it, we'll address it."

Goodell also noted that the league's blackout policy for television will remain in effect.

As to moving the Pro Bowl permanently to the Super Bowl site for play the week before the big game, Goodell said it would not happen immediately. The league is experimenting with next year's Pro Bowl, playing in Miami the week before the Super Bowl.

"The entire premise was to make our game bigger and better," Goodell noted. "We thought it would be a very interesting to make it part of the run-up to Super Bowl week."