
By ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Pro Football Writer
DENVER (AP) — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says he doesn't have a problem with the way the Redskins medical staff handled Robert Griffin III's knee injury.
Nevertheless, he's anticipating changes in the way injuries not affecting the head are evaluated on the sideline.
Goodell was in Denver for Saturday's Ravens-Broncos playoff game.
Griffin had reconstructive ACL surgery Wednesday after reinjuring his right knee in last Sunday's playoff loss to Seattle. He also strained a ligament in the knee last month against Baltimore.
That raised questions whether Redskins coach Mike Shanahan should have let Griffin in either game after it was clear the quarterback was hurt.
Goodell said it was a "medical decision" and noted Griffin had no problem with it, either.
"Now, people can argue whether it was the wrong decision, but it was a medical decision and that's what we want it to be," Goodell said.
"Will we make further changes? Yeah, I would anticipate we will. We'll always look at that and try to see what else we can do to make sure the proper medical attention is being given, that they make the best medical evaluation and it's their determination to make."
Asked if independent doctors were needed on the sideline, not those chosen by the team, Goodell insisted the physicians were impartial.
"When you say independent, all these doctors work for other institutions," he said. "And they're well-respected and the medical care in the NFL is outstanding. And if they have a concussion, they have to see an independent neurologist before they're cleared to play."
He noted that Andrews is a highly regarded orthopedic surgeon, "and I think he made a judgment and the team made a judgment, and Robert Griffin seems to be comfortable with it, too. I think as long as they are medical decisions, that is our primary objective."