The Sports Xchange

Former New Orleans Saints receiver Joe Horn criticized NFL commissioner Roger Goodell during an interview posted Tuesday online, calling him “the devil.”

In a conversation with TheFootballGirl.com website, Horn offered candid remarks about the current state of the NFL.

“Here’s what I don’t like. I don’t like what Roger Goodell is doing,” Horn said. “He has so much power that he can almost shut people down. I just don’t like him. And I don’t like that on draft day these kids don’t know that they’re hugging the devil. I hate to see kids that are lost and then happy, but they really don’t know that the man they’re hugging will rip their throat apart.

“If he has an opportunity to take money from them, or there’s a situation where they’re guilty before they go to court, he’ll rip them apart. And there’s nothing no one can do about it. If the owners are happy with Roger Goodell, the fans, the media, no one can take his job from him. I hate it.”

Asked about Goodell having too much power, Horn said, “First of all, people need to understand he works for the owners and understands his power.

“People like (ESPN’s) Cris Carter and Chris Berman, who can usually say what they want, they can’t say anything bad about Roger Goodell or he’ll cut their throats. They’re going to kiss his —, too. They know their job could be snatched away by his power.”

Horn, who played in the NFL from 1996 to 2007 with the Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, also offered his take on New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and “Deflategate.”

“I’m not mad at Tom. He’s a great athlete and he does what he needs to do to win the football game,” Horn said. “If he deflated balls and the guys did for him, I’m not mad at Tom for that. Guys do things all the time to get ahead that the NFL doesn’t know about.

Who I’m mad at, who I do disrespect and who should be suspended for a year, it should be his head coach (Bill Belichick) because he knows what everyone is doing.”