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Ex-WR Joe Horn on Roger Goodell: 'These kids don't know that they're hugging the devil'

Sean Gardner / Reuters

Former NFL wide receiver Joe Horn isn't a fan of commissioner Roger Goodell.

During an interview with Melissa Jacobs of The Football Girl, Horn was asked to share his thoughts on the current state of the NFL. He didn't hold back.

"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."

Horn said it's not just the players who need to be fearful of Goodell's power.

"First of all, people need to understand he works for the owners and understands his power. People like 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 ass, too. They know their job could be snatched away by his power."

Horn appeared in 163 games over the course of his 12-year NFL career, spending time with the Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons. He ranks third on the Saints' all-time receiving list with 7,622 yards and 50 touchdowns.

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