2009ring also shared his impression of Goodell, who seems like he was a good sport about the shirt thing,

This man is a pure PR machine. He exudes a personality that makes you want to like him. Frankly, if I didn't know what I know about him, I probably would have fallen for it. But it's easy to see why the media fawns all over him. The fact that he presents himself the way he does is either maniacal genius or borderline sociopath.

I'm leaning on option 2. If he's a genius then why is he stepping away from a situation he created.

Because if he stayed in the situation, it would make him look like an idiot. Therefore, genius.