Sports Illustrated goes with the Games of Thrones angle for this cover of Roger Goodell. It’s nice look for the NFL commissioner, no?

Of course, Goodell placed No. 1 in SI’s ranking of the most powerful people in sports. The NFL rules.

Two through five could have been the heads of sports at the various networks. Their big money is the reason why Goodell placed first.

You also could make the case for ESPN president John Skipper being No. 1, given the impact his massive network has on all things sports.

Instead, Skipper places fourth; NBC Sports chairman Mark Lazarus is seventh; CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus is 13th; and Fox Sports co-president Eric Shanks is 15th.

Shanks’ profile figures to rise quickly once Fox Sports 1 gets up and running in August. His profile figures to get much bigger with the new network.