Goodell says he is comfortable with security for the Paris game and defends Tisch and York at the fall meeting

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday he has a high level of comfort that the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers can safely play in Paris on Sunday.

Speaking at the close of the league's annual fall meeting in New York, Goodell addressed civil unrest in France that could bring more protests to the capital this weekend.

He said he had spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and that officials are in contact with Parisian and French authorities.

"We've made all the preparations"

"Protests are not unusual in France, as you know and that's something that we will be aware of and make sure that the appropriate arrangements are made," Goodell said.

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said the team's plans have not been affected. The Saints have been in France since Monday and the Steelers are set to travel Thursday night.

Tisch and York in the room

Goodell also defended the presence of Giants executive Steve Tisch and 49ers CEO Jed York at the meeting.

Tisch remains the Giants' executive vice president and chairman of the board. His name appeared more than 400 times in the Jeffrey Epstein files released by the Justice Department in January and Goodell had pledged a review at the Super Bowl. Tisch has said he knew Epstein but denied going to his island.

"Everything we've looked at, we understand and I think we're comfortable with him participating as the Giants suggest," Goodell said. He added that the league will evaluate any new information.

York has returned from a six-game suspension under the personal conduct policy. He was arrested in a prostitution sting in Ohio in August and pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors.

"We saw a violation and we've dealt with it from a discipline standpoint," Goodell said. "That's concluded now and so he'll be back representing the 49ers."