JoeSixPat

As we all know, Belichick has long been reluctant to cooperate with Goodell's requirement that he tell coaches and opposing players intent on hurting his players where to target those players to take them out of the game. We have seen him consistently play coy with injury reports and even has a long running phantom injury to Brady's shoulder likely to throw guys like Williams off.

Now with the proof that Gregg Williams was doing exactly that, and with the lingering question of whether other players or coaches might quietly be doing the same thing, doesn't it behoove Goodell to put player safety ahead of various interests, both legal and illegal, that depend on an accurate Las Vegas line, crafted with knowledge of player injury?

Unless I'm missing something it's only gambling interests that really need to know which players are playing and which are injured and where they are injured.

Keeping other coaches and players in the dark prevents them for preparing to face a backup, but all coaches and teams would be on an even playing field if such medical information were kept private. Overall I see no downside to protecting vulnerable players, unless one works for a mob bookie.

It will be interesting to see if in the light of the Gregg Williams scandal if Goodell continues to put the interests of the mafia ahead of the safety of the players.

It's nice to know now that in this case Belichick has always had the higher moral ground than Goodell, who may find himself asked how long he knew about even limited practices of coaches and players targeting the injured, and why he continued to put gambling interests ahead of player safety.

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Peachhead

+1 gazillion!

betterthanthealternative

I like the way you have framed this.

patman52

The reason for the rule is an attempt to hinder gamblers from obtaining injury information that may move a line. Janitors cleaning up locker rooms could sell info on who has a wrapped knee, walking with limps etc.

The nfl is so closely tied in with gambling, that no thought of Vegas or Bookies getting any information can be tolerated.

BB can continue to say leg and not say whether it is an ankle, knee, hamstring or what ever, sometimes he does not even say what leg it is. That is ok with the NFL as long as the- not likely, questionable, or probable designation are followed.

No hint of vegas having info on injuries that are not available to the masses can be tolerated.

JoeSixPat

Yes... That's been the long standing reason stated by the league... To keep an even playing field for gambling interests whether they be legal, illegal or mob-run.

As long as Goodell is on the record about prioritizing gambling interests higher than player safety I'm fine with letting him continue to insist on letting the Gregg Williams' of the NFL know where best to target.

Better in Goodell's eyes to foster a system that could have a player injured for life rather than allow a mafia bookie to gain an unfair advantage.

Belichick seems like he's long understood how disclosing injuries results in a competitive disadvantage and perhaps places the long term health of his players at risk.

But while Goodell has been incredibly self-righteous about everything from tampering to the placement of cameras on the field rather than in the stands, he might want to consider HIS role in enabling the Gregg Williams' of the NFL to engage in what could be considered attempted murder by some.

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lurker1965

"Hey, under paid trainer, here is $10,000 to tell me who is really injured so I can have an advantage over other bettors that are in the dark."

It adds a bunch of potential corruption. 53 players x 32 teams = 1,664. Oh, add 32 DCs = 1,696.

How many trainers, janitors, whatever?

1,696 or so to tell not to injure each other on purpose.
Unknown number to tell all secrets too so there is no gambling advantage to bribe someone.

Both are high numbers. The smaller one is easier to control.

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I've seen 1-15 and 2-14 twice. I've seen the Patriots as relevant underdogs, hated favorites, and absolutely irrelevant. Hated is not the best, but it far, far, far from the worst.

PatsWickedPissah

Well done, Joe. Well done.
I doubt that so-called sports "reporters" will grill Goodell on this obvious issue of safety >>> level betting field. They're too busy re-hashing Spygate incorrectly.

Who cares if some bettors have an advantage? If it's known that some do so, then only fools will bet. Sorry for the redundancy.

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Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.
This is known as "bad luck." RAH

lurker1965

Then the fools bribe, say, the wife of the plumber who fixed the ice bath.

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I've seen 1-15 and 2-14 twice. I've seen the Patriots as relevant underdogs, hated favorites, and absolutely irrelevant. Hated is not the best, but it far, far, far from the worst.

JoeSixPat

I've been suggesting that Mike Florio give this matter the attention it deserves for awhile now... Looks like he finally did. Williams’ remarks brings injury reports back into focus | ProFootballTalk

Hopefully others in the media aren't afraid to note that the Emperor has no clothes on this matter...

No one wants to see a dishonest janitor sell information to the mafia - but I'd rather see that than know that a player forced to disclose a history of concussions or other physical vulnerability was injured for life because the Commissioner felt player safety was less important than lucrative gambling interests.

Any coach who DOES put player safety first is looking at a big fine from Goodell.

In essence, Belichick was right and Goodell was wrong...

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neuronet

Right-o.

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Ice_Ice_Brady writes:
The difference is that Brady calmly calls audibles while Manning flaps like a chicken, barks 11 code words, and makes sure every camera in the stadium has documented his once-in-a-generation (and patented, I believe) ability to see a defensive formation and change the play. Both have the same effect, but Manning transcends measurable human intellect while Brady merely chooses a different play.