I think the truth lies somewhere in between. I don't like conspiracy theories, and unlike others, I do not feel that Goodell personally despises the franchise. I feel other important NFL officials may resent us, but I don't think the NFL has an axe to grind with the Patriots. I believe we make the NFL better. I believe we help rake in $$$$ for the league. I don't the League needs us more than they realize.
I do also believe that the the NFL has serious credibility issues, and I believe deflategate is being fueled by the public's perception of, and the generally dislike towards the Patriots. Rather than quell these suspicions, the NFL has only helped to reinforce them, by pouring millions of dollars into a sham of an investigation. This needed to be resolved BEFORE the Super Bowl, but instead, they've chosen to prolong it, with absolutely NO deadline whatsoever. Tell me Ivan, why is that the case?
LOL, I commend you by the way for taking such a principled stance. But in all seriousness, you would STOP WATCHING FOOTBALL??
[Skip Bayless Voice] Are you kidding me!!! [/Skip Bayless Voice]
Dude, we're just coming off from watching the best Super Bowl in recent memory - perhaps the best of all time. Tom Brady arguably delivered his finest performance yet, and promises to give us more. And Belichick is more eager than ever, to win a fifth Super Bowl. A FIFTH Super Bowl!!! Are you sure you'd be willing to give all that up?
You asked what could be done and I answered, I also said that the vast majority of football fans would be unwilling to do so. One is for fans not to buy NFL merchandize and the other is to stop following football altogether. The first I have already done and the second I'm giving serious thought to. The more the NFL does to dilute the game for fantasy footballs sake the worse the game gets in my opinion, and the more sh.t the Patriots take without firing back the more tired I get of dealing with the bullsh.t. I don't believe the Patriots will be sanctioned for deflategate and I don't believe the Patriots will take it if that does happen, but if the cynics are right and that does happen I will be much closer to saying f.ck it altogether than ever before. There was a time when I wouldn't have considered giving football up, now it's more than likely.