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Peter King polled three NFL team execs and two of the three feel that the punishment was way over the top:
http://mmqb.si.com/2015/05/11/tom-brady-suspension-patriots-deflategate-punishment/
I am sure there are some teams who are doing cartwheels now, but I am surprised that two of the three execs felt this punishment was over the top and excessive. This could backfire on Goodell. Kraft is popular in the league even if the Patriots and specifically Belichick aren't. This could really be the start of the end of the Goodell regime.
A quick poll of three officials of other clubs in the hours after the ruling found a mixed reaction. One top club official thought the penalty was excessive because there was no definitive proof in the Wells report that Brady either authorized the deflation of footballs or knew precisely that they had been deflated. Another said he was heartened to see the league treat the Patriots with an iron fist, though Kraft has been a close confidant of Goodell. A third said he and others in his organization were surprised by the severity of the punishment. “Way over the top,” he said. “Draconian. I thought the league went too far.” There was a no-joy-in-Mudville tone with these officials. Two of them said virtually the same thing—that this was a sad day for football.
http://mmqb.si.com/2015/05/11/tom-brady-suspension-patriots-deflategate-punishment/
I am sure there are some teams who are doing cartwheels now, but I am surprised that two of the three execs felt this punishment was over the top and excessive. This could backfire on Goodell. Kraft is popular in the league even if the Patriots and specifically Belichick aren't. This could really be the start of the end of the Goodell regime.