Roger Goodell is usually wrong, he was wrong on the Saints, wrong on Ray Rice, wrong on "Spygate" and wrong on this idiotic issue. He claims he sanctioned the penalties and agreed with them but will reconsider when the Patriots are ripping Wells and the league office a new one? The report found that the team and coach did nothing wrong, so they fine them a million dollars and take a first and a fourth, and Goodell clearly signed off on that, why would he reduce it?
He wouldn't unless the appeal showed the Wells report was wrong and flawed, which of course it would have.
Goodell hired Wells to investigate the Patriots. Wells found them guilty. Of course Goodell accepted the report. He delegated the investigation to Wells. That doesn't mean Goodell is obligated to the Wells report if the accused does a good job of proving it was wrong. Of course that is an uphill battle, because Wells who theoretically has no bias, will get the benefit of the doubt, but to imply that if the Patriots walked in with an astonishing case that blew the Wells report of the water, Goodell would just ignore it is silly.
But this line of argument assumes that Robert Kraft believes that if he walked in and proved beyond any doubt that they were innocent his man would tell him to go f off. If that were the case the Kraft is even more pathetic.
You're right that we can't know when it never happened but I believe the outcome was predetermined but don't think that was ever the point, the point was to show the report for what it is, dogsh.t. Goodell would have to invalidate the findings of a report he swears by, and I don't think he would ever do that, especially when he paid 5 million of owners money to pay for it. In fact, to this day he claims it was an independent report. Lmao- does that sound like someone to trust?
Again, this is the hyperbole that makes this discussion ridiculous. How does Goodell 'swear by' the report? Any person in any organization who hires an independent investigator that they believe is beyond reproach will take their findings as the word, unless and until they are rebutted. Making a website with explanations is not rebutting, and Goodell was never asked to consider that. This is the key. We all read the solid rebuttal, but Kraft chose to not give it to Goodell.
I would have cheered Kraft for fighting it out even though they lost, but throwing everyone under the bus is something I will never respect. I wouldn't boo him or scream at him if I were at a game but that doesn't change the fact that I think he should step down and away from the team. That won't happen either but I still think it would be best for them.
His idea of best for the team and everyone else involved with the team in any capacity, not named Kraft, is very different. This is why it is frustrating when people defend what he did because he did what was in the best interest of Bob Kraft, and it was not in the best interest of BB, TB the other players and coaches, and the fans. Bob could have taken one for the team, and sacrificed something that was only good for him in his personal (not business because it would have had zero impact) relationship with 31 other billionaires. He chose them over the players, coaches and fans. He has the right to do that because he owns the team, but by God after he slapped you in the face, don't excuse him and say he had no choice because you were standing near him.
