This is exactly it, you nailed it, especially your opening sentence.
I've been watching the NFL my whole life and loving every minute of it, but the first time that this hobby of mine got incredibly soured was literally the year after Goodell was hired as the NFL Commissioner. Since that day, the Patriots have been punished with unprecedented penalties multiple times and are a constant target of the league off the field.
There isn't any proof, but you could even point to things like Gronk having more offensive PI's than most other teams have combined among all their skill position players.. or Brady having like more than double the yardage of the next QB that were lost due to penalties (He had over 500 yards lost to penalty). That Denver game last year in the regular season was the most in your face obvious BS one-sided officiating I've ever seen since the 2006 AFCCG.
No other dynasty or great team is ever discussed with controversy, scandals or accusations... Only the Patriots.. and it all started with Roger Goodell, who is slowly destroying what use to be a great escape from reality on Sundays.
Either the owners have decided to incorporate some "Real World" reality tv angle to their product and milk more money from the 24/7 coverage, or Goodell is one of the most corrupt pieces of garbage that has ever held the office of NFL Commissioner and is carrying out a personal vendetta that he's held onto from his 20+ years with the Jets.... or both.
and I simply find it incredible that every other sports league's commissioners do everything they can to limit controversy in the media coverage... Goodell literally creates controversy.