Putting on the Tin Foil hat..

Indulge me for a moment as I place the tin fedora on my head

As we've seen, the whole debacle we've dealt with this week is morphing into a giant convoluted mess. I continue to wonder how an entity as powerful as as the NFL seems to have its left hand doing things without its right hands knowledge?

The short answer is, in a tight corporate environment...it shouldn't. But the NFL is unique In its structure. You have psedo-CEO in Goodell....and you have 32 board members. But the board members operate primarily in their own interests at an individual and what I believe is a factional level...i.e. the haves vs the have nots of the league.

Long ago ...Pete Rozelle fought to establish parity in the league. A fight against dynastic franchises of the league which he believed would prevent the NFL from growing.

He had numerous advocates of this idea. Mostly those whose franchises historically struggled and those franchises who had already established a huge lasting base of fan support and success and were "unselfishly" <sarc> willing to dilute success.

Enter Kraft and the Patriots. A team that since Kraft's acquisition ....has bucked the push for parity.

If I was a pro-parity guy, Krafts ability to create a hugely successful franchise and secure powerful allies among other powerful owners and among those in the players union is a huge threat.

So how would you destroy this trend? Well if it's pre-2007, and you see Krafts power growing, his team showing no sign of weakening as well as becoming a confidant of the commissioner...you start a coup to destroy the reputation of both.

When the first attempt fails...you continue to subvert Goodel through media friends...and then in 2014...2 weeks before the leagues most important game..you try for a coup de grace. Attack Goodell at his weakest point in his tenure and Kraft in one swift move.

But as they say... the best laid plans...never always achieve the desired result.

So here we are. At the very tip of this coup's pivot point. The next few weeks will reveal the direction of the league for years to come.

Thanks again for your time and indulgence.

Interesting analysis. I think you may be on to something, but it may be even more complicated. Key is the dynamic that it is not monolithic, franchises operating on individual and factional level is tip of the iceberg. It is also individuals and factions within and across franchises. Coaching trees are one thing, there's also GMs and other FO jobs where individuals move from team to team as they seek to ascend the ladder. It's about power and prestige and influence, and this was an attack on the foremost owner in those areas. It's likely a failed attack. Will be interesting to watch the heads roll in months to come.

I'm not sure about your specific theory, but I think we'll all agree that someone who's already done something wrong and been convicted in the past is a pretty big target for the rest of their lives.

supafly said:

I'm not sure about your specific theory, but I think we'll all agree that someone who's already done something wrong and been convicted in the past is a pretty big target for the rest of their lives.

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But in the first infraction, taping was admitted by many to be a rather obscure...league wide practice. Much like ball prepping.

Slagathor said:

But in the first infraction, taping was admitted by many to be a rather obscure...league wide practice. Much like ball prepping.

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While I, and most other Pats fans definitely agree with you, the general dumb ass in the American public thinks something entirely different with both of these dramas.

I just almost got into a fist fight with a Steelers fan here in Pittsburgh at the barber shop last week. His main defense was that "N.England never even has any good players on their team, aside from maybe Gronkowski, so the cheating scandals explain how they continue to win."

The average everyday Joe will spend hours telling you how low down and dirty is was of the Patriots to "steal signals" and "tape practices" by "spying."

I agree that we all need to start wearing tin foil hats to protect our brains from all the stupidity we are encountering from the NFL and media.
My hat is almost ready.

supafly said:

I just almost got into a fist fight with a Steelers fan here in Pittsburgh at the barber shop last week. His main defense was that "N.England never even has any good players on their team, aside from maybe Gronkowski, so the cheating scandals explain how they continue to win."

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Did you discuss with him how Tomlin used the Jumbotron for target acquisition in Tripping-gate?