Incidentally this is why I have a tough time thinking there's any full blown anti-Pats conspiracy in the league office...I just tend to think it is more easily explained by long-established incompetence on the part of Goodell with regards to league discipline, over many years dealing with many different cases. I just have a tough time thinking the league would actively chase after what's essentially a double black eye: for one, it's marquee kickoff game in its 50th SB anniversary season will miss its marquee player; for another, the entire leadup the game will be all about the relative suspensions of Brady (and bell for that matter) vs Ray Rice's initial (lighter) suspension from the year before, which will only serve to keep the league's ineptitude in the spotlight. If you believe (as I do) that Goodell's arrogance is a fundamental part of the problem, it seems like a leap to think he'd willingly chase an outcome that ultimately drags his name back through the Ray Rice "mud".
just my $.02 though