Andy Benoit of SI: Goodell should lose his job because of deflategate

karguy85 · Aug 6, 2015

We need more writers being this bold.

1. I think the more I read about Deflategate, the less faith I have in the NFL. I’m not saying Tom Brady and the Patriots are totally innocent, but no sensible person would describe the league’s proof as being anything close to “beyond a reasonable doubt.” And just because the CBA doesn’t say it has to be doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be. I’m not big on calling for someone’s firing, but Roger Goodell went after the sport’s grandest star (maybe ever) and this decade’s most accomplished franchise. In doing so, he created a gargantuan distraction for both during Super Bowl week. Then he allowed the misinformation from that distraction to percolate for many months, damaging the brand of all parties involved (including, indirectly, the league’s). This is the antithesis of “protecting The Shield.” Barring a turn of events in this Deflategate saga—and with the way things have gone, there very well could be another turn of events—Goodell should lose his job.

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2015/08/06/roger-goodell-nfl-deflategate-dez-bryant-fight-chip-kelly

Ras-IR Dowling · Aug 6, 2015

He should've lost his job after the Ray Rice incident. With a competent commish we would be talking preseason football instead of this crap

Tony2046 · Aug 6, 2015

Freakin Brady. What can you say about him? Under a mountain of speculation, incriminating circumstantial evidence, leaks, media and he stood his ground. Man I hope this turn of events continue.

Ross12 · Aug 6, 2015

Ras-IR Dowling said:
He should've lost his job after the Ray Rice incident. With a competent commish we would be talking preseason football instead of this crap

Seriously. The Hall of Fame game is in 3 days and yet the top story is still this nonsense. It's reaching a point where I think the NFL is actually hurting themselves, not just from the obvious public perception angle, but also from a general operations standpoint. In normal years there would be a lot more hype for the return of football.

ANGR89 · Aug 6, 2015

karguy85 said:
We need more writers being this bold.

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2015/08/06/roger-goodell-nfl-deflategate-dez-bryant-fight-chip-kelly

Keep these articles coming! Lol

Patstopia · Aug 6, 2015

The innuendos are already appearing from the League! Stories of the Patriots always using deflated balls and every team knew it. Soon Tom will have impregnated multiple cheerleaders while insider trading during a drug induced schizophrenic episode. And sadly most the morons will run with it!

Nikolai · Aug 6, 2015

Ross12 said:
In normal years there would be a lot more hype for the return of football.

Week 1 of August is usually that time of year...everyone is getting amped up for the upcoming season and here we are. And after one of the all-time best Super Bowls to boot. Only Goodell could **** this up that badly...

varjao · Aug 6, 2015

What is that moron fat ass named Greg Bedard saying?

SHOWTIME15 · Aug 6, 2015

Ras-IR Dowling said:
He should've lost his job after the Ray Rice incident. With a competent commish we would be talking preseason football instead of this crap

Kraft foolishly supported goodell after the ray rice incident

Nikolai · Aug 6, 2015

Patstopia said:
The innuendos are already appearing from the League! Stories of the Patriots always using deflated balls and every team knew it. Soon Tom will have impregnated multiple cheerleaders while insider trading during a drug induced schizophrenic episode. And sadly most the morons will run with it!

Headline..."The Wolf of Patriot Place"

BradyFTW! · Aug 6, 2015

Still think it's pretty lame that all these people need to clarify that they're not saying Brady's innocent. What else would you call him, if NO evidence of wrongdoing exists?

Anyway, I have noticed that SI seems to be getting more and more active in reporting this story as an NFL failing? I wonder if they smell blood in the water over there, knowing how much ESPN is tied up in this mess.

Tony2046 · Aug 6, 2015

HE'S CUT. Sylvest is wearing Patriot colors by the way.

turkeyneck · Aug 6, 2015

While the spotlight on Goodell and the NFL* is welcome, this

"I’m not saying Tom Brady and the Patriots are totally innocent..."

is a dead giveaway for someone who will not or cannot engage the factual details of the IGL's role in this. It's an arm-waving cover for "I don't understand the science so I'll hedge my bets."

RhodyPatriot · Aug 6, 2015

Jeff Passan nails it.

Jeff Passan ‏@JeffPassan 1h1 hour ago

The slow death of Roger Goodell's commissionership on account of deflated balls -- not Rice or head trauma -- is so NFL. Soap opera forever.

Rob0729 · Aug 6, 2015

It always sickens me whenever I hear Goodell talking about protecting the integrity of the shield. Has there been any one single person who has tarnished the integrity of the shield more than Roger Goodell?

karguy85 · Aug 6, 2015

RhodyPatriot said:
Jeff Passan nails it.

Jeff Passan ‏@JeffPassan 1h1 hour ago

The slow death of Roger Goodell's commissionership on account of deflated balls -- not Rice or head trauma -- is so NFL. Soap opera forever.

It's so funny because Goodell could have so easily handled this behind the scenes and everything would be fine. He tried to use the incident as a way to gain credibility back but it's only caused him to lose even more credibility.

Kdo5 · Aug 6, 2015

A lot of people are going to write, "I don't believe Brady is fully innocent" but ya know what? I'm feeling pretty good that the league and Goodell have egg splattered all over their face. It is at least some sort of karma. I was getting nervous that the NFL would get away with their lies. Sure they already looked poorly for letting this drag on, but now they are tangled in lies and deception.

RobertWeathers · Aug 6, 2015

The good news is that in order for Benoit's piece to have been posted, it needed to be approved by the editor of MMQB.

That person is Peter King.

Bella*chick · Aug 6, 2015

This ******* needs to have lost his job MONTHS ago. It is going to forever rankle me that our owner was the one propping him up publicly during the Rice fiasco. THANKS, Bob. You bear responsibility for this Shmuck of Shmucks being the Commissioner of the League. God, if this isn't an example of chickens coming home to roost I don't know what is.

PrairiePat · Aug 6, 2015

I think Lance Armstrong and Ryan Braun have given people this 'I'm not going to fall for this again' mentality when a popular sports star denies involvement in something. I can understand the casual fan not wanted to get burned again that way.

Andy Benoit of SI: Goodell should lose his job because of deflategate

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