If the NFL actually knew that the Patriots were innocent in the immediate hours following the accusation, yet chose to sit by while the whole country piled on the week before the Super Bowl, they should not only step down, but never be able to work in the field again in any capacity. Don't you think some leaks would have presented themselves by now regarding the resignation or career change from some of these higher level executives?
That's not even bringing into account the fact that they'd have given SEA a clear cut advantage in the championship game by forcing the owner, head coach, and leader of the team to all have separate press conferences, cost the loss of millions of dollars through merchandising, dragged the entire fanbase and organization through the mud for NO REASON whatsoever, and caused the biggest distraction in sports history.
I'm not saying that SoV is incorrect (I'm sure they are right on some level about something, whether that's 20 percent or 80 percent) about everything, but you can't blame some of us who are a bit apprehensive of this enormous conspiracy angle.