Dan Wetzel: Roger Goodell owes Tom Brady an apology

[bbobbo]

Roger Goodell owes Tom Brady an apology

On Dec. 4, the New York Giants got ahold of a couple of Pittsburgh Steeler footballs and decided to see if they were below the NFL pregame inflation minimum of 12.5 pounds per square inch.

“The PSIs were a little low,” Giants coach Ben McAdoo said.

According to the ProFootballTalk, the balls came in at 11.8 and 11.4 psi. The Giants told the league, although not via a “formal complaint,” whatever that is. The NFL isn’t saying much, but it apparently checked to see if the referees had maintained control of the balls and dismissed the situation quickly.

Why? Because by time the Giants obtained and presumably checked the balls on the sideline, the temperature in Pittsburgh was between 41.0 and 41.2 degrees, according to Weather Underground’s historical data.

Footballs lose air pressure in cold weather. The numbers were explained away by science, not cheating. This was nothing. Nothing happened, nothing at all.

“All footballs were in compliance,” the NFL stated after Fox’s Jay Glazer reported on the incident.

The situation was properly handled. Good job, NFL.

That means given the chance to do deflate-gate all over again – the initial situation with the New England Patriots scandal is nearly identical (even considering whatever happened in the Foxborough bathroom, which we’ll get to below) – the NFL chose to do nearly the exact opposite.

Indeed, if not words, the league is acknowledging it got it all wrong the first time. So now it’s incumbent upon NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to do the right thing and verbalize it with a simple but noble act.

He should apologize to Tom Brady.

 

[NashuaPats]

He owes us a first round pick.

 

[GoWhalers]

Conspiracy theory -- does anyone think it's possible that people in the Belichick-friendly Giants organization pulled this as a solid to BB? Waited until December when temperatures got cold, then did their own "spot check" to finally put some numbers out there?

Given the NFL's comical reluctance to post any of their PSI numbers, this seems plausible to me more than the Giants just being whiners after their loss.

 

[The Brandon Five]

Conspiracy theory -- does anyone think it's possible that people in the Belichick-friendly Giants organization pulled this as a solid to BB? Waited until December when temperatures got cold, then did their own "spot check" to finally put some numbers out there?

Given the NFL's comical reluctance to post any of their PSI numbers, this seems plausible to me more than the Giants just being whiners after their loss.

No, Mara is one of the people who were pushing Goodell to put the screws to the Pats.

 

[dannydyn]

He owes us a first round pick.

and a million bucks + INTEREST

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

and a million bucks

and rescind the taking of next year's 4th.....That at least can undo future harm.....

 

[RobertWeathers]

Always good stuff from Dan.

Goodell thinks he operates above everyone else. He'll never apologize.

 

[BobDigital]

There is no need for an apology in this situation. Just hand Goodell a sword and allow him to take the honorable way out.

 

[Jackson 2]

Conspiracy theory -- does anyone think it's possible that people in the Belichick-friendly Giants organization pulled this as a solid to BB? Waited until December when temperatures got cold, then did their own "spot check" to finally put some numbers out there?

Given the NFL's comical reluctance to post any of their PSI numbers, this seems plausible to me more than the Giants just being whiners after their loss.

With all due respect, and I mean that, this is ludicrous.

 

[RobertWeathers]

There is no need for an apology in this situation. Just hand Goodell a sword and allow him to take the honorable way out.

Way too honorable ending for a so-called man who has no honor.

Chewing on a cyanide capsule dressed in drag is more appropriate

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I don't want Goodell to apologize. I want him to die.

 

[Wordsmyth]

I want to see the look on his weasel face when he must hand Tom the Lombardi Trophy. That will make my day.

 

[YOUGOTMOSSED]

I don't want Goodell to apologize. I want him to die.

I don't. I want him exposed, discredited, and out of a job.

 

[NashuaPats]

Way too honorable ending for a so-called man who has no honor.

Chewing on a cyanide capsule dressed in drag is more appropriate

Being tarred and feathered in Gillette stadium is my preference.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I don't. I want him exposed, discredited, and out of a job.

Which is what he tried to do to Tom...........and failed.

 

[Dr Pain]

Given all balls now are set at 13 PSI the Steelers drop was more than the Patriots. This is of course expected as it was colder though.

 

[irishfanatic]

As I have posted on another thread, it is very unusual that this "episode" was made public by the Giants. Conspiracy theory, I have no idea, but it is intriguing to say the least. IGL is well known and expounded upon by now and I am quite sure all NFL teams are aware of its results and should not be surprised when they test a football. I, for one, find it strange because it is.

 

[Buchanty]

The amusing thing about all this is that this echo of Goodell's folly can and should be continually evoked each time temperatures drop in the winter. We could even have an anniversary measurement every AFCC game, staged and filmed outside NFL offices in Park Avenue with a live feed of up to the second pressure measurements as the temperature drops.

 

[Dr Pain]

The Patriots need a guess the PSI of the ball contest at the stadium. Have one set out and measure it at halftime on the big screen

 

[JJC]

There is no need for an apology in this situation. Just hand Goodell a sword and allow him to take the honorable way out.

That's too easy. Give him a cheese spreading knife and make him work at it.