Maybe he'll instruct the officiating crews to make every questionable call go against the Pats...oh wait that's already happening. Never mind.
No, I don't think so. In fact it may be just the opposite.
The last game we play is on the NFLN. If we are still undefeated, it will become the next game of the century.
The problem is that only those who have NFLN, or who are in the teams' local markets will see it (don't know about satellite TV). The rest of the country will be left out, and the outcry will be horrendous.
In the most recent owners meeting (Oct, Nov) they were
b i t c h ing about the cost of the NFLN, and the fact that the games that were on there (8) were worth more if sold to the networks, due to the reduced viewers, ad prices and revenue. The NFLN was in like 78 million homes until Comcast moved it to the sports tier and now they say its like 35 million. The 'poorer' owners were making noises to shut NFLN down, because they want more revenue.
The country is fascinated with the Pats, even if only to see us lose, or behave badly (in their eyes). I think the NFL would try to use the Pats and that national attention to try to force the cable companies to carry the NFLN, and Comcast to put it back in the Digital Basic package.
I can imagine people calling their cable companies, media outlets and even Washington if they can't see the game. Its a way to generate a lot of pressure in favor of the NFLN.
Remember the storm around spygate, and even Michael Vick, imagine that type of hysteria about not being able to see such a historic game ?
On top of that the FCC is doing something to make cable channels carry more stuff, because they have finally decided they are acting like a monopoly. It is still in discussion, and maybe has to have comment before they enact it, but this could force their hand. Of course I am sure they are only doing this public service action so they can give the cable companies something else they want.
But if the Pats are not undefeated then all this pressure goes away. Now if we screw up and lose, fine. But it is against the best interest of the NFL to screw us, and make us lose.
Also I believe that someone (probably on the Competition Committee) leaked that first tape. I think they gave it to Fox, because it would make Goodell look bad and guilty, and they were trying to force Goodell to do something he didn't want to do. Perhaps they wanted Goodell to whack the Pats more, or to say we were cheating which he never did. Making sure there is no meddling to make us lose would be a way for Goodell to get back at the perp (Polian?), and to exert his power within the NFL.
I know its popular to assume the worst of Goodell, but I don't see that its really all that warranted. I don't have a problem with what he did to us (we broke the rules and got caught), after all he could have suspended BB, and for multiple games. I do think how he did it was wrong, because it gave the media and our enemies a chance to build it up.
I also think that so many saw the Pats-Colts and thought it was unfairly officiated that he is more worried about tarnishing the NFL image than dumping on the Pats.
