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You would think after Spygate, Bountygate, Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, etc. they would learned how to not handle a controversy. I guess I gave them more credit than they deserved. I figured they would have done the smart thing and tried to get this resolved before the end of last week and been more transparent in their investigation. Instead they let the media (who are out to make a minor infraction if true, into a the worst form of cheating in sports history) control the dialog and report rumors as facts and condemn the Patriots without a single hard fact put forth. The lack of transparency and silence by the league is pathetic. A simple press release on Friday afternoon was a joke.
And then along came Belichick. What Belichick did last night sent shock waves in the league office last night. I think the league has been looking for a way out of this in a way they could punish the Pats and Belichick without any evidence of cheating because they have none. Belichick said "Screw that!" and basically threw the burden of proof back on the NFL. He told them he wasn't going to accept anything but a full exoneration of his honor unless the League shows that there was a deliberate attempt to deflate balls. He has given multiple reasons why the balls could have legitimately deflated without a deliberate attempt to cheat the process. Belichick basically he consulted experts which he obviously would use on any appeal of any punishment.
The league is now screwed no matter what they do. They can't just exonerate the Patriots. ESPN and all the villagers with pitch forks ready to burn down Belichick, Kraft, Brady, and the rest of the won't stand for that. He can't just give a nominal fine (like the $25k as it is stated in the rule books) for the same reason. They also cannot throw the book at the Pats (specifically Belichick) without any hard evidence of cheating because they know the Pats will win on appeal which is even worse than giving a nominal fine. Goodell now much decide which disaster scenario he wants to further tarnish his legacy.
The only out the league and Goodell has is if they some how find a smoking gun. Belichick would be stupid to shoot a warning shot across the league' bow like he did last night if he thought there was a smoking gun to be found. If there is, Goodell is going to come down on him with a vengence. And Belichick is not stupid. Neither is Stacy James and the rest of the Patriots brain trust. Belichick would never done that press conference if there was even a remote chance these allegations are true and could be proven. And Stacy James wouldn't let him either.
It will be interesting in the next few weeks to see how the league screws this up and whether they dig themselves even deeper than they have to now.
And then along came Belichick. What Belichick did last night sent shock waves in the league office last night. I think the league has been looking for a way out of this in a way they could punish the Pats and Belichick without any evidence of cheating because they have none. Belichick said "Screw that!" and basically threw the burden of proof back on the NFL. He told them he wasn't going to accept anything but a full exoneration of his honor unless the League shows that there was a deliberate attempt to deflate balls. He has given multiple reasons why the balls could have legitimately deflated without a deliberate attempt to cheat the process. Belichick basically he consulted experts which he obviously would use on any appeal of any punishment.
The league is now screwed no matter what they do. They can't just exonerate the Patriots. ESPN and all the villagers with pitch forks ready to burn down Belichick, Kraft, Brady, and the rest of the won't stand for that. He can't just give a nominal fine (like the $25k as it is stated in the rule books) for the same reason. They also cannot throw the book at the Pats (specifically Belichick) without any hard evidence of cheating because they know the Pats will win on appeal which is even worse than giving a nominal fine. Goodell now much decide which disaster scenario he wants to further tarnish his legacy.
The only out the league and Goodell has is if they some how find a smoking gun. Belichick would be stupid to shoot a warning shot across the league' bow like he did last night if he thought there was a smoking gun to be found. If there is, Goodell is going to come down on him with a vengence. And Belichick is not stupid. Neither is Stacy James and the rest of the Patriots brain trust. Belichick would never done that press conference if there was even a remote chance these allegations are true and could be proven. And Stacy James wouldn't let him either.
It will be interesting in the next few weeks to see how the league screws this up and whether they dig themselves even deeper than they have to now.
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