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Well done, Roger Goodell, well done.
Goodell and Troy Vincent ruled on the Deflategate scandal on Monday and came down with the hammer on the New England Patriots. Tom Brady was suspended four games, the Patriots were fined $1 million and they additionally lost a first-round draft choice in 2015 and a fourth-round draft choice in 2016.
For the last day or so, the response has been overwhelming. Patriots fans in Boston erupted as their hero became a victim. The Brady camp screamed in defiance and stated they would absolutely appeal. Patriots owner Robert Kraft questioned the integrity of the entire process.
With all this swirling, Goodell is standing tall.
In the wake of any backlash by the Boston fans, along with media and fans across the nation, Goodell hasn’t backed down. He hasn’t reconsidered his decision. He has made one thing clear — this is his NFL.
Is the punishment too harsh? That argument can absolutely be made. I never thought Goodell would ever consider stripping the team of one draft choice, let alone two. The $1 million fine is harsh, but truly only symbolic. Robert Kraft is worth $4.3 billion, and don’t forget, with Brady’s unpaid suspension, the team saves $2 million in salary. But Goodell doesn’t care what the public opinion is on his decision. He is standing by it.
After the backlash Goodell and the NFL received last fall in the mismanagement of several off-the-field issues — highlighted by the embarrassing investigation into the Ray Rice incident — Goodell has learned from his mistakes. He realized that he can no longer play favorites. He realized that he can no longer sweep things under the rug. He learned that as the commissioner of the country’s biggest sport, his popularity is irrelevant.
His statement is being heard by the fans, and it’s definitely being heard by the teams around the league. A team executive told Sports Illstrated’s Peter King that the ruling was “draconian.” Which perhaps it was, but you better believe that the executive in question sat down with his coaches and his staff and told them that everything they do better be within the rules and guidelines that the NFL has set forth. Every team in the league is double and triple checking their equipment, their practice policies and anything else that may be in violation of league policies. Goodell is cleaning up his league, and if he has to sacrifice himself for the good of the sport, he will do it.
Goodell is in a lose-lose situation. If he ruled lightly, he would be called a lap dog for the owners. If he ruled too harshly, he would become a dictator. Goodell is dealing with the backlash, but he doesn’t care. He’s made a stance and sent a message to the rest of the teams.
This is his NFL; if you don’t like it, there’s the door.
Bill Zimmerman is a featured NFL writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
