Joey Chaisson
7/24/15
As we close month seven, and enter month eight of the infamous, and seemingly never ending Deflategate case between Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and NFL Commissioner Roger Gooddell, yet another plot point seemingly has developed. As we wait for Gooddell and the NFL’s ruling on Brady’s appealed four game suspension, things are starting to look fishier than they already have been.
As we all know, the whole case has been a runaway train, dumpster fire of an ordeal since the very beginning. The game, the press conferences, reports, punishments and now appeal process have all been shady, for lack of a better word. Just recently, Brady along with the NFLPA, announced that if any games remained on his suspension after the appeal decision, then they are headed to the courts. As you can imagine, that’s bad new for the NFL.
This new plot point has been sparked by Gooddell. In the beginning phases of the scandal and all the way through to the appeal hearing in late June, Brady was the man in the hot seat, under the microscope. Many said this case tarnished the four-time Super Bowl champion’s legacy. As more days want on, and days to months, people began to come to their senses, thankfully. Now, just about a month since the hearing, this case seems to have become more of an image problem for Gooddell.
In case you forgot, fresh off Gooddell’s desk were three heavy duty domestic violence cases all from 2013. Gooddell and the NFL were massively scrutinized and blasted by the media and the fans after their The original ruling of a two game suspension to former Ravens running back Ray Rice after he knocked out his finance and then dragged her by the hair out of an elevator created a massive out fire storm towards Gooddell. Now this.
In a lot of people’s eyes, mine included, Deflategate, among many things, is simply just one big message. It’s a message from Gooddell personally, letting everyone in the NFL, and outside the NFL know — “I’m in charge. No one is safe. Not even Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.”
The theory is actually a very good argument when you think about it. Logically, three cases of domestic violence (Ray Rice, Greg Hardy, and Adrian Peterson) should seriously have blow a deflated football in a 45-7 blow out game right out of the water. But they didn’t, because Gooddell didn’t let them. Deflategate could have ended a long, long time ago. Instead, Gooddell slapped Brady with a mind boggling four game suspension which he obviously knew Brady would appeal and then the battle of power began.
It’s almost like this is one of those master plans that villains make in movies that took months of planning. I’m not saying Brady’s legacy is sitting in the palm of Gooddell’s hand, of course not, but what is sitting in the palm of the Gooddell’s hand, is potentially Gooddell’s legacy as an NFL Commissioner.
Lets just say Gooddell rules that none of Brady’s games are removed (which is insane to even think about) and his four game suspension sticks, then yes Gooddell would have completed his objective of, “No one is safe.” However, even Patriots naysayers would whisper to themselves “what the…” if that happened, followed by the NFLPA more than likely winning in court.
Roger is in a tight spot to say the least. If he doesn't give Brady all four games back then NFLPA will have no problem showing up in court, but if he does give Brady back all four games then the Patriots, Brady, NFLPA and pretty much everyone in the NFL wins. The final remarks would be that Brady beat the NFL. He single handily made the NFL back off.
Obviously, there are a lot of reasons why this case has been as repetitive, vexing, and borderline annoying as it has been. Starting with the lack of concrete evidence, then the suspicious 240 page Ted Wells report that is laced with the words “probably”, “likely”, and “maybe”, to the ten hour long appeal hearing. This new plot point, just stirs the pot.
7/24/15
As we close month seven, and enter month eight of the infamous, and seemingly never ending Deflategate case between Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and NFL Commissioner Roger Gooddell, yet another plot point seemingly has developed. As we wait for Gooddell and the NFL’s ruling on Brady’s appealed four game suspension, things are starting to look fishier than they already have been.
As we all know, the whole case has been a runaway train, dumpster fire of an ordeal since the very beginning. The game, the press conferences, reports, punishments and now appeal process have all been shady, for lack of a better word. Just recently, Brady along with the NFLPA, announced that if any games remained on his suspension after the appeal decision, then they are headed to the courts. As you can imagine, that’s bad new for the NFL.
This new plot point has been sparked by Gooddell. In the beginning phases of the scandal and all the way through to the appeal hearing in late June, Brady was the man in the hot seat, under the microscope. Many said this case tarnished the four-time Super Bowl champion’s legacy. As more days want on, and days to months, people began to come to their senses, thankfully. Now, just about a month since the hearing, this case seems to have become more of an image problem for Gooddell.
In case you forgot, fresh off Gooddell’s desk were three heavy duty domestic violence cases all from 2013. Gooddell and the NFL were massively scrutinized and blasted by the media and the fans after their The original ruling of a two game suspension to former Ravens running back Ray Rice after he knocked out his finance and then dragged her by the hair out of an elevator created a massive out fire storm towards Gooddell. Now this.
In a lot of people’s eyes, mine included, Deflategate, among many things, is simply just one big message. It’s a message from Gooddell personally, letting everyone in the NFL, and outside the NFL know — “I’m in charge. No one is safe. Not even Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.”
The theory is actually a very good argument when you think about it. Logically, three cases of domestic violence (Ray Rice, Greg Hardy, and Adrian Peterson) should seriously have blow a deflated football in a 45-7 blow out game right out of the water. But they didn’t, because Gooddell didn’t let them. Deflategate could have ended a long, long time ago. Instead, Gooddell slapped Brady with a mind boggling four game suspension which he obviously knew Brady would appeal and then the battle of power began.
It’s almost like this is one of those master plans that villains make in movies that took months of planning. I’m not saying Brady’s legacy is sitting in the palm of Gooddell’s hand, of course not, but what is sitting in the palm of the Gooddell’s hand, is potentially Gooddell’s legacy as an NFL Commissioner.
Lets just say Gooddell rules that none of Brady’s games are removed (which is insane to even think about) and his four game suspension sticks, then yes Gooddell would have completed his objective of, “No one is safe.” However, even Patriots naysayers would whisper to themselves “what the…” if that happened, followed by the NFLPA more than likely winning in court.
Roger is in a tight spot to say the least. If he doesn't give Brady all four games back then NFLPA will have no problem showing up in court, but if he does give Brady back all four games then the Patriots, Brady, NFLPA and pretty much everyone in the NFL wins. The final remarks would be that Brady beat the NFL. He single handily made the NFL back off.
Obviously, there are a lot of reasons why this case has been as repetitive, vexing, and borderline annoying as it has been. Starting with the lack of concrete evidence, then the suspicious 240 page Ted Wells report that is laced with the words “probably”, “likely”, and “maybe”, to the ten hour long appeal hearing. This new plot point, just stirs the pot.
