Proof that Bob Kraft and Roger Goodell are in bed together
Interesting article from former player Ross Tucker about the other big revelation from the Spygate mess:
Basically, the Patriots would put a player on IR, knowing it meant he couldn’t play in a game or practice with the team for the remainder of the season. By skirting the rules and practicing him anyway, it allowed them to develop his skills during the year. A side benefit is that they were also able to give some of the older players less repetitions and, therefore, additional rest.
It’s apparent that none of Goodell’s “investigations” were thorough because it seems that it’s the media that are the ones doing most of the fact finding into the apparently high level of cheating that was going on in New England. And like steroids in baseball, it’s going to continue to trickle out and embarass both Goodell for his toothless punishments and the Patriots putting even more tarnish on what should have been one of the league’s greatest dynasties.
It’s fine for Goodell to want to “protect the shield” by going easy on the Pats, but then his penalties for the 49ers “tampering” with Lance Briggs (an incomplete phone call to Drew Rosenhaus) as well as the penalties he doles out to the players seem hollow and give the impression that he knows how deep Bill Belicheck’s rabbit hole goes and is unwilling to levy similarly harsh punishments against his buddy’s franchise. Perhaps it’s a matter of Kraft having signficant power be heading the league’s Television committee. Or perhaps all the owners subscribe to the “circle the wagons” mentality when it comes to problems. But one thing is for sure - if they don’t get ahead of this thing and use the offseason to offer a complete and thorough mea culpa, this story will never die and will take away from whatever the Patriots accomplish as well as other great stories from next season.
Yank that band-aid off, Roger.
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