Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
There is nothing more unimpressive than a sport handing down punishment that makes a splash, but secretly could be a whole heap of nothing in the long run. And this is what you get when you take your time and break down the New England Patriots’ penalties after being found guilty of “conduct detrimental to the integrity of the NFL” in the Deflategate case.
Let us start with the light work. A $1 million fine is nothing to a franchise that was listed as being worth $2.6 billion by Forbes in 2014. Second, the loss of a first-round pick in 2016 is not a very stiff hit to the team known for thriving off of late-round picks anyway. In reality, the stripped fourth-round pick in 2017 may hurt more, yet not as much as the prospect of Tom Brady actually missing the first four games of next season.
The four-time champion and future first ballot Hall-of-Famer would sorely be missed from an organization that has been pretty much nothing without him since he took over for Drew Bledsoe in the postseason of 2001. And his reputation is poised to take a hit, however, as his smug, uncooperative nature with Ted Wells’ investigation led to the report’s conclusion that the quarterback was “more probable than not” in on plans to compromise game balls.
After years of being slapped on the wrists for cheating scandals, missing four games for tampering with footballs feels like commissioner Roger Goodell finally got something right on his initial try. That is until you realize that Brady will appeal his suspension with the chance of an independent arbitrator knocking his penalty down to one game, two games or even none — much like the commissioner’s other calls have been overturned recently.
Goodell’s attempt to be heavy handed may come off as impressive to the masses, but we all know that the New Orleans Saints do not feel the same. But hey, they do say, “if you’re not cheating, you’re not trying”, and in the end the Patriots still get to keep their rings.
Richard Nurse is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @blackirishpr or add him to your network on Google.
