Roger Goodell Says Appealing The DeflateGate Ruling Isn't About Tom Brady

BSO- “This is about our rights in the CBA,” Goodell told ESPN’s Mike and Mike, via NFL.com. “That’s all it is. We filed this litigation initially to reinforce the fact that we had this right in our collective bargaining agreement. We had a decision from Judge Berman, we disagree with it, that’s what appeals courts are for.”

“It has nothing to do with any individual player or anyone else,” Goodell said. “It has something to do with Judge Berman’s decision and that’s what we’re appealing.”


I hate Roger Goodell just as much as any other self-repespecting NFL fan. As a matter of fact, I probably hate Roger Goodell more than most self respecting NFL fans after the disaster that was BountyGate. However, that doesn't mean that I can't admit when he is right. Appealing the judge's decision on DeflateGate isn't about punishing Tom Brady, it's about justifying the 6 months of retardation that followed last year's Super Bowl. It's not about smearing Tom Brady's name, it's about defending his own integrity (or lack thereof). Yeah, I am sure that Roger Goodell still wants Tom Brady suspended, but that's only because a Tom Brady's suspension would mean that he isn't a lying buffoon that makes $40 million a year to be incompetent at his job. 

I highly doubt that Roger Goodell, who is close with Robert Kraft, intentionally went out of his way to attack the New England Patriots. If anything, accusing one of his more prestigious franchises of wrongdoing is counterproductive to his job as commissioner. He got hoodwinked. Someone got in his ear and convinced him that DeflateGate was a big deal. The news that some footballs may have been under-deflated got out and his first instinct was to overreact. Roger Goodell wasn't in on some conspiacy to take down one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. This isn't the WWE. You don't WANT controversy surrounding the biggest names in the sport. The problem is that he will never admit when he's wrong, and according to a federal judge he was wrong. Not for attempting to suspend Tom Brady, but for believing it was necessary.

It doesn't matter that giving the commissioner the ability to play judge , jury, and executioner is absolutely insane. The fact of the matter is that it was contractually agreed upon, and it would be stupid for Roger Goodell not to fight to keep that undeserved right. If I won the lottery I would still want my money insured. Just because I didn't earn it, doesn't mean I don't want to keep it. Roger Goodell may be an idiot (he is), but he's an idiot that realizes how much he stands to lose. Tom Brady is just a pawn being used in an effort to make sure he doesn't. So no, it's not about Tom Brady, but Tom Brady's reputation would be the collateral damage.