# Return of "Deflategate" **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 6, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401 "2015-05-06T17:33:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/241 "2015-05-19T15:14:20Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Yeah, presiding over those record setting profits for the NFL, negotiating he new CBA for labor peace for 10 years, dealing with the CTA lawsuit, and helping the huge growth of the NFL. Yep, he must be pretty dumb all right. > > He’s certainly fucked up, especially with Rice, but anyone who thinks Goodell is dumb doesn’t pay much attention. The NFL will make money with or without Goodell. The economy’s in good shape, TV deals are through the roof and popularity of fantasy football can’t help but grow viewership. You can’t deny Goodell has been a PR nightmare for the NFL. If anything, he’s an idiot for putting himself in complete power on disciplinary matters. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/242 "2015-05-19T15:40:30Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > You can’t deny Goodell has been a PR nightmare for the NFL. If anything, he’s an idiot for putting himself in complete power on disciplinary matters. I agree that he’s hasn’t been very good at player discipline issues, but that’s not the entirety of his job. By most accounts, he’s been doing well in all other aspects of being a commissioner. That’s not dumb. The NFL should create a better player discipline system, for sure. But how would you have handled deflategate that would have been any better? To my view, nothing he could have done would have been without detractors. If he doesn’t investigate, he’s a shill for the Patriots and nobody would believe it was anything but a cover-up for his buddy Kraft. And after the investigation, he had evidence that there was tampering with the footballs, so he had to enact some discipline. You could say he was too hard on the Patriots for such a minor violation, but if the punishment was less, people would say he was too lenient. There was no way in hell he would ever come out of this looking good to everyone. Nobody could have. He was either going to piss off Kraft and Pats fans, or the rest of the owners and anyone with functioning brain cells. Maybe a two game suspension, and a second round pick as punishment, but seriously, the whining and crying was going to be the same no matter what he did. And that’s what he’s there to do. He’s the fall guy, so the public has someone to denigrate and call dumb, so that the owners and teams don’t have to deal with it. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/243 "2015-05-19T16:56:50Z")
If he sticks to his guns, the whining and crying only comes from the Patriots and their fans. Halfway through the season it would blow over. All this waffling is reminiscent of Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson. Just make up you mind and hold firm on your decision. Maybe he’s not dumb, he’s just weak. He can’t do anything without knowing which way public opinion (and the owners’ opinions) is leaning. Although if he thought the Ray Rice elevator video would just hide forever, then yes, he’s dumb, too. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/244 "2015-05-19T17:27:57Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Say what? “Resolving differences” inherently _entails_ backing down. Agreed, pussy that he is… [http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/robert-kraft-drops-the-fight–says-he-ll-accept-deflate-gate-punishment-171900816.html](http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/robert-kraft-drops-the-fight--says-he-ll-accept-deflate-gate-punishment-171900816.html) ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/245 "2015-05-19T17:32:53Z")
> [@FuriousGeorge](#): > > Agreed, pussy that he is… > > [http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/robert-kraft-drops-the-fight–says-he-ll-accept-deflate-gate-punishment-171900816.html](http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/robert-kraft-drops-the-fight--says-he-ll-accept-deflate-gate-punishment-171900816.html) Lies spread by the Colts, clearly! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/246 "2015-05-19T17:35:54Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > But how would you have handled deflategate that would have been any better? Isn’t that pretty obvious? Recognize that there’s a possible problem in the league with inadequate control of the footballs and put better protective procedures in place. Please note that issues were found everywhere they were looked for. The _worst_ way to handle it is the one he followed - accept as fact a bitchy email from one team that “everyone just knows” another team is full of cheatiness, go look for a problem there and only there, and as a result impose significant competitive disadvantages on that team only - simply due to another team’s bitchiness. > [@](#): > > To my view, nothing he could have done would have been without detractors. Then you haven’t given it much thought. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/247 "2015-05-19T17:37:44Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > Lies spread by the Colts, clearly! Hater ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/248 "2015-05-19T17:40:33Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Say what? “Resolving differences” inherently _entails_ backing down. Thinking about this, you were correct about the what, just not the who. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/249 "2015-05-19T17:42:30Z")
Your reason for believing that being, what? Hope? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/250 "2015-05-19T17:43:02Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Isn’t that pretty obvious? Recognize that there’s a possible problem in the league with inadequate control of the footballs and put better protective procedures in place. Ha. When you catch someone cheating, the solution isn’t to say “okay, you’re getting punished for cheating”, it’s to say “I guess you guys got us. We’ll try to make it harder for you to cheat, but, you know, good luck.” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/251 "2015-05-19T17:50:24Z")
You’re missing a few key points there, Sarge. Now reread. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/252 "2015-05-19T18:06:38Z")
All that bluster, all that talk trying to make the NFL back down, and they just accept the penalties. I thought they were innocent! /Can’t wait to see how the narrative changes now ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/253 "2015-05-19T18:15:22Z")
They’re innocent, but in the interests of peace, harmony and the betterment of humanity, they’ve graciously elected to accept their punishment. All hail the noble heroes! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/254 "2015-05-19T18:23:03Z")
Essentially, yes. [And](https://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/the_blitz/2015/05/robert_kraft_patriots_will_reluctantly_accept_nfl_sanctions) > [@](#): > > Even in accepting the discipline, Kraft did not back off his criticism of the historic sanctions. “I made it clear after the report came out that it was not fair,” Kraft said. “There was no hard evidence. It was circumstantial. The discipline came out way over the top. It was unreasonable and unprecedented in my opinion.” IOW in return Goodell is gone in the near future. Brady and the NFLPA are not part of this deal, btw. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/255 "2015-05-19T18:25:00Z")
We’re reaching new record levels of totally wrong predictions. It’s almost as if thinking with your homer-bone rather than your brain leads to distorted perceptions, misguided judgment and absolute wrongness. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/256 "2015-05-19T18:33:17Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > If he sticks to his guns, the whining and crying only comes from the Patriots and their fans. Halfway through the season it would blow over. All this waffling is reminiscent of Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson. Just make up you mind and hold firm on your decision. What waffling? He punished them as he saw fit, and now they’ve quit the fighting over it. There was no waffling. Unless you’re in ElvisL!ves fantasyland, that is. And, if that is the case, I suggest you run. > [@Barkis is Willin'](#): > > Maybe he’s not dumb, he’s just weak. He can’t do anything without knowing which way public opinion (and the owners’ opinions) is leaning. Again, that’s his job. His job is to protect the shield, gauge public opinion and try to balance the opinions of 32 different owners. I really don’t think you get to yell at him for doing his job. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/257 "2015-05-19T18:56:04Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > We’re reaching new record levels of totally wrong predictions. If you have some other, contrary facts to present to us that most reasonably lead to a different prediction, O Self-Proclaimed Master of Fact, kindly enlighten us. Right after you come up with a factual explanation for why your Steelers don’t belong near the top of the Cheat Chart. We’re still waiting for that. Not holding our breath, though, it being you. #rapeisbad ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/258 "2015-05-19T19:08:40Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > If you have some other, contrary facts to present to us that most reasonably lead to a different prediction, O Self-Proclaimed Master of Fact, kindly enlighten us. > > Right after you come up with a factual explanation for why your Steelers don’t belong near the top of the Cheat Chart. We’re still waiting for that. Not holding our breath, though, it being you. > > #rapeisbad It’s hard to pull off the “we” shit when absolutely nobody agrees with you. I mean, even people potentially sympathetic to your orientation on the matter explicitly distance themselves from you. When you’re standing somewhere by yourself talking about what “we” believe, it just looks a little crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Subterraneanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Subterraneanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subterraneanus)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/259 "2015-05-19T19:09:10Z")
Few things are as pathetic as a fanboi with the vapors. Good grief. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/260 "2015-05-19T20:00:02Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Essentially, yes. [And](https://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/the_blitz/2015/05/robert_kraft_patriots_will_reluctantly_accept_nfl_sanctions) IOW in return Goodell is gone in the near future. > > Brady and the NFLPA are not part of this deal, btw. Just for shits and giggles… So what if Goodall gets canned? Do you expect the next commish to vindicate the Pats and penalize the Colts? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401.md?page=14)