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Leagues and Governing Bodies

Reaction Mixed To NFL's Punishment In Deflategate Scandal; Did League Overreact?

The punishment handed down by the NFL regarding Deflategate was "stunning" and "borderline astonishing," according to Peter King of THE MMQB. The "crushing harshness contained this message to the rest of the NFL" that Commissioner Roger Goodell "wanted to send: We do not play favorites" (MMQB.SI.com, 5/11). ESPN BOSTON's Mike Reiss wrote the NFL "crushed the Patriots" with an "extreme reaction despite not having definitive proof" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 5/11). In N.Y., Gary Myers wrote Goodell "crushed" QB Tom Brady by "completely buying into the shaky connect-the-dots investigation" that was the Wells Report. Myers: "I know Goodell is consumed with protecting the NFL shield ... but he went overboard sitting Brady down for 25% of the season." Myers adds the punishment is "deflating for a league that has been just one train wreck after another." Myers: "It's not a good look for the NFL at all" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/12). Also in N.Y., Mike Lupica writes Goodell, "no matter how tough he still wants to look, wasn't looking for a fight like this" with somebody of Brady's stature (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/12). SI.com's Don Banks wrote the NFL "absolutely hammered" the Patriots and Brady with its ruling, an "edict that seemingly lacked for nothing, save perspective." The NFL "apparently doesn't do nuance any more" (SI.com, 5/11). In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy writes the NFL has "determined that the Patriots are serial cheaters," and today is a "field day for the army of Patriots enemies." After a "year of scandals, Goodell elected to pacify 31 other franchises by spanking the Patriots." The team was "not well-served by its time-tested strategy of denying everything and flipping off the authorities." Shaughnessy: "This is bad, folks. Your football dynasty is no longer credible" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/12). In Massachusetts, Glen Farley writes the NFL "hit Brady and the Patriots, and it hit them hard" (PATRIOTLEDGER.com, 5/12). In DC, Mark Maske calls the penalties "severe" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/12).

WAS JUSTICE SERVED? In Atlanta, Jeff Schultz wrote the Patriots "got smacked in the face ... and they deserved it" (AJC.com, 5/11). In N.Y., Steve Serby writes, "This was arrogance intercepted. This is justice." Serby: "Spygate, Deflategate ... when will these guys ever learn?" (N.Y. POST, 5/12). NBC’s Matt Lauer: “Nobody can accuse Roger Goodell of going soft on a friend in Robert Kraft or a superstar (in Brady)” (“Today,” NBC, 5/12). YAHOO SPORTS' Eric Adelson wrote this is a "condemnation of the Patriot Way." The debate over what happened in Deflategate became a "referendum on the character" of Brady and the Patriots. NFL Exec VP/Football Operations Troy Vincent's role here "shouldn't be diminished." He "sent a loud signal that the league has embraced a new moral code." The standards for behavior, "on and off the field, are far higher now" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/11). In Dallas, Rick Gosselin writes the NFL "remained consistent." Gosselin: "If you violate the integrity of the game, you sit for four games" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/12). In Boston, Ron Borges writes, "If you monkey with the game, you're going down for the count" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/12). On Long Island, Bob Glauber writes it was a "strong and just set of sanctions" from Vincent. A "lesser set of penalties would have sent a weak message from the league office" (NEWSDAY, 5/12). In Pittsburgh, Bob Smizik writes "justice has been served" as the Patriots were "kicked in the teeth" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/12). In L.A., Bill Plaschke writes under the header, "'Deflategate' Confirms It: Tom Brady, Patriots Leaving Legacy Of Lies" (L.A. TIMES, 5/12). THE MMQB's King called the punishments a “sledgehammer killing an ant” (“CBS This Morning,” 5/12).

BELIEVE IN THE SHIELD: In Chicago, David Haugh writes Goodell comes out "looking like a staunch defender of the shield." The NFL "told Brady we think you're a liar and your team cheats," and 31 other teams "screamed, hallelujah" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/12). USA TODAY's Jarrett Bell writes, "You can't call the NFL soft on punishment now. Not when it comes to integrity of the game" (USA TODAY, 5/12). In San Diego, Kevin Acee writes, "Good for Roger Goodell and the NFL." Goodell went "old-school God-ell on Brady and the Pats" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/12). ESPN’s Trent Dilfer said of the NFL, "I almost feel it’s their way of justifying their God complex. If you talk to the inner sanctum of the NFL ... they will all tell you they feel that the league has a God complex, and when they come down with these types of penalties, they’re showing how powerful they are” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 5/12). In Pittsburgh, Ron Cook writes, "Good for Goodell. This was one of the commissioner's better days" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/12). ESPN’s Adam Schefter: “This is a new day and age in the NFL where the NFL is determined to prove that it is not going to take anything that compromises the integrity of the game, that causes the league undue blemishes on its brand; it’s not going to take anything like that lightly” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 5/11). Pro Football HOFer Michael Strahan said because of the recent off-field issues the league has been dealing with, the NFL “wants to send a message that no matter what, if you are in violation of anything that makes this league look bad, you will be punished.” ESPN's Jesse Palmer added, “They’re going to protect the shield” (“GMA,” ABC, 5/12).

A JOB WELL DONE: In Baltimore, Mike Preston writes it "appears NFL officials have finally gotten tired" of the Patriots "cheating, too" (Baltimore SUN, 5/12). ABC’s David Muir said the NFL is "making it clear here, they needed to send a statement" (“World News,” ABC, 5/11). NBC’s Bob Costas: "The NFL has been under lot of heat for player misbehavior ... and there's been heat on Commissioner Roger Goodell. So in that sense, the Patriots and Brady are victims of the atmosphere surrounding the league and of their own marquee status. If … the league appeared to be soft on Brady then there’d be hell to pay” (“Nightly News,” NBC, 5/11).

MISSED OPPORTUNITY? In Indianapolis, Gregg Doyel rhetorically asks, "Brady and the Patriots were punished on Monday? Nah. They were patted on the head and told not to do it again" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/12). In L.A., Sam Farmer in a front-page piece notes reaction to the penalties "was mixed" (L.A. TIMES, 5/12). In K.C., Sam Mellinger writes Goodell's ruling was "like a poser security guard overcompensating for past mistakes by doubling down on hard justice." Goodell can "only have a fading memory of a time when his punishments were credible" (K.C. STAR, 5/12). SPORTING NEWS' Vinnie Iyer writes the NFL one day "will get this whole suspension thing right." The NFL "still has no idea what it's doing with discipline in the name of preserving the game's 'integrity,' except trying to look [as] good as possible with as many people as possible." The league "needed a villain and a scapegoat, and conveniently, ironically, its biggest hero was available to be just that" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 5/12). In DC, Deron Snyder writes a 243-page report and "heavy-handed penalties only proves how exceedingly awful the NFL can be at handling the pressure of its perch" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 5/12). In N.Y., William Rhoden writes the bar "has been set so low that the penalties imposed on Brady and the Patriots actually seem harsh." Goodell has "desperately tried to regain his law-and-order mojo," but "all he did on Monday was hold serve" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/12).

GOODELL GONE TOO FAR? MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough said the punishment is too severe and added, “I don’t understand why the NFL front office can’t ever seem to get it right.” MSNBC’s Mike Barnicle said the NFL “walks around as if they’re a nuclear power, talking about protecting the shield” (“Morning Joe,” MSNBC, 5/12). SI.com’s Jon Wertheim: “The defining theme of the Goodell era appears to be another example of arbitrary justice based on appearance and public outcry and nothing firmer” (“Fox Sports Live Countdown,” FS1, 5/11). In Minneapolis, Chip Scoggins writes Goodell "lowered the boom in this case because he wanted to remove any doubt about whether he had the backbone to punish the league’s brightest of stars and a professional crony" in Patriots Owner Robert Kraft (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/12). WEEI-FM's Kirk Minihane said of the penalties levied to the Patriots and Brady, “This is an unbelievable, historic overreaction by Roger Goodell. Goodell butchered Ray Rice knocking out his girlfriend. If that video doesn’t exist, this isn’t happening today." Minihane said he believes Brady is "guilty, but he’s being suspended four games because he didn’t hand over his telephone to a bunch of lawyers to look at his text messages" (“Early Edition,” CSN New England, 5/11).

GETTING PERSONAL: CSNNE.com's Tom Curran wrote a "weakened" Goodell "saw a chance to get his swagger back by going after the most successful organization of the millennium and the most accomplished quarterback of the Super Bowl era." This was "personal from the start." Deflategate "wasn’t an embarrassment for the NFL." It was "an opportunity," and the league "treated it as such every step of the way" (CSNNE.com, 5/11). In Providence, Mark Patinkin writes Goodell "took the coward's way out and played to the mob." The punishment "sadly showed" what Goodell "is made of" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 5/12). A front-page BOSTON HERALD editorial states the conclusions reached by Vincent in his "incredibly officious letters to the team and to Brady would be laughed out of court based on the evidence in hand." The editorial: "What about the integrity of a league that makes up rules and punishments as it goes along?" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/12). In Boston, Steve Buckley writes under the header, "NFL Out Of Control With Tom Brady Ban" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/12). YAHOO SPORTS' Frank Schwab listed "five reasons" why the NFL got the punishment "dead wrong" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/11). FORBES.com's Patrick Rishe wrote a "big part of the story is the league saving face with fans and other owners" (FORBES.com, 5/11).

SALVO TO OTHER TEAMS: YAHOO SPORTS' Charles Robinson wrote other NFL owners "should all be a little worried." Goodell "didn't just raise the bar on top-to-bottom accountability," he "sharpened it and then dangled it overhead like a guillotine." Right now, there is "no clarity as to where the line is drawn" when it comes to league punishment. Robinson: "Or, what the sliding scale is for 'integrity' violations. Do repeated DUIs now count? Are PEDs part of the equation?" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/11). FS1’s Mike Garafolo said of Brady's suspension, "The fact that it’s four games, you know taking performance-enhancing drugs and taking a pound of pressure out a football, similar kind of deal. You’re trying to affect the outcome of the game by means that other people don’t use or don’t have, so I think it’s pretty clear that they made a strong statement about the integrity of the game or at least how important they think it is” (“Fox Sports Live Countdown,” FS1, 5/12).

I WILL SURVIVE: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jason Gay writes how the hype around the story continues to build: "You get the Scandal, the Suspension, and the Return with a Vengeance. We know that Tom Brady may not always win, but football always does" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/12). In Toronto, Bruce Arthur writes Brady's suspension "doesn’t matter because in Week 1 people will watch the Patriots without Brady, and in Week 6 people will watch the Patriots with Brady. People always watch" (TORONTO STAR, 5/12).

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