As much as Patriots fans "gushed love" for QB Tom Brady during the Super Bowl parade yesterday, they also "reveled in their contempt for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who is approaching A-Rod/Bucky Dent-level villainy," according to Mark Arsenault of the BOSTON GLOBE. Chants of "Where Is Roger?" often "broke out along Boylston Street," and some fans shouted "unprintable things about Goodell" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/8). Boston Police said that 1 million fans "braved the snow and rain" to attend the parade (BOSTON HERALD, 2/8). USA TODAY's Mike Coppinger notes fans chanted "(Expletive) Goodell, (Expletive) Goodell." Some fans -- "including children -- held signs containing expletives directed at Goodell." Some of the "safe-for-work signs include: 'Not My Commissioner,' 'Goodell Hates Puppies,' and 'Goodell Listens to Nickelback.'" Patriots S Devin McCourty during the parade could be seen "holding a sign with the words 'Straight Outta Suspension'" (USA TODAY, 2/8). In Boston, Jaclyn Reiss notes Brady during the parade "rode in a duck boat that was draped in a T-shirt sporting the words, 'Roger that,' along with a picture of five rings." In the illustration, the most recent Super Bowl ring was positioned on the middle finger (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/8). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Michael David Smith noted the middle finger was "emphasized on a shirt bearing the first name of the commissioner who suspended Brady for Deflategate." Smith: "Is that obvious enough?" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 2/7).
PLAY LIKE A CHAMPION: FS1’s Colin Cowherd said of the Patriots, “They’re the reigning dynasty. Aren't they sort of above this? Let me get this straight. You want me to believe the NFL's got it in for the Patriots? That’s what you want me to believe? It's just looks so small. It's very Boston, very provincial. ... Just a crankiness that just embodies the city.” FS1’s Jason Whitlock: “It’s way too small and I think it undermines a larger message they could be riding on. ... It's unbecoming of champions" (“Speak for Yourself,” FS1, 2/7).
LEADERSHIP QUALITIES? ESPN’s Michael Wilbon said of Patriots DC Matt Patricia having a T-shirt with Goodell wearing a clown nose, “Was it appropriate dress for somebody who might like to work somewhere else some day? Maybe not, unless you’re aligned with a team where the owner doesn’t particularly like Roger Goodell, and most of them do. ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser: “It is a funny shirt. I believe that it represents the feeling of everybody on the Patriots -- the players, the coaches, and everybody in management. That's how they feel about Roger Goodell. It is not appropriate to wear. ... It’s a gesture of contempt for the office of the commissioner. You could fine him, you could. I think they won't” (“PTI,” ESPN, 2/7). FS1’s Whitlock said of Patricia’s shirt, “What NFL owner is sitting there saying, ‘Oh yeah, this is my head coach, who is going to troll my boss, someone in charge of discipline’? … If I was an NFL owner, I'd strike him off my list of potential head coaches” (“Speak for Yourself,” FS1, 2/7). ESPN’s Marcellus Wiley said, “I disagree with him wearing the shirt. I disagree with the fact that he wants to take issue with Roger Goodell, in this respect, because the greatest victim of all of them was Tom Brady, and Tom Brady's taking the high road” (“SportsNation,” ESPN, 2/7).
RHODE TRIP: In Boston, Chris Mason noted Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski and a few teammates "went with the Kraft family to a rally" at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence following the parade in Boston. Gronkowski during his turn at the microphone asked, "Hey, what do you guys think of Roger Goodell?" He then yelled, "Boooooooooo!" The crowd "was delighted" (BOSTONHERALD.com, 2/7). In Providence, Mark Reynolds notes Dunkin' Donuts was "expected to bear the costs" of the rally in Providence. As part of its arena naming-rights deal, the coffee-and-doughnut chain "has rights for $50,000 worth of special events at the arena." The company "decided on short notice to apply that toward the Patriots rally" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 2/8).
BILL BEING BILL: In DC, Des Bieler noted Patriots coach Bill Belichick's chant of "No days off!" during the parade yesterday caught "the attention of" the NFLPA. While "praising his players for their hard-working ways," Belichick "noted that 'there were no days off.'" He then "began pumping the Lombardi Trophy replica he was holding while repeating, 'No days off! No days off!'" Later, the union "took the opportunity to remind Belichick" via Twitter that days off are "codified" in the league’s CBA (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 2/7).
