05-14-2015, 08:10 PM
I agree, "reasonable doubt" is not the standard in this matter...but it clearly is what the Patriots are trying to do, if only from a PR standpoint.
I do think that, while the punishment was more harsh than I expected, something like this needed to be done from an NFL marketing perspective. Far better from the league's perspective to be seen as unduly harsh on its stars, rather than unduly lenient and perhaps intentionally turning a blind eye on an issue that goes to the integrity of the game. Do that, and every borderline call by an official that goes the Patriot's way for the next season becomes, "well, what do you expect? the league let them tamper with the footballs..."
I do think that, while the punishment was more harsh than I expected, something like this needed to be done from an NFL marketing perspective. Far better from the league's perspective to be seen as unduly harsh on its stars, rather than unduly lenient and perhaps intentionally turning a blind eye on an issue that goes to the integrity of the game. Do that, and every borderline call by an official that goes the Patriot's way for the next season becomes, "well, what do you expect? the league let them tamper with the footballs..."