First * asterisk Super Bowl before it's played

[LandryFan]

The NFL is more concerned with cover-ups than punishments, at least when it comes to teams and coaches.

Players they'll throw the book at!

You can go back to the 49ers cheating the salary cap during their last Super Bowl victory.

The NFL and its' broom have done such a masterful job of covering that up that most people nowadays don't even know about it.

And then they destroy the evidence for Spygate, and now they'll try to sweep this one under the rug too.

Gotta keep that illusion of integrity and competitive balance intact!

I'm speaking as one of the "older" fans and speaking just for myself, but I am getting somewhat fed up with what the NFL has turned into over the years and more specifically, what it has turned into under Goodell's watch. For the younger fans, this is all they know and it's probably not that big of a deal. I know people will say "if you don't like it, then don't watch", and they would be correct. In fact, there are likely quite a few long time fans that could quit watching or caring. I think the NFL is coming to a critical point in its history (not just related to this single incident, but to many things over the last few years) and could easily end up going downhill in terms of popularity if not careful.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

None so blind they will not see and you are an example. goodell does not wipe his rear end without an OK from the owners. But you seem unable to comprehend that little FACT.

You sir, are in no position to state it as fact. None. Not today, not tomorrow... Not yesterday.... Ever.

You ok?

 

[DFWJC]

Really?

So you feel that they were the better team last Sunday and deserved that win?

Because I sure don't.

I thought they were the better team going in, but they played badly enough to absolutely lose that game and if it were the Cowboys they were playing against, we would have crushed them.

That's irrelevant.
They won the game and didn't cheat to do it.
If the better team always won, the Giants would not have been SB Champs in 2007 or 2011.
Same can be said for many others...certainly when the ravens won on that fluky bomb in Denver (where the Denver DB looked like Nelson Cruz chasing a fly ball).

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I know it won't happen, but if there ever was a time to have a boycott, this SB would be it.
So since that won't happen, I hope it's one of the lowest rated games ever.

I hear ya.. But I think a lot will tune in to see of pats lose.

In a fudged up way... This is marketing.... For the game

 

[Stash]

I'm speaking as one of the "older" fans and speaking just for myself, but I am getting somewhat fed up with what the NFL has turned into over the years and more specifically, what it has turned into under Goodell's watch. For the younger fans, this is all they know and it's probably not that big of a deal. I know people will say "if you don't like it, then don't watch", and they would be correct. In fact, there are likely quite a few long time fans that could quit watching or caring. I think the NFL is coming to a critical point in its history (not just related to this single incident, but to many things over the last few years) and could easily end up going downhill in terms of popularity if not careful.

I whole-heartedly agree with you.

I'm still a huge fan of the NFL, but that fandom isn't what it once was - specifically when it comes to the money I spend on the product. And even my current level of fandom is being tested by these repeated blunders by the league.

If the NFL doesn't clean up its' act and worry about more than the bottom line, I could very well see that bottom line shrink considerably. And when that starts to happen, these same owners who back Goodell through these mistakes will quickly turn on him.

I'm very curious as to how these rules, replays, and conduct issues will be handled going forward and what the future holds for Goodell and guys like Dean Blandino.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I'm speaking as one of the "older" fans and speaking just for myself, but I am getting somewhat fed up with what the NFL has turned into over the years and more specifically, what it has turned into under Goodell's watch. For the younger fans, this is all they know and it's probably not that big of a deal. I know people will say "if you don't like it, then don't watch", and they would be correct. In fact, there are likely quite a few long time fans that could quit watching or caring. I think the NFL is coming to a critical point in its history (not just related to this single incident, but to many things over the last few years) and could easily end up going downhill in terms of popularity if not careful.

I whole-heartedly agree with you.

I'm still a huge fan of the NFL, but that fandom isn't what it once was - specifically when it comes to the money I spend on the product. And even my current level of fandom is being tested by these repeated blunders by the league.

If the NFL doesn't clean up its' act and worry about more than the bottom line, I could very well see that bottom line shrink considerably. And when that starts to happen, these same owners who back Goodell through these mistakes will quickly turn on him.

I'm very curious as to how these rules, replays, and conduct issues will be handled going forward and what the future holds for Goodell and guys like Dean Blandino.

You both make valid points.

I liken it to a restaurant that eventually becomes a chain/franchise. It is run more business-like and loses its quality and originality from when it was smaller. More authentic.

But on the same note... its irresponsible to NOT run it more like a business. Its a bottom line/compettiive thing. vs other sports categories.


For me, if Cowboys can start winning SuperBowls... I wont care if Jerry is coaching and pitching a concert that is being held the day before or after they win a super bowl.

All Cowboys. Dont care about NFL operations.

 

[Clove]

New England are a bunch of cheating babies and I absolutely hate that franchise who's built on lies and unfair practices. If he got caught twice cheating, he's done it a lot. You don't just get caught doing things for the first time. No telling how many cheating tactics Belicheat has done over the years. He's an out right loser in my eyes. He should be banished from the league. He makes the NFL a joke. That and some of the reffing rules.

 

[SPCowboysfan9]

This was in shaping up to be an embarrassing joke.

A Shampionship!

The Seahawks don't deserve to be there and got lucky enough to beat Green Bay.

The Patriots cheated to get there and therefore don't deserve to be there either.

The 2014 season will go down as one of the darker periods of NFL history and 2015 is off to a terrible start too.

I would love to have a "dark period" like the NFL is having.....Just more fodder for the talk shows to rant about....

 

[punchnjudy]

We have:


Colts vs Cowboys - fumble recovery and Dallas got fudged

Stealers vs Seattle - refs admit to fudging up calls

Those are AFTER Super Bowl.



This is BEFORE.

Add the Bucs super bowl to the list.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...e-to-tamper-with-footballs-at-the-super-bowl/

 

[Stash]

That's irrelevant.

It's completely relevant.

They won a game they had no business winning. They 'won' based not on performance, but on trickery. Trick plays and onside kicks aren't showing you're the better team and aren't earning you anything.

When you turn the ball over 5 times, you don't deserve to be in the game, much less win it.

They won the game and didn't cheat to do it.

No, they surely did not cheat. But they didn't 'win' worthy of a Super Bowl team either, not by a longshot. Great teams don't need fake field goals and botched onside kick recoveries to win their games.

If the better team always won, the Giants would not have been SB Champs in 2007 or 2011.
Same can be said for many others...certainly when the ravens won on that fluky bomb in Denver (where the Denver DB looked like Nelson Cruz chasing a fly ball).

No, the better team doesn't always win, but it's always a disappointment when they clearly don't.

As the saying goes, 'may the best man (or team) win', not the luckiest.

 

[Stash]

I would love to have a "dark period" like the NFL is having.....Just more fodder for the talk shows to rant about....

The decreased ratings for this week's games were real enough.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

New England are a bunch of cheating babies and I absolutely hate that franchise who's built on lies and unfair practices. If he got caught twice cheating, he's done it a lot. You don't just get caught doing things for the first time. No telling how many cheating tactics Belicheat has done over the years. He's an out right loser in my eyes. He should be banished from the league. He makes the NFL a joke. That and some of the reffing rules.

Good points.

A coach that sucked in Cleveland.
Then Started cheating. Unbeknownst to all.
Lauded as one of the greatest ever.
Then caught.
No real penalty.
Continues success (now your post goes here)
Loses Super Bowls (not cheating enough)
Caught again (again your post here)

How many times has he cheated?

Should not be considered with the greats.
It's easy to design a play when you know what defense is doing.

Good god man. Your post nails it!

 

[LandryFan]

You both make valid points.

I liken it to a restaurant that eventually becomes a chain/franchise. It is run more business-like and loses its quality and originality from when it was smaller. More authentic.

But on the same note... its irresponsible to NOT run it more like a business. Its a bottom line/compettiive thing. vs other sports categories.


For me, if Cowboys can start winning SuperBowls... I wont care if Jerry is coaching and pitching a concert that is being held the day before or after they win a super bowl.

All Cowboys. Dont care about NFL operations.

Losing enthusiasm for the NFL is kind of like growing old, you don't realize it's happening until somewhere down the road, you pause and look back and think to yourself "how the hell and when the hell did that happen?". You are right in the the NFL is a business and is correct in operating to maximize profitability, but that's where true leadership and sensibility comes into play. The NFL is, IMO, taking a short term view of profitability. They may be much better off sacrificing some in the short term to gain a lot in the long term...but that's a whole discussion by itself, I suppose.

 

[LandryFan]

I whole-heartedly agree with you.

I'm still a huge fan of the NFL, but that fandom isn't what it once was - specifically when it comes to the money I spend on the product. And even my current level of fandom is being tested by these repeated blunders by the league.

If the NFL doesn't clean up its' act and worry about more than the bottom line, I could very well see that bottom line shrink considerably. And when that starts to happen, these same owners who back Goodell through these mistakes will quickly turn on him.

I'm very curious as to how these rules, replays, and conduct issues will be handled going forward and what the future holds for Goodell and guys like Dean Blandino.

The owners keep Goodell for one reason and one reason, only. The NFL has grown tremendously (profit-wise) with him as Commish. So long as they see the $$ pour in, he won't go anywhere. I think they are foolishly being short-sighted in their support of him, though.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Losing enthusiasm for the NFL is kind of like growing old, you don't realize it's happening until somewhere down the road, you pause and look back and think to yourself "how the hell and when the hell did that happen?". You are right in the the NFL is a business and is correct in operating to maximize profitability, but that's where true leadership and sensibility comes into play. The NFL is, IMO, taking a short term view of profitability. They may be much better off sacrificing some in the short term to gain a lot in the long term...but that's a whole discussion by itself, I suppose.

I agree that a person that is business savvy AND personally vested in the fans/teams best interest should be in charge. For now we have Goodell.

 

[LandryFan]

I agree that a person that is business savvy AND personally vested in the fans/teams best interest should be in charge. For now we have Goodell.

Unfortunately.

 

[Plankton]

It's absolutely deflating to have a Super Bowl tarnished with an air of deceit hanging over it.

Normally, I am really pumped up for this game, but it just rings hollow this time around. All of the cheating just needles the fans of the game.

Maybe I need to see if I can get a better grip on all of this.

 

[CowboyGil]

That's irrelevant.
They won the game and didn't cheat to do it.
If the better team always won, the Giants would not have been SB Champs in 2007 or 2011.
Same can be said for many others...certainly when the ravens won on that fluky bomb in Denver (where the Denver DB looked like Nelson Cruz chasing a fly ball).

Ouch. Another old wound that hasn't quite healed.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Sports in many ways is a reflection of life and even society. The deflated balls dont make all that much difference as far as the actual game, but they do however demonstrate Belicheat's and the Cheatriots whole outlook on the league and their participation in it. Lets be honest here, Bill does not respect the game nor others who are participants. Looks at how he treats other coaches after games he loses. He's been caught cheating before and his overall demeanor as displayed in this deflate gate is to thumb his nose at the league and the rules. He thinks he is above it all. He does not represent the league well in any way. Not in how he adheres to the rules. Not in how he treats others, even the mediots. He is a POS.

Jerry recently mentioned something about the league being in a position to effect social change. That is a responsibility. Its easy for the league to promote a pro gay agenda as its in vogue and it keeps them from being criticized. There is no risk involved in going with the flo. But what about integrity issues and the spirit of true and fair competition? What about them promoting personal honesty and integrity for every person associated with the league?

What exactly is the league promoting? They are promoting whats best for the "SHIELD" they say. They are promoting whats best for the league overall. The ARE NOT promoting what is simply right or wrong. What they promote is just a relative morality so to speak. The message sent is that its not about things being right or wrong in and of themselves, but how does it affect the league?

The NFL just reflects where most people are morally in our society. Its not a morality based in what is simply right or wrong, absolutes. Its a relative morality that is decided by an individual, or a group, or even a society. Its a flexible morality. It teaches and reaffirms the idea we see in society that says its okay to determine what you think is right or wrong based on your perspective.

The NFL could make a huge statement with these deflated balls and send a powerful message to an entire nation about morality, and the consequences of doing wrong, cheating in this instance. Its a message that would demonstrate the importance of values and things that really matter in life. Instead they will send a message that the game and the $$$$$ are whats truly important and right and wrong ultimately is of less significance. And this is just a reflection of where we are as society.

 

[Plankton]

Sports in many ways is a reflection of life and even society. The deflated balls dont make all that much difference as far as the actual game, but they do however demonstrate Belicheat's and the Cheatriots whole outlook on the league and their participation in it. Lets be honest here, Bill does not respect the game nor others who are participants. Looks at how he treats other coaches after games he loses. He's been caught cheating before and his overall demeanor as displayed in this deflate gate is to thumb his nose at the league and the rules. He thinks he is above it all. He does not represent the league well in any way. Not in how he adheres to the rules. Not in how he treats others, even the mediots. He is a POS.

Jerry recently mentioned something about the league being in a position to effect social change. That is a responsibility. Its easy for the league to promote a pro gay agenda as its in vogue and it keeps them from being criticized. There is no risk involved in going with the flo. But what about integrity issues and the spirit of true and fair competition? What about them promoting personal honesty and integrity for every person associated with the league?

What exactly is the league promoting? They are promoting whats best for the "SHIELD" they say. They are promoting whats best for the league overall. The ARE NOT promoting what is simply right or wrong. What they promote is just a relative morality so to speak. The message sent is that its not about things being right or wrong in and of themselves, but how does it affect the league?

The NFL just reflects where most people are morally in our society. Its not a morality based in what is simply right or wrong, absolutes. Its a relative morality that is decided by an individual, or a group, or even a society. Its a flexible morality. It teaches and reaffirms the idea we see in society that says its okay to determine what you think is right or wrong based on your perspective.

The NFL could make a huge statement with these deflated balls and send a powerful message to an entire nation about morality, and the consequences of doing wrong, cheating in this instance. Its a message that would demonstrate the importance of values and things that really matter in life. Instead they will send a message that the game and the $$$$$ are whats truly important and right and wrong ultimately is of less significance. And this is just a reflection of where we are as society.

George Young, the late former GM of the Giants, was quoted as saying that Bill Belichick was the worst human being that he had encountered in all of his years of football.