1) I do not think the NFL is rigged, in the sense that the outcomes of games are in any way tainted; 2) I like much of what Goodell has attempted to do, and I think he has an engaging style; 3) I think he made serious, serious errors in his management of the Patriots situation.
I agree that Little Bill the Patriot has been allowed to spout a good deal of "what me worry" nonsense that would have gotten a player called to the carpet and perhaps threatened with further punishment.
I think it is virtually impossible to square the punishment Wade Wilson received with that meted out to Belichick, in terms of percentage of income, and also in that Wade was forced from the sidelines.
I think it is very likely a player caught in some form of cheating scandal would have been removed from the field for at least some period of time.
I also think Goodell probably, through inexperience, boxed himself in. He handed down that ridiculous punishment to Wilson because he was determined to be a reformer. Then he found that other, more important things can come along to be punished. Wilson was the victim of an overzealous commissioner. The Pats benefited from a more measured commissioner, one who had begun to see things a bit more sharply.
Worst for the NFL: More will come out on this thing. Someone will write a book. Already, it's been shown that the Pats also allowed players on IR to practice, in violation of the rules. More stuff will surface, almost certainly.
And there is no way to bring back the destroyed materials. They might have been inocuous, but the NFL will never be able to prove it.
This is gonna leave a scar.
