My Two Cents on Deflategate

That's it. It's over. It's finally come to an end. Well, sort of. This, of course, isn't the last "Deflategate" article to be written. Why? Simply put, because it -- like several other previous cases -- exposed a major flaw in the Collective Bargaining Agreement accepted in 2011, in which Commissioner Roger Goodell was given all power over disciplinary matters. The NFL Player's Association agreed to those terms, and now it's come back to bite them in the rear. Any logical, objective individual can acknowledge that the "Deflategate" controversy was handled poorly from the start. It was addressed in proper Goodell fashion -- wait and see how the public reacts, then do something about it, but not by-the-books. Goodell has proven time and again that he is unfit to hold sole power of player discipline. But, the NFLPA has only itself to blame for this mess. For the record, if this issue were centered around any other franchise, and I mean any other franchise, there would have been no "Deflategate." The proper punishment -- a fine -- would have been handed down and that probably would have been the end of it. But because the accused was the mighty New England Patriots -- the best and most disliked franchise -- on the heels of embarrassing the Colts 45-7 in the 2014 AFC Championship game, the public outcry that followed influenced Goodell to come down hard. The truth is, the Patriots were simply a far superior team in that game. They could have won with a beach ball. If you've heard Goodell speak, odds are you've heard him stress the importance of integrity. Funny how he seems to have none.

The battle between the NFL and Brady should have reminded players that none of them are immune to the wrath of Goodell and the NFL. Seeing how the league went after Tom Brady, arguably its best player, should serve as a wake up call to the rest of the players. If Goodell is willing to go through all of this to punish arguably the greatest quarterback of all time, then nobody's safe. Of course, that won't resonate with the majority of players. If you need proof, watch the first round of any NFL Draft over the past seven years. Each player drafted in the opening round walks across the stage and embraces Commissioner Goodell with a big bear hug. Too bad they're not wise enough to understand that bear will rip them apart in a heartbeat.

As for the Patriots, I think they'll go 2-2 in Brady's absence. The first four games are: Arizona (away), Miami (home), Houston (home), and Buffalo (home). All four teams have a strong pass rush, which makes the return of offensive line coach/guru Dante Scarnecchia all the more important. Jimmy Garoppolo showed much improvement in his second season, albeit in very limited action. He looked more comfortable in the pocket and got the ball out much quicker. If he can protect the ball and avoid mistakes, then they can win ball games. The offense still needs help at running back, though, which will be key to maintaining a balanced offense and keeping pressure off the young gun.