Its so true

Hiding behind "integrity" NFL loses dignity

"Integrity of the game” is the noble defense the NFL gives for its Ahab-like pursuit of the New England Patriots.

Meanwhile, the dignity of the game keeps circling the drain.

You can blame and vilify [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] for grabbing torches and pitchforks over “Deflategate.”

But make no mistake, the NFL lit every torch and sharpened every pitchfork by allowing this to go where it has. The league doesn’t have documented PSIs from before the game? It has no visual proof of a person releasing air pressure? It only has one football handled by the Colts that’s kinda soft and the rest are barely soft? The NFL really has nothing but sour grapes accusations from individuals with axes to grind?

Screw it. Let the case be tried in the court of public opinion with leaked “evidence.”

And where are we now almost three weeks since the Patriots hammered the Colts and four weeks since Tom Brady advised John Harbaugh to “study the rule book?”

We are spending Saturday watching the flames lick at the resume of the greatest player of all-time, Jerry Rice.

Which sucks.

Rice’s legacy is now collateral damage in Deflategate because of the NFL’s execution of this investigation (Interestingly, it was a “review” for the first few days until the league got backed into a corner by the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady press conferences – then it became an investigation). And the 49ers [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]are being dragged out of the closet.

Haley’s proclivity for [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Even [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]while still head coach of the Baltimore Colts back in 1971, a move that cost Miami a first-round pick because of a tampering charge.


Legends of the game, rolling around in the mud, tearing at hair and gouging at eyes. Why? Because the game’s governors let a thirst for Bill Belichick and the Patriots blood blind them to what would happen if they put this “Deflategate” chum in the water as the Patriots were about to win a fourth Super Bowl and trump the legacies of all those Hall of Fame coaches and players.

I know what the Niners were. And Montana. And Rice. And Bill Walsh. I don’t think there’s ever been a better team assembled than the 1989 49ers. I give no craps about Stickum. Or cap violations.

I know what the 1970s Steelers were. Chuck Noll, Terry Bradshaw, Jack Lambert and the Rooneys. I don’t care to plumb their PED usage from 40 years ago.

But that’s where we are right now, the NFL filing its nails while former players and coaches, fans and media drag the lake for evidence of dirty-dealing.

Everybody up on their high horse trying to knock the other side into the mud of some benign BS.

Good job, NFL. Good effort.

I scoffed when Robert Kraft had the gall to demand an apology from the league if it found no evidence of wrongdoing.

Now? I think he’s right. Regardless of what the “findings” are, the NFL owes everyone an apology for the embarrassment that ensued after a not-firm-enough football was found.

Roger? Where does Jerry Rice go to get his reputation back?