Quote:At the end of the day, it's clear there is no "smoking gun" that links it to Brady.  But this is not a criminal trial.  "Beyond a reasonable doubt" is not nessary here...  

 

But we know where each other stands.  

 

I respect your perspective on this.  I just disagree with the outcome here.  In my mind it's clear.  But your point is true.  There is no smoking gun.

 

But I'm telling you, I can't stand the fact that the Patriots have dodged yet another bullet.

 

As for Goodell, it's clear he bungled this entire thing.  It's a total cluster job, and lets face it...  EVERYONE loses.  

 

Loser---Patriot reputation

Loser---Brady's reputation

Loser---NFL Reputation

Loser---Goodell's reputation...

 

I mean, seriously, nobody comes out of this looking good.  Nobody.

 

Fully agree.  But that would have been completely avoided if one of two things happened.

 

1.  The league had actually enforced their rules instead of trying to set a trap (a very poor one at that.)

 

2.  The league had followed their own rules and stuck with a team punishment/fine.

 

Goodell let it get personal, and he got burned.

 

I don't think it was as much about trying to nail the Patriots, as much as it was Goodell trying too hard after his previous screwups to get this one "right" for once.

 

The harder he tried, the more he got wrong with the investigation/prosecution of Brady.

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