Mike Francesa On Deflate-Gate: 'This Is A Nightmare For The NFL'
NEW YORK (WFAN) -- Mike Francesa says NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell needs to mete out swift justice if it's proven the New England Patriots intentionally deflated footballs used in Sunday's AFC title game.
The WFAN host opened Wednesday's show with the Deflate-gate scandal, saying the team's alleged actions are beyond absurd considering the heavily favored Patriots would have beaten the Indianapolis Colts with a wiffle ball, golf ball or a bar of soap.
"If you're the NFL, you cannot allow this to go on," Francesa said.
The league's preliminary findings showed 11 of 12 footballs used by the Patriots were significantly under-inflated, according to ESPN. It's the latest black eye for New England, perennial winners under coach Bill Belichick but tainted by the 2007 SpyGate scandal and allegations of videotaping St. Louis' walkthrough practice prior to Super Bowl XXXVI.
The Patriots beat the Colts 45-7 to reach this year's Super Bowl. They'll face off against the defending champion Seattle Seahawks in the Feb. 1 game in Glendale, Arizona.
"This is all you're gonna hear about going into this game," Francesa said. "You think Belichick's not gonna hear about this when he goes to the media day at the Super Bowl (next week) and has thousands of reporters there asking him questions -- you don't think there's gonna be questions asked to Belichick in front of the cameras about this stuff? You don't think people are going to go in there who have nothing to do with football, who aren't afraid of him and don't care that he's gonna cut them out in the future, are going to stand in front of him and ask him these questions?
"This is a nightmare for the NFL."
Deflate-gate -- softer footballs are easier to grip -- could cost result in a hefty fine or a loss of draft picks for the Patriots.
Later in his show, Francesa wondered whether Belichick, if proven of wrongdoing, should even be allowed to coach in the Super Bowl. A slap on the wrist won't cut it. Not after the scandals that plagued the league all season long.
"They have got to have this rectified and have to have this off their plate before the teams take off for Arizona," Francesa said. "This is a colossal nightmare for Goodell and the NFL, and for (Patriots owner Robert) Kraft."
"This just put an enormous damper on the game and on the Patriots," he added. "There's no way around it."