NFL Owners Believe Goodell Abused Power In DeflateGate, But Shouldn't Lose Authority
By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- Support around the NFL for the Patriots appears to be shifting in the team's favor in the wake of Tom Brady's four-game suspension for DeflateGate. According to Bleacher Report's Jason Cole, two NFL owners - who "say they speak for several other owners" - believe that Roger Goodell abused his power in over-punishing Brady and the team for what was ultimately a minor transgression. This comes soon after others had strong words for the league's punishment levied against the team.
The unnamed owners also want the league and the Patriots to settle the case and put it in the past.
"[The owners] would like to see a settlement of the issue at this point in time, to get this issue out of the public eye," says Cole in a video report. "In the opinion of these two owners ... they believe that [the] four-game suspension for Brady is simply too much.
"They do believe that punishment is required, such as a game or two, but this is simply too much for the level of violation that we're talking about."
Although there seems to be a growing sentiment among NFL owners that Goodell abused his power in the case of DeflateGate, the two sources told Cole that they don't believe Goodell should have his power reduced in any way, despite the current CBA just about making it absolute.
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The owners are pretty clearly fearful of their own players receiving such a harsh punishment should similar cases arise. They may look to ask Goodell to reign it in on future punishments, but of course, that does no good for Brady or the Patriots right now.
The over-punishment of the Patriots in DeflateGate has become as plainly obvious as ever. When the very owners who wanted Goodell to deliver a "make-up call" for a perceived under-punishment for Spygate are now saying the commissioner went too far, it's impossible to look at it this penalty any other way.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
