Obviously the NFL, of which I am a huge fan, wanted to keep this as innocent looking as possible to protect its reputation as a clean and respectable league. I fear the way Roger Goddell handled this has turned it into an escalating scandal that could further embarrass this league as well as the Patriots further. So the Patriots were cheating, they fessed up to it and accepted their punishment.
In my opinion the whole mess comes from the obvious cover up that the NFL had immediately afterward. If Goddell had initially made it public that Belichek had admitted to secretly taping opponents defensive signals from the beginning of his coaching career in New England. Along with making the tapes that the Patriots handed over public, we wouldn't be seeing all the distrust from the various media, fans, and Senator Alren Spector.
By hiding the truth as well as destroying evidence the League has really made it hard to believe anything they say. Which has just created more suspicion and controversy. I think there could be a possibility that Goddell gets canned over this whole mess (if that is even possible). Which would be a shame because I really like the other changes he has made with the league so far.
Of course everyone involved with the NFL is going to tow the company line and say that they feel that the League and the Commissioner did a thorough job and they consider the case closed. The NFL is a business and it is in the best interest of everyone involved to make this mess go away.
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