Incomplete investigation practices leave Goodell’s decision unfair

When the New England Patriots received their punishments for “deflategate,” I had to question the integrity of the NFL. Since the NFL has never experienced a scenario in which a team deflated footballs, they panicked and turned to the easiest solution possible: to use the Patriots as an example. The punishment Roger Goodell decided to give Tom Brady and the Patriots proves more than necessary, and action must occur to prevent another mishap.

In last season’s AFC championship game with the Indianapolis Colts against the New England Patriots, the NFL accused the Patriots of deflating the footballs before the game, to obtain an unfair offensive advantage. The referees did not notice anything wrong about the balls until the second half started, with the score at 17-7, New England leading. After the balls were replaced with sufficient ones, the game went on like any other, resulting in the Patriots winning 45-7. After further investigations into the controversy, Goodell suspended Patriots quarterback four games, fined the Patriots one million dollars, and took away two draft picks, creating even more conflict.

After investigator Tom Wells delved into subject, he concluded that Tom Brady “probably” had something to do with the deflation of the footballs. Brady then appealed and gave his case to Roger Goodell and the NFL, which ended in the NFL’s decision to not reduce his four game suspension.

Four games in the NFL, especially the first four, are vital to any starter’s suspension, but without a team’s four time Super Bowl winning, future Hall Of Fame quarterback can prove disastrous. Also, taking four games from a player who “probably” did something, when it was not fully investigated properly, remains nothing short of absurd. In those four games, the Patriots play a divisional game and the NFL season-opener. Divisional games stand the most important games in the regular season for every team, so missing just one can affect not just the Patriots, but the entire AFC East. Most would say four games for Brady works, and some say he deserves more, but without clear evidence that he tampered with the balls, no suspension remains necessary until it proves clear that he had something to do with it.

The one million dollar fine given to the Patriots by the NFL, ties the largest fine in NFL history. Deflating a football in a game, in which it turned out to not even matter in the end of it, got a one million dollar fine. I am sorry, but that just sounds ridiculous. As well as that, the NFL took a first round draft pick in next year’s draft AND a second round draft pick in the 2017 draft. A first round pick for a team has proven over the years to be one of the most important assets for a team, as a surplus of college players prove their readiness for the NFL each year.

Despite each punishment handed by the NFL to the Patriots acting utterly ridiculous, it does not seem like they will reduce the suspension or return the draft picks. The Patriots will just face the unnecessary consequences and do their best to retain their title as Super Bowl champions.