The Least Important Story That I Find Absolutely Infuriating

It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that I am an unrepentant Patriots fan.  My bias is well documented.  Even taking this bias into consideration, if you believe that a four game suspension for playing with and "likely knew" about and was "generally aware" about slightly deflated below regulation PSI footballs, is somehow warranted, I want to thank you, because now I can disregard your opinion completely on all matters of consequence.

This story is not important.  Brady will still have millions of dollars and a supermodel wife and there are a billion greater injustices in the world, but this is complete bullshit.  The NFL is run by hypocritical billionaires and Roger Goodell changes his mind as the winds of public perception change.

It's not that I don't think Tom Brady cheated, I think by the ultra-high standard of "probably", "likely knew", and "generally aware" he probably did.  So what?  All teams break the rules.  Players on every team in the league use PEDs, teams routinely tamper with each others free agent signings, the entire league has engaged in collusion, every offensive line in the league holds every game, and up until a couple weeks ago the league didn't even pay taxes.

So I say fine.  You know what? If the rules are that important suspend Brady but hold the rest of the league to the same standard.  Jerry Rice admitted to applying stick-um illegally to his gloves throughout his career in order to catch passes better.  As of right now, Rice should have to surrender his records and the 49ers should have to surrender their Super Bowl victories.  Ben Rothlesberger "likely knew" that he sexually assaulted at least two women and was "generally aware" that it was wrong.  Kick Rapistberger out of the league and remove two titles from the Steelers.  In fact, remove all Terry Bradshaw's titles too, he admitted to steroid use and implicated his teammates in it as well.  Ray Lewis covered up a murder, please Baltimore, return your trophies.  The Colts and Falcons pumped noise into their stadiums they should lose their stadiums for a season.  The list goes on.

Given the history of Goodell dishing out punishment I wouldn't be surprised if much of it is overturned on appeal.  I say give Brady a $25k fine and be done with it, but instead the NFL continues to conduct itself as if it strives for the level of integrity of professional wrestling.  If the Patriots alleged cheating was so terrible, then maybe the NFL should return all the revenue from those games.  That's dirty money and the league should have no part in it.