FanPost

With NFL’s Latest Disciplinary Antics, Fans Have One Option To Bring Change: "Boycott the NFL."



"Deflate Gate" has dominated the headlines on just about every sports media outlet for the past two weeks as we enter SB weekend. It’s a shame that so much attention has been given to something other than the biggest game of the year in what equates to yet another black eye for the league. I’m sure the NFL would like to forget 2014 as fast as it could, yet this latest debacle of theirs offers little to know hope for a "better" season to look forward to. The Patriots have been without question the most successful franchise for the last decade, but most of their legacy has been in question due to the cheating scandals from both past and present now haunting them. From "Spygate" to the now infamous "Deflate Gate" the NFL has proven one thing in regard to situations like this: "The owners will protect their brand no matter the cost to the fans or the integrity of the game."

If anyone wants proof of this, just take a look at how the league has dealt out punishments in the past. In relation to the Pats, their 1st offense was nothing but a slap on the wrist and honestly, did any of us really expect anything more? Richard Sherman of the Seahawks brought up the obvious in stating that "As long as the league has a conflict of interests with the relationship between Goodell and Pats owner Robert Kraft, nothing is going to come of scandals like this." Sherman went even further in pointing out the hypocrisy of the league in how it threatened to suspend Marshawn Lynch for wearing "gold shoes" but won’t "deal with the Pats until after the big game for deflating footballs." I also have another stat that I think you all will find very interesting in regard to Deflate Gate. The Patriots have given up the least amount of fumbles from 2007-present by a WIDE margin over every other team in the league. Examine the chart above and ask yourself: "Is this due to good coaching, or balls that are easier to hold on to due to being under-inflated?" You do the math…

As a fan who truly loves this game, I can honestly say that I’m walking away from it and will not watch another NFL game as long as it continues in this ridiculous CBA format. As long as Roger Goodell is the commissioner, I won’t be a fan of the league. Goodell for all intents and purposes is a prime example of why no one man should have absolute power in any situation. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." Sherman is 100% correct in pointing out the NFL’s problem with the conflict of interests that currently exists between the commissioner and the owners. With regard to the Patriots, not only do they have an unfair advantage over their competition because of it, but also share one with their starting QB and the influence he has over the officials to get calls whenever he wants. For those who disagree I invite you to look at 8 years of video footage that proves otherwise. Unaltered video tapes don’t lie. That said, there is plenty of game film that shows Brady influencing refs to give him calls that other QBs don’t, particularly those who play in smaller markets. As long as this kind of nonsense continues to permeat the league, every true NFL fan who loves this game should boycott the league. The players obviously can't do this because the owners have more money than the players do, and can wait them out the way they did from the previous strike. However you, the fans can make a bigger impact by refusing to watch the games or buying any NFL apparel. The only way we will be heard is to hit the league where it will hurt them the most: "Their pocket books."


This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.