Once again, Roger Goodell has shown the world that he has a personal vendetta against the New England Patriots.This time, it was the NFL Commissioner's inaction that gave him away.
By NOT fining Colts defensive lineman Ed Johnson for an illegal hit on Jaguars quarterback David Garrard, Goodell implicitly condoned the same behavior for which he punished New England's Vince Wilfork and Mike Vrabel.
For most NFL defensive lineman, it's apparently okay to hit a QB below the knees. If you're a Patriot, it's a cardinal sin.
Like Wilfork and Vrabel, Johnson was blocked into the illegal collision by an opponent. Latest word is that Garrard is out at least a month.
Did Johnson receive a fine?
Nope.
Did he get a warning?
Nope—at least not publicly.
And why not?
Because he plays for Bill Polian's Colts—who whine about everything.
Wilfork and Vrabel were fined for their unintentional transgressions, and suffered the adverse publicity that goes along with official punishment. I'd like to hear Goodell justify the discrepancy.
It appears that there's no end in sight for Der Fuehrer's obvious bias.
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11 months ago
the colts and bill polian whine about everything? look at you...clearly all you do is whine! take your own advise and shut up. you want more advice? stop wasting your life thinking about a hit on a gb who is a scrambling qb and if you dont get him in the legs yu might not get him at all. oh, and another thing, if you havent noticed, everyone hates the patriots and their "awww why dont we get more credit because we're the best thing since sliced bread" routine. you know how 95% of the world loved when brady LOST the AFC championship game last year to the Colts, and how that same 95% found more joy is his sad, disgruntled face than the colts even winning the game?
its because the patriots, including vrabel, rodney harrison, brady, and others are a bunch of cocky fools, soon to be humbled when they start playing teams with winning records....not their foes from the worst division in football and the tremendously overrated dallas cowboys.
from 11 months ago
Thank you for your response.
11 months ago
News flash to the colts fan above: colts and bill polian DO whine about everything. It s because of THEM that certain rules in the Defense have been altered to favor the whining colts and Na-polian. In fact in 2005 the NFL did everything it could give Manning and the Whiners a free pass to the SB unfortunately for them the Steelers didn't get the memo telling them they had LOOSE the AFC title game to Manning&Co. I can't wait until NE plays Indy next week and I'm praying they put up SIXTY points against the whining Bolts in front of all their whining pathetic fans who think ONE SB makes them anything 'special'. After that I hope NE runs the table and goes unbeaten all the way to another Super Bowl title and when Brady & Co. host their FOURTH LB over their heads I'll be sitting there with glee watching the Fuehrer trying not to chock on his tie and the rest of the NFL turn red and green
with envy and anything else.
I'm going to so pray the Sox sweep the Rockies and win another World Series title, BC wins it all, the Revs win the MLS, the Cs and Bs become strong containers for title wins, making the NE region a sports fans Champions heaven and the rest of you can all go stick your hate where the sun don't shine and even further.
Great article, Mike, "Der Fuehrer" is a proper title for the idiot running the NFL now.
11 months ago
i agree with my fellow pat's fan .the colt's do wine like little girl's and when we play them next week we will see who the better team is after all indy fansalways said tom brady is nothing special becouse he couldn't put up the number's manning has . well i think we all know who the better QB is know dont we.
11 months ago
We are all tired of the Patriots, their fans and their whining. This is just another example of it. The Patriots and their fans need to STFU and just play. The Patriots think the world should be kissing their ass and building a shrine to them. This tired act has gotten old.
11 months ago
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS.
19-0.
SUPER BOWL CHAMPS.
THE GREATEST TEAM OF THE DECADE.
POSSIBLY THE GREATEST TEAM IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF NFL.
YOU JUST CAN'T DENY THE TALENT.
11 months ago
I think you are all super funny. I am a huge Pats fan but don't really watch football otherwise. Certainly don't get riled up over it, it's just a game people!
However, if one person gets fined for doing something( intentional or otherwise ) then everyone should. That's only fair. When people in any walk of life start picking and choosing who gets punished and who doesn't when the offenders do the same exact action, that casts a bad light. One thing I hate is that sort of unfairness and dishonor. :\
I hope the Pats and Colts go into their game both unbeaten, and then I hope they BOTH play a great game and the best team wins. I hope neither team has any of their current decent players out due to injury, I want a good played game. A challenge, cause thus far the Pats haven't really been challenged, haven't really played a decent team.
If they lose, with full compliment of players, and played the best game they could...good for the Colts. They obviously played a better game and deserve it. And if they win, under the same conditions, the Pats played a better game.
Good gaming to all. :)
11 months ago
I would just like to compliment the author for being willing to take criticism and praise the same. I don't necessarily agree with his views, but I respect his ability to be a mature, grown-up person. I think that the Patriots are tremendously talented, but I don't necessarily think that Roger Godell has a "personal vendetta" against them. I can't say that I saw all three hits, but I'm sure that it is more than him making the decisions whether or not to fine each player. To imply that it is solely his decision is akin to saying that every Patriot is responsible for the "SpyGate" scandal, which we know is certainly not the case. I can't wait for the game of the decade next week.
11 months ago
Check this out. I live in Indiana and I LOVE THE PATS.
I wish them success and hope they beat the Colts
I also think this Rodger person has a major problem....not fair Colts go free cause they won the Superbowl and PATS pay. All week all I hear is hateful and I mean downright degrading the character of a man by people. I have heard people say some very vile and degrading things against Tom Brady.
I have seen this week just how many people hate the PATRIOTS. Well, that is fine. They can.
I will not change my status.....I back Brady all the way and yep still live in Indiana
11 months ago
I'm pretty sure every coach in this league knows that Goodell is a guy who wants to make name for himself as the tough commissioner. He made those statments right up front when he took over . Bill Belichick stepped over the line and didn't get caught,,,,he was Ratted Out by another coach that has bad blood with Bill. I don't think Goodell has it in for the Pats that much but as a new commissioner he had to stand behind what he said when he took the job and he did what he said he would because he was pushed into it by Mangini. I'm sure if Mangini had been a man about the whole video thing that Bill would have made sure the camera guy that had the camera wouldn't have been using the thing ever again. I have to wonder if Bill even knew the guy was doing that durring the game as a head coach is glued to the game 100% . The tape wasn't being used durring the game they were playing and only put it into a library like all the teams have. So Bill Belichick was the Fall Guy for the new commissioner and Mangini was the Rat.
I still can't think of why though Goodell would have a hate thing for Belichick ? The biggest and best of everything always seems to draw the attention of the the officials !
So,here we are with the 2007 version of the New England Patriots and all the new weapons they have for Tom to use and this thing happens. Myself I just think that this team is so over talented this year that they can't help blowing every team off the map. The other teams defense can not cover all the talent of the Pats and it looks lopsided because it is. It also looks like Bill Belichick has it in for someone as well but I don't think B.B., would play like that.. Has anyone ever heard of the Pats players bad mouth anyone or taunt them too much.
I think it's a great game without all the BS everyone tries to put into it. Whoever wins any game is the better team that day and the same goes for this weekend with the Colts..The more of your buttons they push,,the more money the league makes
10 months ago
This is nearly as weak as the false accusations of crowd-noise cheating a few weeks ago.
I'm sure you can find a few plays every week that should warrant some sort of punishment. To cherry pick one and use it as evidence of a double-standard shows how far Patriot deniers have to reach these days.
Until Randy Moss gets called for offensive PI seven times a game, Patriot fans have absolutely nothing to whine about when it comes to officiating, being punished or anything. The team gets some Michael Jordan style calls.
Further, Goodell should have forfeited their victory against the Jets and suspended Bellicheat for at least three games. Instead he delivered a weak punishment and destroyed the evidence.
Not taking anything away from their dominance, just like I wouldn't take anything away from the Bulls at their peak.
Stuff like this (in addition to the coach -taunting, running up the score, cheating, dancing on the 50-yard-line post-victory and denial of everything by sympathizers) is the reason everyone hates the Patriots. Th
9 months ago
once a cheater is exposed its to bad that they soon fall...
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