Investigation into Commanders sale shows NFL's hypocrisy from Deflategate scandal
The NFL is showing double standards in their investigations about Dan Snyder's malpractices in his ownership of the Washington Commanders. While the league was harsh on punishments for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots due to the Deflategate scandal, some of Snyder's similar acts are not going to be penalized for now.
A Patriots-based website named Pats Pulpit recently remembered how harsh the league was about punishing Brady, even though science proved that what happened to the footballs that day was a result of the cold temperatures. Now, they're not willing to punish the Commanders' owner under the same margins.
Roger Goodell's different stances in these cases show that, even though he's a good owner for the league based on what it has achieved under his tutelage, he needs to be consistent on how to deal with certain problems.
Goodell punished the Patriots and Brady for not collaborating but is giving a pass to the Commanders
Let's not forget that, according to the famous Ted Wells report, one of the main problems with Brady's investigation is that he refused to help the league on the matter, and hence they wanted to punish him badly.
[T]he ability to conduct an investigation — whether by NFL staff or by independent parties retained by the NFL — ultimately depends on cooperation ... [T]he NFL is entitled to expect and insist upon the cooperation of owners, League employees, club employees and players in a workplace investigation and to impose sanctions when such cooperation is not forthcoming, when evidence is hidden, fabricated, or destroyed, when witnesses are intimidated or not produced upon reasonable request, or when individuals do not provide truthful information.
So, why is Goodell so okay with what Snyder is doing? Why is he not concerned about the owner declining to be interviewed by attorney Mary Jo White? The league's double standard is what concerns Patriots fans at the moment.
“I’m not going to speculate,” Goodell said. “I think Mary Jo White makes the determination who she speaks to, and when she speaks to them. That’s what she should do. We’ll allow her to do her job.”
The league should be ready to punish the Commanders in the same way.