So the Patriots got caught “cheating” again.  Ten years after Spy-Gate the franchise has been flagged for massaging league approved footballs to their liking.  Everyone has their preference on how footballs are used during games, that’s why the league gives each team 12-within a specific set of specifications.  This was not a one-time deal.  The coach and quarterback can deny all they want but this organization has a reputation for trying to find ways around the rules, call them loopholes if you will, or if you are so inclined call them blatant cheaters. 

The league, and more specifically, commissioner Roger Goodell do not like to be shown up.  The last time the Patriots were caught attempting to circumvent the rules the league took their first round draft pick and fined the owner and coach.  Let’s note that this is not Bounty-Gate, there was no intent/monetary motivation to injure players.  This was another attempt at outmaneuvering the enemy, having and using more information than the opponent to gain an advantage.  In the grand scheme of things this wouldn’t change the fact that the Patriots crushed the Colts in the AFC Championship game.  What it does is show that there is no team or player who can be bigger than the league.  Brady stated that he could not tell the ball was different despite handling the ball on every offensive snap.  D’Qwell Jackson, a linebacker intercepted the ball one time and felt the difference.  Sure Tommy. The coach, who is by nature a micromanager, states that the footballs and their condition are unknown to him.  Sure coach.  This coach has been in the same organization for just as long as the quarterback, so their preferences are known by the equipment staff.  You won’t find a text message or email from either one asking for the balls to be deflated under the league specifications.  The equipment guys know and have known for years what to do.   

What Goodell can and should do are different things.  With the team already having been punished for attempting to get around unspecific rules Goodell should match or up the consequence for this transgression to show the rest of the league and America that he is serious about the integrity of the game overall.  If he is lax with his consequence, especially after the Ray Rice debacle this past off season, his office loses more prestige and perhaps more importantly 31 other coaches/GM’s try to find other ways to get a tactical advantage for their team.  He would in essence be inviting a culture of cheating. 

How does this affect the Bills?

The numbers show they don’t fumble at the same rates as other teams in the league, which could just be good coaching if the difference wasn’t so wide between them and the next team.  This is ancillary evidence sure but it shows that the Patriots have been playing with an advantage for years.  Like every other team in the league the Bills should be mad.  Then they should look in the mirror and ask themselves if they are willing to cut corners and enter “grey areas” to gain competitive advantages over other teams.  In hindsight the answer will be unanimous if we asked the 31 other GM’s today if they would do this.