Lately, whenever you see a journalist interview someone about a volatile subject, there is always that feeling after the interview that the journalist was too soft; they didn’t ask the right questions. That was laid to rest when I saw Bob Costas’ interview with Roger Goodell about the Patriots’ illegal taping of the New York Jets defensive signals.
The question on a lot of people’s minds was why was Wade Wilson’s penalty more severe than Bill Belichick’s? Wade Wilson was fined $100,000, one-third of his salary and suspended for five games, for acquiring and taking HGH, supposedly as a treatment for his diabetes. Wade was not involved in any type of trafficking the HGH to any players. It was a personal undertaking. He is not a player; his taking HGH wouldn’t make Tony Romo be a better quarterback, so many felt his fine and consequence excessive.
Much to my surprise, Bob Costas asked that very question to Mr. Goodell during the interview. Mr. Goodell’s response was quick, decisive and concise. He said that Wade Wilson’s violation was illegal from a criminal perspective while Bill Belichick’s was only in violation of NFL rules. Add that to the fact that he holds coaches to a higher standard than players, he tacked on an extra game of suspension to Wade’s punishment.
My hat is off to both Mr. Costas and Mr. Goodell. Great questions were asked, understandable, fair answers were given and I didn’t come away feeling that some issues were skirted or double talk was thrown at me.
Only one question went unanswered: Am I the only one in America who felt that Bob Costas was interviewing the host of The Apprentice?
I also enjoyed both the Costas interview, and the Collinsworth comments before and afterwards. I think they got their arms around the issue, and Goodell seemed to have weighed his options well regarding the known violations to-date.
He also clearly left open the door for the possible (likely) additional revelations to come regarding the extent of the cheating. It's VERY hard to believe the information wasn't passed on to the QB. Almost defies logic ... why get the information if you're not going to pass it along? - it does NO good if you don't pass it along in one form or another.
Suspect there's more to come.
And Goodell needs to work more on the hair before he rises to Trumperian levels of coiffurature.
weddingdressguy
It's the perceived belief that there's to an extent a degree of guilt in both parties misdeeds. Whilst I can appreciate what Wilson and Belichek have done. Neither have escaped without their dignity still being in tact. And to my mind the severity of the punishment levied shouldn't make a difference.
Wilson on the one hand knew that by doing what he's allegedly done opened himself up to all sorts of allegations. Beliechek also was in the same boat. The real situation we ought to be looking at is the fact both got caught thinking that they could gget away their infractions of the rules in the first place.
ASKING THE QUESTION IS ONLY HALF THE JOB. YOU ALSO NEED THE BRAINS TO EVALUATE THE ANSWER. WAS THE COWBOY HEAD COACH WHO BROUGHT A GUN ABOARD AN AIRPLANE SUSPENDED FOR HIS CRIMINAL ACTIONS? I THINK NOT!
I constantly hear people bashing Costas, I have loved him since I was a young kid. He is always blunt and to the point and he reports like a sincere fan who wants to know the truth rather then a guy who gets paid to dance around issues.
I still do not understand why this coach is allowed just to dismissed all questions on this issue with " Is in the past and I don't care to talk about it". Will he take that kind of answer from one of his players or better yet his own son? I don't think the right question was asked. How long how you being doing this and are your superbowls wins less of an accomplishment if you where doing it that far back. I don't think there is an argument that New England is a great football team. I also think Barry Bond is a great baseball player. But they both gain an unfair and illegal advantage over their peers? That is the question Mr. Costas.
Would love to see/hear Costas on MNF. Then again, would even be better replacing Al Michaels on SNF - that guy's like fingernails on a chalkboard to me ...
Very good insight on this one. I missed the interview, thanks for letting me know. Goodell looks to be a man with a definite plan in hand. I wish him the best as the Commish, and yes, in 20 years we may not know the difference between him and 'The Don'.
Then turn Wilson over to the police - if his actions were illegal. Wilson was taking the drug for health reasons. He fined TO for being Socrates' gadfly.
I would like to ask Mr.Goodell Something.If the Raiders missed the First 52 yard FG attempt,would anybody that was not a Bronco player know that a time-out was called. I Doubt It!!That T.O. would never even be mentioned if he missed the first kick.
Larry Star gained international celebrity as the infamous eBay “Wedding Dress Guy.” It was Larry’s caustic wit that catapulted him into the limelight with what Time.com called the “funniest eBay ad ever!” That same irreverent humor can be found in his first book, Bitter, Party of One... Your Table Is Ready: Relationship Advice From A Guy Who Has No Business Giving It. (Bitterbooks. com) He’s had numerous appearances on NBC’s Today and MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Obermann and has also been the feature of many magazine and newspaper articles across the country. Touted as a modern day renaissance man, this humorist, and self-proclaim ed “sarcasmist,” is also a noted songwriter, musician, and poet. His music has been heard on the airwaves in New York and Seattle. He also penned the theme song to one of the most popular talkradio shows in New York City back in the mid-nineties, WABC’s Lionel in the Morning. His other current projects include co-authoring an advice book with Dr. Manuel Gomes, writing a cookbook, performing with his band, and completing a sequel to Bitter, Party of One.... He resides in the Seattle area, as far away from his exes as possible.
