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Thx so much for the great and revealing chart. This conversation really scares me. Is the system really rigged against our players and coaches? Us fans get caught in the crossfire.
As was "bountygate" this is a system of "fall in line ". You dont and you pay the price.
It is all the more reason to understand the NFL has an agenda. That agenda is money. Big money. And the thought process was "owners- look, you stand to make 100s of millions over the course of ownership- so what if you dont win a title, you still get wealthy and enjoy the perks only 31 other businessmen do" system. The NFL NEEDS certain teams to excel at certain times in order to maximize profits ( ie. tv rights, merchandise, viewership etc etc ). So they will, thru narratives, push toward certain teams thru media. To stoke those dollars.
ON the flip side, when you have a team like the Saints, who dont necessarily "buy in" to this system of haves/have nots ( but make great profits ), then you have punitive measures to take.
Bountygate was the first overtly punitive measure taken against a team in the HISTORY of the NFL ( by history i mean the level of punishment ). It was meant to be a " get back in line or we will ruin you " type. And for the most part, we did. Kept heads down, played football and paid the price with mediocre seasons after the punishment was levied.
This one is in the same vein, punitive in nature, for publicly decrying the "human " element that ALLOWS the NFL to push toward certain narratives under the disguise of "well its human error- mistakes are made - game is fast paced " etc etc.
We continue to fly in the face of the NFL agenda ever so slightly, yet the punitive side is much greater.
I truly hope in my lifetime that someone comes forth and blows it all to shirt with a tell all book.