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this makes the most sense, and I informed my wife and daughter do not by me or anyone else in the family nfl licensed merchandiseWhether or not the cheatriots organization was directly involved, I do believe that there was some "backroom skulduggery".
I think the league wanted a strong showing for the rams this year, if for no other reason than the market size and the sheer arrogance of goodell. I truly believe that he wants to be the one at the helm when L.A. finally supports an NFL team.
To that end, I can easily see orders being given to skew the game in favor of the rams. It wouldn't even require all of the refs being "in on it". One man. At the critical moment was all it took.
A couple years ago, the refs went out on strike. There was a Saints fan (Brian Stropolo) that served as a replacement until it was revealed that he was a WhoDat. There was never any proof or even an accusation of wrong doing, but the man was removed for fear of "the appearance of impropriety".
In this game, there were refs with ties to Southern California. There have been tales of one of them having played for the rams and then the falcons. (This has been disproven, as that ref wasn't even at the game) But why is there a ref in the league with such ties? Why wasn't his eligibility for the position declined for the same reason as Stropolo was? Because the league now considers itself above ethics and morals and other such unpleasantries.
How long did Vince McMahon continue to operate the WWF as a "legitimate sport"? I see the farce that is the current incarnation of the NFL as much the same animal. Until there's some modicum of accountability; some integrity applied; some semblance of the sportsmanship that once made the "shield" what it was, rather than the money grubbing whore it now is: I'm out. I won't watch it. I won't buy or accept merchandise. And i will consciously avoid buying products from NFL sponsors.
