PHOENIX — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell held a 45-minute news conference Friday and was asked six questions about the New England Patriots’ DeflateGate controversy.
Goodell also addressed the issue during his opening statements, which came two days before the Patriots’ Super Bowl XLIX matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
Patriots owner and CEO Robert Kraft fully supported head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady’s claims that they didn’t intentionally deflate footballs. Kraft, who usually attends Goodell pressers, wasn’t present Friday.
Check out what Goodell had to say on DeflateGate below.
“On the issue of footballs used in the AFC Championship Game, Ted Wells and our staff have been hard at work conducting a thorough and objective investigation. As you would expect, we take serious anything that will impact the integrity of the game.
“We are focusing principally on two questions: Why were some footballs used in the game that were not in compliance with the rules, and was this the result of deliberate action.
“I want to emphasize, we have made no judgements on these points, and we will not compromise the investigation by engaging in speculation. When Ted Wells has completed his investigation and made his determination based on all relevant evidence, we will share his report publicly.”
More from the press conference below (reporters’ questions in bold):
Robert Kraft said the other day that he felt that you and your office owed him an apology if nothing came out of the investigation. What are your thoughts on that matter?
“My thoughts are, this is my job. This is my responsibility to protect the integrity of the game. I represent 32 teams. All of want to make sure that the rules are being followed. If we have any information where the potential that in fact those rules were violated, I have to pursue that, and I have to pursue that aggressively. This is my job, this is a job of the league office. It’s what all 32 clubs expect, and I believe our partners and fans expect it. We will do it vigorously, and it is important to be thorough and fair.”
When (New Orleans Saints head coach) Sean Payton was suspended for Bountygate, you had said, when he said he was unaware, that, “Ignorance is not an excuse.” Will the same standards apply as you said to the integrity of the game, when you complete your investigation on these footballs. And if they were deflated by anybody, will the same standards apply or Bill Belichick?
“I want to make sure that we don’t mix issues. These are individual issues. The Saints bounty case was something, without getting into the details of it, there were allegations of that the year prior. We investigated that and did not find anything. Later, new information came to us that verified that a bounty program was in place. At that point in time, they were all on notice that bounty programs obviously were unacceptable and there were suspicions, and they shouldn’t continue to exist. So, I do hold the head coach responsible in that case. We don’t know enough in this investigation to know who’s responsible or whether there was even an infraction. When we get the facts from Ted Wells, we will certainly take all of that into account, and we will make the right decisions to protect the integrity of the game.”
Has the NFL ever tested the air pressure of footballs in the middle of the game, and how important is that as a point of reference in this investigation?
“Just so I’m clear, you said middle of the game, did you mean as play is going on?”
At halftime.
“I think we were pretty clear that we tested them in the AFC Championship Game at halftime.”
Had they ever been tested in other games as a frame of reference related to that?
“I don’t know the answer to that question. That will be something I think Ted Wells would look into, and I’m sure that we’ll provide that information.”
Do you feel like the ball controversy has taken away from the game?
(Goodell addressed second half of a two-part question, and ignored this.)
Richard Sherman alluded this the other day of possible favoritism on your part of owners, specific owners, specifically Robert Kraft and GQ even quoted a league executive as saying that he’s the assistant commissioner. How do you react to this allegation, and will you avoid having your picture taken in owners’ houses before future conference championship games.
“No, I won’t. I was at the Kraft’s residence along with season-ticket holders, sponsors, media partners that night as part of an AFC Championship party. That’s part of what we do. I was there to participate in a program which our partner CBS was taking questions from the audience. It’s something that I do on a regular basis. So, that’s not unusual.
“It’s also not unusual that I work closely with ownership, particularly someone as — like Robert Kraft, who serves on multiple committees, on broadcast committee and we spend a lot of time on that. He’s on the finance committee, he works on several important league initiatives. So, professionally, I have a relationship with him, and I also admire, respect and think very highly of him on a personal level. So, there’s no hiding from that standpoint. Since he knows me so well, and knows me and that I’m not going to do anything to compromise the integrity of the league, I think he has no doubt that I will do the right thing for the NFL.”
My question about DeflateGate is, I’m trying to sort this out, how is throwing deflated balls drastically different than throwing a spitter in baseball, which is not considered the worst crime in the world. A suspendable offense, but maybe a few games. How do you see it differently?
“Well, I can’t really respond to what happens in baseball and other sports. We have rules. We’re a league of rules. Our 32 teams, partners and fans expects us to follow those rules. And if there are rules that dictate the pressure in footballs, or there are rules about how the game is played between the white lines, we’re going to enforce those rules. And they’ll be enforced whether they’re enforced with penalties, financial penalties, suspensions, with draft choices, any number of things can be used in the context of the violation of those rules.
“Whether the competitive advantage is gained or not, is secondary in my mind to whether that rule was violated. That’s the integrity of our game. And when those rules are violated, we will take that seriously.”
Thumbnail photo via Matt Slocum/Associated Press
