Bill Simmons rips Goodell for handling of Deflategate
ESPN’s Bill Simmons joined the show to share his take on the Patriots and Deflategate.
Simmons has an issue with Roger Goodell not issuing discipline until the report is out and he can see public reaction: He criticized the Commissioner for waiting until after the Wells Report was released to decide how he will discipline Tom Brady: “[Roger Goodell] has handled so many thing so badly that it’s reached the point now where, with something like this, it took four months to release the report … and he knew everything that was in it. He knows the results before the report is released to the public and yet he doesn’t have the testicular fortitude to do anything until he gauges public reaction.”
Simmons said that it probably wasn’t as nefarious as people think. He said that they probably figured out a way to get air out of the ball in a subtle way. “It seems like such a low stakes thing,” Simmons said. “I wish [Brady] had been a little more forthright.”
Simmons says it’s silly, but people will always remember that. Simmons said it’s an “unforgiving sports culture.” Simmons says this will follow Brady and affect his legacy.