Saints Fallout

Much of yesterday's national reaction to the Saints penalties were emotional in nature.  But, here's what I see: NFL management decided to deliver a shockwave in order to convince everyone of their seriousness in changing forever the nature of the league.  Due to it's size and success, the NFL is now a target.  Goodell and company simply cannot afford for this massive corporation that they run to churn out players who are physical wrecks at age 50 without proper medical attention and coverage.

I myself have not wanted to accept it, but the implications from yesterday are clear.  NFL management wants the NBA on turf.  They want skill and athleticism to define their game, not brutality.  There is too much at stake.  The penalties are almost beyond belief, but make it clear that the old culture that drove the league for so many years cannot continue.  Goodell believes that fans will continue to fill the coffers without the blood and guts of the old days.  He is probably right.

If there were any doubts before as to how serious league management and Roger Goodell are about making the NFL a completely different show, yesterday gave them the opportunity to prove it.  Our kids will grow up with a different NFL than what we did.  The headhunters will be extinct.  Games will produce 60 or 70 points, QB's will be clean, wide-receivers will dart all over the field without fear.  As I've said so many times, money rules.  And Roger Goodell gets paid a lot of it to make sure it keeps flowing.

S