Peter King Says NFL Should Return Patriots Draft Picks

I’m sort of in shock, to be honest.

Sports Illustrated’s Peter King released a Monday Morning Quarterback today and said the NFL should return draft picks to the New England Patriots in wake of the “DeflateGate” mess.

Wait. Are you really saying that an NFL insider (because, let’s admit it, a lot of these journalists are embedded as deeply in the NFL as the commish himself) is advocating for the Patriots and against the league?

I can’t believe my eyes. But yes, King actually said it:

"Based on the weight of the evidence from the past 13 months, and that weight being circumstantial and not convincing, there’s one conclusion I’ve reached entering the 2016 draft season: Roger Goodell needs to give back the picks.Whatever happens in the appeal of the case—which isn’t centered on the Patriots’ guilt or innocence but rather on a point of labor law in the judge’s decision—Goodell needs to realize he acted without nearly enough scientific evidence against the Patriots. The NFL has some significant circumstantial evidence in the case, the kind that should have prompted a strongly worded letter and $250,000 fine. Instead, Goodell killed an ant with a sledgehammer."

Well put, King. Surprisingly put, but well put.

I don’t want to say anything too damning, but the NFL literally found no evidence. Of anything. Yet the Patriots were hit hard and were forced to forfeit $1 million and two draft picks, including the 29th overall pick in this year’s draft.

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The punishment (an A-Bomb) doesn’t fit the crime (nothing), in this case.

As a Patriots fan, I’m just excited that someone actually came out and said the obvious: The NFL had no right to take the Patriots’ draft picks or money and should give it all back.

King made a note that Roger Goodell admitted he was wrong with Ray Rice and should do the same with the Patriots. But this matter is different because we haven’t seen Goodell give an inch. At no point in this “case” has he backed up at all in favor of the Patriots. I give him credit for that, in some terms, but he also has to realize he was wrong. He should, finally, realize he was wrong and do the right thing.

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But as we’ve seen for more than a year now, Goodell’s inflated ego will not allow that. And it’s a shame, too, because Goodell will go down as one of the worst commissioners in NFL history. This won’t help his case.