In an unprecedented display of discipline, the NFL cracked down on New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick for his involvement in the DeflateGate scandal, suspending him for the entire Super Bowl Pregame Show.
“Bill will not be allowed to participate in any aspect of the 5-hour program. No interviews. No canned speeches in the locker room. Nothing,” said commissioner Roger Goodell. “With this punishment, we can finally put the whole scandal behind us and remind people this is a game filled with integrity, presented by Mercedes and Bud Light.”
Many observers were surprised by the move, given Goodell’s longstanding relationship with Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
“For him to come down this hard on New England is quite a shock,” said one NFL team owner. “There’s a lot of entertainment packed in those five hours, and now Belichick can’t be any part of it. I thought he’d get a slap on the wrist, but this is going to stay with [Belichick] for the rest of his career.”
