NFL’s Deflategate Investigation to Wrap Up Soon, Roger Goodell Says

Associated Press

For those who have waited months for the results of the NFL’s official investigation into the air pressure of the Patriots’ game balls during the AFC championship game (a.k.a. #Deflategate a.k.a. #Ballghazi), here’s some reassurance: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told CBS News this morning that, “I expect it will not be long.” … Or, wait, actually wait, does that reassurance feel frustratingly lacking in specificity?

After the allegations that the Patriots deliberately deflated their balls below the sanctioned air pressure levels to gain an advantage against the Colts, the NFL asked independent lawyer Ted Wells to conduct a thorough investigation. “Thorough” seems to be a word Wells has taken very, very seriously as the report remains as yet uncompleted even months later. Goodell stuck up for the lengthy timeline of the investigation in his CBS interview. 

“I think it’s hard because you want to make sure you have all the information,” he said. “One of the things that he would be asked to look for: Was it just one game?”

He added, “What we’re trying to do is just make sure we’re thorough… The most important thing here is: Was there a violation of the rules? And if so, how did that occur?”

But given that one of the potential penalties facing the Patriots includes the loss of draft picks, some people are getting a little impatient. “The draft is only three weeks and three days away,” NBC Sports warned us … exactly three weeks and one day ago. (The draft is in two days.)

Given that, it looks like the Patriots will have to go into the event assuming no penalty. We’re sure Bill Belichick is just as thrilled about all this as he has been with the whole affair.