Absolute power corrupts absolutely
Billions of dollars in TV money, Merch, greedy owners, free public money backing stadium deals...gambling $...
And if anyone thinks that it doesn't extend into the realm of organized crime and the government?
"who's being naive now Kay?"
It's a breeze to control 100 Ref's, especially when you pay their salaries. It's not like Goodell walks into a room and tells them "Okay guys, this is how we cheat this week"....much more subtle than that. They understand this game more than any of us and a properly timed flag or 2 can have a butterfly effect on the entire game. They see TV audiences drop off dramatically in blowouts, so does Budweiser...
The tuck rule, for me, was a cold wake up call....anyone that remembers that time and the post 911 USA fervor that was taking place...I remain convinced that someone up top considered having "The Patriots" win the SB 4 months later to be good for the masses. That is how stupid they think we are...and much of the country actually might be.