This is going to be fascinating.
If Goodell doesn't come down hard on the Pats**, there will be a very loud outcry from the masses. Not to mention that it would be quite hypocritical, given his past statements about integrity and punishment.
If he does come down hard on the Pats**, there is going to be an angry outcry from the Pats** organization, particularly from Kraft. There will be challenges, appeals, many defiant and angry words. And who knows what that would mean to the relationship between Goodell and Kraft.
Either way, that's a ****-storm the NFL really doesn't want on its hands. It's going to have one or the other, it seems.