Mark Cuban predicts $1 million fine for Patriots over Deflategate
Mark Cuban knows a thing or two about money and business, but what about football?
The Dallas Mavericks owner made an appearance on Dallas radio station KESN-FM 103.3 Wednesday after the Wells Report on Deflategate broke.
Never one to hold back his opinion, Cuban spoke about what he thinks will happen to the New England Patriots.
". . . Now, the next curiosity is what is the NFL going to do?" he said. "They talk a lot and now we'll see where their bark is, and if their bark's as loud as their bite. So, it's going to be interesting."
And it's not just Roger Goodell people should be watching. While Goodell has taken a lot of heat over the years, Cuban wants to make sure people know penalties don't start and stop at the commissioner.
"First of all, he's not the judge, jury, and executioner," he continued. "I don't care what anybody says. He's the mouthpiece. He's the guy who stands up in the courtroom and announces what's already been decided. He works at the discretion and pleasure of the owners. Period. End of story.
"And if you're making $44 million a year -- and he's good at his job, I don't mean to make this sound like I don't think he does a great job, he does an amazing job -- but when you're getting paid $44 million a year, when you have 32 bosses say, 'Jump.' You say, 'How high?' . . . So, you'll have a better understanding about the politics inside the NFL and the ownership groups by what's announced and whatever the punishment is, if anything."
Did he just say, if anything?
Cuban goes on to give his prediction as to what the fine will be, making note that the public may not have all the evidence available to the league's front office.
". . . they'll get a $50,000, $100,000, or maybe a $1 million fine -- and that would probably be my guess. They get a $1 million fine because that's a big number, it sounds really punitive, it'll make everybody pay attention, and it probably sets a record in a fine for a team. And then, if they don't do it again for a couple years they probably won't even have to pay it . . ."
You can check out the entire transcript over at DallasNews.com.
What do you think the Patriots' punishment (if any) will be?
Follow me on Twitter: @sam_hyde
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