49ers owner supports Goodell: 'Somebody has to be the sheriff'
SAN FRANCISCO — As fallout from Deflategate provides the backdrop for the gathering of NFL owners at their league meetings, count San Francisco 49ers co-chairman John York in the camp of those without sympathy for the New England Patriots.
York told Paste BN Sports that he trusts the NFL did the right thing in issuing the Patriots arguably the harshest punishment in NFL history for the deflated football flap.
"I'm sure the Patriots don't feel that way," York told Paste BN Sports. "But anytime we've been dinged by the league, we've felt the same way, too."
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was suspended four games, pending appeal, while the team was fined $1 million and docked first- and fourth-round picks in the next two drafts, respectively, for deflating the footballs used in the AFC Championship Game and for a lack of cooperation in the ensuing investigation.
The team has vehemently denied wrongdoing, as expressed in a lengthy rebuttal of the Wells Report that drew conclusions that led to the stiff penalties issued by NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent and supported by Commissioner Roger Goodell, who will hear Brady's appeal.
"Somebody has to be the sheriff," York said. "It's not fun being the sheriff. Nobody comes out as a winner. Regardless, the most important thing is the integrity of the league."
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Follow NFL columnist Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell
