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This runaway train was set in motion last spring when the NFL gave the Jets the honor of closing Giants Stadium. The Giants were miffed. To quell the Giants' discontent, the NFL gave them off-the-record indications that this situation could be redressed in the form of a Giants home opener in 2010. This becomes the NFL's driving motivation as events unfold.
As the scheduling grew closer, the idea of an NFL ordained Giants home opener scenario increasingly gained traction. The rumor mill flames were further fanned by talk radio and the Jets took notice. Woody provided the fly in the NFL's Giants-soothing ointment when he hatched the coin toss scenario.
Not surprisingly, the NFL initially rejected this solution because it could cause them to backtrack vis-a-vis the Giants. But then two things happened. First, according to Woody, he is told on FRIDAY that a secret flip took place and he lost. Then, ton SATURDAY, the Jets website leaks Woody's coin flip solution, omits the fact that the team already supposedly lost, and even claims that a public spectacle may be made of the event.
In conducting a no-flip flip, Goodell gravely miscalculated whether Woody would dare call into question his integrity. But Woody not only did that, he also used the Jets website to gain support for a public coin toss AND garner sympathy for his outcry to come days later. Sneaky but shrewd.
On the one hand, it's commendable that Woody stood toe to toe with the Goodell, making it clear that he's no pushover. Not now, not in the future. On the other, Woody committed a double foul in the NFL's eyes by questioning its integrity and posting a manipulative press release. Woody ultimately did right by speaking up despite ruffling feathers in the process. Looks like Rex's attitude is not only rubbing off on his players, but perhaps his owner as well.
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