Goodell: Evangelist or executioner?

In the wake of the New Orleans Saints’ Bountygate scandal, in which he suspended three coaches and four players for an illegal pay-for-performance plan which was allegedly used to pay players for making big plays and sometimes illegal hits (known as “knockouts” and “cart-offs”), Roger Goodell has taken center stage, yet again.

While it’s certainly understandable that the commissioner would want harsh treatment for those who try to injure the NFL’s most valuable resource, the players, the process for determining the guilt of the involved parties is gaining a bit of notoriety. As it relates to both the players and coaches,…