A New England Patriots fan plans to give NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell one more tweak about his handling of the Deflategate case before summer’s end.
Richard Pate plans to let Goodell know how he feels with another banner set to fly off Goodell’s summer home on Prouts Neck in Scarborough on Saturday. Pate, of Biddeford, won’t say what the banner will read ahead of time.
His previous banners, which flew in early August, suggested that Goodell leave Maine – the first read, “Comm. Goodell Jet home to N.Y.” – while the other offered a birthday greeting to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, from Maine and “Roger G.”
Pate said Saturday’s banner will be seen off Old Orchard Beach and Pine Point and Prouts Neck in Scarborough at about 12:15 or 12:30 p.m.. He said the plane towing the message will be up for about 40 minutes.
It’s not known whether Goodell will be in Scarborough this weekend.
Pate said he’s unhappy with how Goodell handled his punishment of Brady’s alleged involvement in New England’s use of underinflated footballs in its romp over the Indianapolis Colts in January’s AFC championship game. Goodell suspended Brady for four games, but a federal judge on Thursday nullified the suspension, saying Brady’s case wasn’t handled fairly by Goodell.
Pate also suggested the banner might make reference to Goodell’s decision not to attend the NFL season-opening game in Foxborough on Thursday. New England, as the reigning champion, gets to host that game and Goodell has made a practice of attending season openers during his tenure.
“He lost the battle and now he doesn’t have the fortitude to go to Foxborough and hear what the fans think of him,” Pate said.
Goodell is believed to own a home valued at about $6.5 million on Bohemia Way on Prouts Neck. His presence prompted a small uproar in Scarborough this summer when a rumor circulated that Scarborough police were providing extra protection for Goodell because of his handling of the Brady case.
It turned out that the Prouts Neck Association pays to have a dedicated police officer posted in the neighborhood.
Pate won’t say how much he pays for the banners. The company he hired, Screaming Eagle Aviation in Biddeford, has advertised that it will tow banners for an hour for $450.
Pate believes his messages are getting through to Goodell, although he has no direct knowledge of that.
“He and I haven’t exactly been exchanging greetings and phone calls lately,” he said.
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