USA TODAY International Edition
Website isn’t clowning around: Billboard, towels will greet Goodell
Taunts planned for Patriots visit
FOXBOROUGH, MASS. There’s a billboard on Route 1, a main road leading to Gillette Stadium, that says it all. It has a blue backdrop with a caricature of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s face ... with a bright red clown nose.
It’s the image worn on the Tshirt of New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia when the team disembarked from its plane after landing in Boston with the Super Bowl LI trophy in hand.
(That whole incident, by the way, “really bothered” Goodell, according to a report by CBS Sports.)
If Goodell is still annoyed, it might only get worse.
As the Patriots gear up to kick off the regular season Thursday against the Kansas City Chiefs, the commissioner is expected to attend. Even if he doesn’t drive past the billboard, chances are he’ll see the image.
Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, says he has ordered approximately 70,000 blue towels with the clown image of Goodell and is asking for volunteers to help distribute them to fans at the stadium before kickoff.
Tight end Rob Gronkowski, asked Tuesday about his reaction to Goodell’s presence for the game, offered two words: “Ask
Tom.”
That would be Tom Brady. New England’s star quarterback was the subject of the NFL’s lengthy Deflategate case that lasted two years. After a lengthy appeal and battle in court, the league suspended Brady for four games last season.
Many Patriots players weren’t aware of Barstool Sports’ plan. Most declined to comment. Some, however, found the humor in it.
“I do find it funny,” defensive back Eric Rowe told USA TODAY Sports after chuckling. “I’m sure it’s never going to go away. I’m pretty sure 10 years from now — even if he retires — they’re going to be like, ‘Oh, Roger Goodell,’ with the clown face or whatever. I think that part is funny.
“They are passionate about that, though. I even see in the crowd sometimes, people have got shirts. Yeah, this is never going to go away.”
Coach Bill Belichick, who avoids controversial topics in his news conferences at all costs, was asked about the planned distribution of the towels.
“It’s clear how much you value meticulous preparation,” a reporter began. “Would you say that fans acquiring thousands of Roger Goodell clown nose towels is an example of meticulous preparation?”
Belichick didn’t bite. “Yeah, I’m not really too concerned about all the exterior things with the game,” he said. “Just trying to get ready for the Chiefs.”