I promised not to opine about the state of negotiations or non-negotiations between the NFL Network and cable companies in the paper any longer. Well, that leaves me with this space.

With the Patriots on the verge of making history with the first 16-0 undefeated season, only a few flies on the proverbial wall will get to see it. By the way, if there are flies on the wall of your favorite sports bar while you are watching this game this time if year, here's a tip: you may want to leave.

The NFL Network will have the Patriots-Giants game this coming weekend and all the ranting, raving and rumbling has begun. "How could the NFL do this? Money grubbing weasels. These were always free games before!!"

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've heard them all. I've read them all in my emails and I've been snapped at by more than a few readers. This is two multi-billion dollar industries battling it out to see which has the most power.

Until the advent of the NFLN, the league has been virtually beyond reproach with respect to business dealings. The cable companies who aren't carrying the network…ummmm…well, I don't know about you guys, but until I switched a few months ago, I could always count on a substantive increase in my bill every year. It got to the point where I was paying $130 a month for cable alone. And don't say I could reduce my packages. In my line of work, everything I had was essential do performing my job.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell must have a screw loose if he thinks the likes of Time Warner will budge from its current stance. Personally, I think the NFLN's placement demand (carriage on a digital basic tier) is reasonable. Although it's per subscriber fee (over a buck) may be a bit less so. But you'd think there could be some middle ground reached here.

I don't think so before 2010. Why then? Well, the NFL still has a crown jewel that the cable companies would LOVE to get their miserly, grubby little paws on - the NFL Sunday Ticket. That's the ONE. And DirecTV has the exclusive on that package of out-of-market games until - you guessed it - 2010.

So where's that leave the loyal football fan and consumers? Well, you can join the flies in the local watering hole, pray your buddy invites you over or, like numerous individuals, just switch. Customers will have to decide the worth of pro football in their lives.

As for me, I will be able to relax in comfort and warmth Saturday just to see if these Patriots make history in the way that other New Englanders did some 231 years ago.

How would you like to be NFL Commish Roger Goodell now?

 Sure, the league has issued its statement about Michael Vick' s federal indictment related to dogfighting.  Accordring to a Virginia grand jury, Vick wasn't exactly dog's best friend.  Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

But let's be realistic, is anyone really surprised that he was indicted?  If nothing was coming this would have blown over weeks ago.  It didn't, like I'm sure the Atlanta Falcons wanted.  There's little wonder why these soon-to-be-caged birds won't be singing this year - they won't have Vick.   And if the NFL's new sheriff, Goodell, is true to precedent he established, Vick will be gone.

Here's the league's official stance on the Vick situation:

We are disappointed that Michael Vick has put himself in a position where a federal grand jury has returned an indictment against him. We will continue to closely monitor developments in this case, and to cooperate with law enforcement authorities. The activities alleged are cruel, degrading and illegal. Michael Vick’s guilt has not yet been proven, and we believe that all concerned should allow the legal process to determine the facts. The matter will be reviewed under the League’s Personal Conduct Policy.

 Ruh-roh, Shaggy.  Yes, that sounds very omninous. But we will see what happens.  Goodell has knocked Adam "Pacman" Jones of the Tennessee Titans down and Chris Henry of the Cincinnati Bengals, but this is an entirely different animal.

Why?  Because the NFL and the Falcons have promoted Vick as one of the faces of the league since he arrived from Virginia Tech expected to re-invent the position of quarterback.  Notice that hasn't happened yet.  Perhaps, just perhaps, that explains the interest in dogfighting.  He needed a hobby.   Yeah, that's it.

Yes, Vick is guilty until proven innocent, but Goodell, in the interest of fairness will have to smack him too - and he should.  That being the case, Vick should expect to have at least one season to consider new hobbies.

Anyone remember the bit that cemented actor-comedian Eddie Murphy's career on the silver screen?

It's the scene in 48 Hours when Reggie Hammond, the felon he portrayed, pretends to be a cop in a country-rock club.  Oh to heck with being PC.  It was a freakin' redneck bar.  He rousts the natives, getting them all riled up, but he kept them in check and got the information he was looking for in the process.

The new NFL commish, Roger Goodell is in full Reggie Hammond mode, stirring up the locals - meaning players - and flaunting his authority.  Is this a bad thing?

Not necessarily.  In the case of his decision last week to suspend Tennessee Titans defensive back and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry no. 

However, in the case of Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, can I get a huge PLEASE!!!  Goodell issued a 100K fine for Urlacher wearing the baseball cap of an unauthorized sponsor during media day at the Super Bowl.  Don't we think that's a wee bit excessive?  Insulting even?  Or just borderline ridiculous?

I vote for all of the above. I understand that Goodell is the new sheriff in town and he has to show that he means business.  With the new player conduct policy adopted with the cooperation (or is that collusion) NFL Players Association, he took a step in the right direction in putting some shine back on the league's image.  That policy now puts players on notice about what's expected with respect to individual behavior.  In that regard it's about time.

With this latest move, however, Goodell reinforces a common belief that the NFL stands for No Fun League.  It also displays just how petty the league can be.

Yes, there's a new sheriff in town and it looks, in this instance, that he's wearing a tin badge.