The Occasional Observer

Let me start off by stating that I had no rooting loyalties to either teams in this year's Big Game.
In fact, I would have been hard pressed to find two teams about which I could be more apathetic. Perhaps it was this detachment that allowed me to analyze the events that led to the "inevitable" win by Big Blue--either that, or it was the mind-numbing pace of the first three quarters...
Anywho, I am convinced that Super Bowl XLII was marred by...wait for it...SHENANIGANS!!!
It all began with the Jetties. By Mangini opening the Pandora's Box that is Spygate, he set into motion a string of events.
First came the ASTERISK that everyone outside of New England wanted slapped on the Pats. This would have been a non-issue if they had dropped one game during the regular season and I believe the league figured that this was a certainty. When Bill's boys ran the table we suddenly start to hear whispers.
Although the Pats faced mild adversity during the playoffs, they pretty much walked through to the Super Bowl. Again the league's hopes for a loss were for naught. Out of nowhere (or the Blue?) come claims that the Pats used the same dastardly, underhanded tactics to upset the Rams to claim their first title in the "dynasty." Why do we hear about this now? It's all about the asterisk (explanation below). The story was buried before it could gain momentum. Next thing you know, Commish Goodell destroys all the Spygate evidence. His reason--there was nothing there that we didn't already know. Hmmm.
Those who were able to maintain consciousness through the first 45 minutes were treated to football more suited to a Ravens/Titans game. This was not the same Patriots juggernaut that rolled through 18 games. I'm not trying to take credit away from the Giants for a well-planned defensive gameplan. But let be realists here--a month earlier the Pats scorched the G-Men with a number of key personnel on the bench. And although Belicheck is a cheating bastard, I find it extraordinarily difficult to picture Tom Coughlin out-coaching him. This guy was villified in New York up until Eli knelt it down at 0:01.
The Pats O line (with 2 All-Pros) couldn't stop anyone. Samuel (another All-Pro) drops an interception that looks like Neil O'Donnell threw it. The paradigm of NFL team professionalism plays like the JV on the big stage? Suspicious stuff.
The officiating in the game was atrocious as well (for both teams). I was sorely disappointed by the crew of Professional Black Man Mike Carey. Any time I see a game where the refs are totally off the grid makes me suspicious of the game's outcome.
My conclusion: Goodell forced the Pats to throw the game. Why would he do this? 1) The Pats are guilty as hell of cheating (but realistically, who isn't), 2) the league doesn't need its sport's unique perfect season besmirched by an asterisk (see MLB), 3) any time a New York team can win a title in any sport it's great for business.
How could the commish get the Pats to roll over? Promise to destroy the Spygate evidence. Bury the Rams story to preserve the integrity of the dynasty and avoid further asterisks. Hold the threat of a one-year ban on Belicheck (which is his penalty for his next cheating transgression).
And could the players have made money on the game? The only members of the Pats that looked like they were trying were Brady and Welker. If Brady had a gun on the sideline he would have killed most of his teammates. I've never seen him that mad--getting driven into the turf repeatedly because of completely missed blocks will do that to you, I guess.
Finally, Belicheck's post-game behavior may be the most damning evidence. This guy may be the most anti-social jackass in the league but he plays nice and gives comments after his team-of-destiny pulled one of the biggest chokes ever. History shows that he has no problem taking fines and getting in trouble for slamming doors in reporters' faces. Why the change of heart?