If you are a fan of the New England Patriots and you live in the Northeast, you most likely reacted with rage and indignation to Monday’s announcement that the N.F.L. would penalize the team for using deflated footballs.
More Patriots bashing, you might be saying — the unfair persecution of a benevolent owner, Robert K. Kraft; a rugged individualist of a coach, Bill Belichick; and a quarterback virtually assured of a place in the Hall of Fame, Tom Brady, who collectively make up a holy trinity that has delivered four Super Bowl titles to New England.