The truth was finally laid bare.
First, the real culprits were the arrogant, self-proclaimed superior New England fans at Gillette Stadium.
Second, the true target was Mahomes—Lance merely stood up to defend his brother.
Third, the so-called "death threats" were completely fabricated. Lance had done nothing inappropriate—not even a single curse word could be found in the entire exchange.
The NFL's delayed response now appeared calculated. They had clearly been conducting an urgent, thorough investigation, aiming to handle the matter swiftly and decisively. Though no official stance had been declared initially, it was evident the league treated the situation with utmost seriousness and urgency.
Less than twelve hours had passed since the incident before Roger Goodell himself took the stage.
Typically, controversies of this magnitude require significant time to investigate—days, even weeks. But the league recognized that the longer the uncertainty lingered, the greater the damage to their image and credibility.
Thus, they acted with lightning speed to contain the fallout.
Goodell's presence alone, even before issuing an official statement, signaled the league's position:
They would not tolerate scapegoating. They would not sweep things under the rug.
Sure enough, Goodell's following remarks confirmed this.
"We urge all slander and false accusations to cease immediately. The NFL welcomes players from all backgrounds with open arms, with zero tolerance for discrimination…"
"An in-depth investigation will continue. We will identify and sanction the disruptive fans involved, and we expect full cooperation from the teams to help the league eliminate such behavior and provide players with a safe, respectful environment…"
The rest was typical corporate speak—predictable, empty phrases.
But reporters were already sharpening their claws—
Although Goodell avoided outright naming names, the subtext was crystal clear: the New England Patriots were expected to cooperate fully, assist in disciplining the offending fans, and support the investigation.
For years, the relationship between the NFL and the Patriots had been murky at best.
On one hand, some believed they were in cahoots—after all, a dominant team boosts certain markets. On the other, the league has long sought parity, as a single dynasty dampens overall ratings.
Some argue the NFL enables the Patriots; others say the Patriots defy the league with impunity, having outgrown its authority.
Theories abounded.
But now… was the league finally ready to assert control over the Patriots?
Or perhaps they were quietly elevating the Kansas City Chiefs as a legitimate counterforce?
Regardless, the signs were undeniable—Goodell appeared resolute, and this incident left little room for spin.
Boom.
A single stone stirred up a thousand waves.
The NFL's press conference ignited an instant social media storm.
Moments before, the negative narrative was reaching a fever pitch. But now, the momentum reversed. Smeared smiles froze mid-sentence as the backlash crashed down like a tidal wave.
"The truth. Finally!"
"Figures—classic New England. Everyone knows their reputation."
"Bet those entitled Patriots fans didn't expect to hit a brick wall this time."
"Death threats? Only in New England could someone spin that lie with a straight face."
"Gillette Stadium thought the sophomore QB was an easy target. Guess they picked the wrong guy—how satisfying!"
"Lance—good on you. Stand tall, fight back. No more swallowing injustice."
"So, is this a plot twist? Not really. With New England, truth is always stranger than fiction."
"Terrifying, when you think about it—who leaked that heavily edited video in the first place?"
"Come on, who else but the Patriots? This whole mess was a staged performance by New England that blew up in their faces."
Social media erupted, impossible to contain.
And that was just the tip of the iceberg—conspiracy theories spiraled wildly out of control. Half the internet was consumed by the saga.
The Patriots' past scandals resurfaced, fueling renewed criticism and condemnation.
Patriots fans were understandably irate.
Their team had just secured a hard-fought win over the Chiefs—a marquee victory in a heavyweight clash. It should've been party time, even on a Monday. Instead, all attention shifted to off-field drama.
Another Monday in hell.
Patriots fans lashed out, indifferent to the facts, convinced the league and Chiefs were conspiring to undermine them out of fear of their Super Bowl potential.
Some fans insisted on withholding judgment until the team or Belichick spoke, claiming skepticism, naivety, or perhaps a misplaced sense of rationality.
The public's attention swiftly turned to Bill Belichick—the mastermind behind countless Patriots scandals.
The shadow of his involvement loomed large.
Many speculated the leaked video was his handiwork.
But now, facing backlash, Belichick vanished entirely—declining interviews, issuing no statements.
Suspicious? Absolutely.
Then there was Tom Brady—NFL poster boy, GOAT, perennial spotlight-chaser—suddenly radio silent, feigning detachment.
Two towering Patriots figures—silent.
Their silence, rather than calming the storm, only fanned the flames of suspicion, fueling an online inferno of backlash.
The situation spiraled, inching further out of control.
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates