Ed Hillel said:
I don't even understand what he wanted Belichick to say or why he wanted him to say it. Did he want Belichick to come out to the press and tell them that it was a practice that had been happening in the NFL for decades, that there were other teams doing it at the time still, and that he thought the fine was beyond excessive, given the NFL's prior history on dealing with these kinds of issues? Did he want to admit he did it? He had already done that. Did he want Belichick to cry and apologize profusely? My guess is that's closer to the truth, but give me a break. If anything, I think Belichick was pretty tame in dealing with that whole fiasco, at least off the field.
I agree with your overall point, however. I think Goodell really does not like Belichick and I would assume the feeling is mutual. Curran did a real interesting interview with I think WEEI during media week, in which he suggested Belichick thought the league should be more about the players, whereas Goodell thought the league was more about The Shield. Seems reasonable to me.
Goodell wanted nothing short of Belichick believing in his heart that the transgression threatened the sanctity of the league.
My recollection of the controversy (as a non-Pats fan with a soft spot because of this message board) was that of a pissing contest between a new commission and the most accomplished coach in the NFL. The end result being the Patriots are found guilty based on a technicality (a dubious technicality at that), Goodell gets his way, Belichick is fined $500,000, Patriots are fined $250,000 and must forfeit their 1st round pick. In addition, the portrayal of the violation by Goodell and perpetuated by the media, perhaps by design, poisoned the reputation and accomplishments of Belichick and the Patriots (fucked up IMO, regardless of how BB may feel)
It is pretty obvious Belichick ignored the memo because he believed it was trivial and completely arbitrary nonsense, and Goodell railroaded him for it. Yet, despite being fined, forfeiting draft picks, and accused of spying, stealing, and cheating through misrepresenting the actual violation; Belichick swallowed his pride, apologized, took full responsibility, conceded his original interpretation of the rule, and took one for the shield. BB took the punishment and immediately moved on back in 2007, and both Goodell and the media are unable to accept that fact.