I will indeed call it fear. I will also call it
. Minnesota was much closer to losing the Vikings, yet... it didn't happen. Same with New Orleans. Same with the Jags, who every year are moving to London or Los Angeles except they never do. The Bills started playing half their home games in another country... then resigned with Buffalo.
NFL teams moving locations is a RARE occurrence, and Goodell's obvious zeitgiest is for more teams, not for teams moving. If the Dolphins left Miami you'd just have to put another team in Miami. It's stupid.
Even IF this is an intentional message -- which I doubt -- it's bush league intimidation at best. Ross had the opportunity to get in before the Marlins and get a new stadium in a prime location. The city commissioners were obviously ripe to be won over. But instead he decided to count his nickels and stay in the old stadium until Goodell finally pointed out that it's a dinosaur. I wish I could have been there when the realization finally hit Ross and crew. How painful that must have been, like having a guest come over and politely point out that your house smells like cat piss.
Not getting a new stadium is Ross' fault, and now he and the team have to pay for it. If he wants to make some half assed macho statement about taking the Dolphins out of Miami, let him. I'll be content to laugh.