Report: Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay can now apply for reinstatement

The Atlanta Falcons emerged from "Noisegate" relatively unscathed this off-season. Given what the dissimilarly situated New England Patriots are presently enduring after "Deflategate," they could've done far worse.

Their punishment was fair and justified. While its effects are tangible, they won't last forever. In fact, they're well on their way to a full recovery. Per the AJC's D. Orlando Ledbetter, Falcons president Rich McKay can apply for reinstatement at any time.

Falcons president Rich McKay, who was suspended from the NFL competition committee as part of the team's penalty for pumping fake noise into the Georgia Dome during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, is eligible to apply for reinstatement ... [McKay] was suspended effective April 1 and was eligible to apply for reinstatement after June 30.

A respected voice on the competition committee never hurts, and if I had to guess, the Falcons have already petitioned for McKay's reinstatement. Couple McKay's suspension with a relatively small fine/forfeiture of a 5th round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and the Falcons really did luck out here.

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