Bill Simmons is about to hit the airwaves on HBO and Roger Goodell and the NFL better watch out.

Simmons, whose podcast returns Thursday, was apparently too harsh on Goodell and the league for ESPN to handle. The Worldwide Leader opted to allow his contract to expire after his hot takes on Deflategate coverage got him in some serious hot water with the network.

Bill Simmons' ESPN Departer Prompts Mass Exodus

Now that he's with HBO, all bets are off.

Even under the umbrella of ESPN, which worships football and caters to the NFL, Simmons couldn't help himself in ripping Goodell and the whole Deflategate debacle. The sports guy teamed up with Cousin Sal to tear a verbal hole in the commissioner, eventually leading to his ouster.

Roger Goodell's Deflategate Investigation Had No Connection With Spygate

Now that he's on HBO, a network known for crossing the line, anything can happen when the podcast launches Thursday. With Cousin Sal back in the fold, the NFL and Roger Goodell better brace themselves for a serious tongue lashing.

Simmons also had no problem bashing ESPN while being with them. He constantly lambasted the company on social media for their coverage of the Deflategate case, even being ballsy enough to link to other affiliates' take on it.

Simmons didn't stop there.

Simmons was taking aim at Chris Mortensen's inaccurate tweet that claimed the NFL found that 11 of the Patriots footballs used in the AFC title game were under-inflated by two pounds each. The information proved to be unfounded, leading to Mortensen deleting the tweets. Simmons then went to town on Mortensen for the mis-reporting.

With Simmons returning to the airwaves, no one is safe. Not ESPN, and especially not Roger Goodell.

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