Is Tony Petiti's Letter GAME OVER For The Connor Stalions Investigation?

Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti wrote a letter to the NCAA's Committee on Infractions asking them to let Michigan go without any further punishment in the Connor Stalions case. That news broke Monday, in a story by Dan Wetzel of ESPN. So why is Petitti coming to the Wolverines' defense, how much will that impact the punishments the COI might ultimately lay out, and why is that story just coming out today? Tony Gerd