#DeflateGate (Court of Appeals Reinstates Suspension)

[kozlodoev]

As a relatively unbiased observer, watching the shots get lobbed back and forth between pats fans and those who are not is pretty fantastic.

I really do wonder how this would've gone down & what this whole thing would've been like if it involved, say, the Jacksonville Jaguars instead.

No need to wonder -- it already went down when some ... less significant teams were caught heating up game balls on the sidelines. I hadn't heard of that until Deflategate first blew up, so there's your answer.

Also, I love this bit from pg 86 on the report:

I just measured some of the balls. They supposed to
be 13 lbs... They were like 16. Felt like bricks

In fact, the only thing this report has established conclusively is that Jastremski and McNally think  game balls should be at 12.5 or 13 PSI.

[mef730]

As a relatively unbiased observer, watching the shots get lobbed back and forth between pats fans and those who are not is pretty fantastic.

We're there for you!

1) I have to admit that I hadn't read enough of the report to realize that the law firm had an existing relationship with the NFL.  I agree that it would be very difficult for the firm to be independent.

2) While I understand that Brady has denied the allegations in the past, this is the first official statement since the verdict.  I really would have felt a lot better if it had included something along the lines of, "My client continues to deny all knowledge of footballs being deflated and has never instructed staff members to deflate the balls below regulation limits, etc. etc."  In other words, let's have an outright refutation of the decision rather than "My client was really polite and it wasn't fair."

Oh, the lawyer also needs to learn how to use that apostrophe in the second sentence.  And commas, for that matter.  Who writes these things?

Mike

[Donoghus]

Interesting tidbit from SI's Don Banks;  Wells report cost the NFL an estimated $5 million according to one source. 

That's insane.

[PhoSita]

As a relatively unbiased observer, watching the shots get lobbed back and forth between pats fans and those who are not is pretty fantastic.

I really do wonder how this would've gone down & what this whole thing would've been like if it involved, say, the Jacksonville Jaguars instead.

Definitely would not be a story.  The Pats are a team that has enjoyed more success than any other franchise in the league in the last decade or two, and they constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable under the rules.

Is it any surprise that opposing teams (and fanbases) are eager to catch the Pats bending (or arguably outright breaking) the rules at every turn?  Even if what the Pats are doing is done, to a lesser or greater extent, by numerous other franchises?

[Cman]

I'm glad to see that Brady and his agent are finally firing back:

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/2015/05/07/tom-brady-agent-accuses-nfl-sting-operation-deflategate/zedRZzXRnTTY0Qc5n6ToeL/story.html?p1=ClickedOnBreakingNewsBox

I really do believe they have a case for a defamation lawsuit against the NFL , and should go ahead and file charges

Also, once again, as they do in all 'news' stories, the media jumps into accusatory mode against Brady and the Pats without reading all the facts and making unbiased representations of the news.

Brady won't. It would be a distraction to him and the Patriots. He doesn't want that. He will make a bland vanilla statement, move on, and hopefully put together his best year yet.

[PhoSita]

When the Patriots are sitting on 10 wins with a few weeks left in the regular season 6-7 months from now, #DeflateGate will be in the rear view mirror.

But, for fanbases of teams that get beaten by the Pats, it will always remain close at hand, just like Spygate.

[Evantime34]

When the Patriots are sitting on 10 wins with a few weeks left in the regular season 6-7 months from now, #DeflateGate will be in the rear view mirror.

But, for fanbases of teams that get beaten by the Pats, it will always remain close at hand, just like Spygate.

As a Patriots fan it is tiresome to hear how people think all their victories are invalidated due to cheating.

At this point I don't care, what happens as long as their aren't sanctions that inhibit our ability to win, now and in the future.

A suspension or loss of picks coming from the findings of a report would upset me. Reading through the report it seems that they thought the Pats were guilty before looking into the case.

[D.o.s.]

Interesting tidbit from SI's Don Banks;  Wells report cost the NFL an estimated $5 million according to one source. 

That's insane.

something something wrong line of work something something

[Donoghus]

Interesting tidbit from SI's Don Banks;  Wells report cost the NFL an estimated $5 million according to one source. 

That's insane.

something something wrong line of work something something

Pretty much.  No wonder this thing dragged out 103 days or whatever it was.  Billable hours, man!

[PhoSita]

 Reading through the report it seems that they thought the Pats were guilty before looking into the case.

Agreed.  The report suits the league's needs, which is to sate the majority of people who feel the Pats are unrepentant cheaters who need to be taken down a peg.

It makes the league look good to take a tough stance on the issue and punish the Pats, though it'll have to be in a way that doesn't destroy the Pats' on field product.

[mahonedog88]

When the Patriots are sitting on 10 wins with a few weeks left in the regular season 6-7 months from now, #DeflateGate will be in the rear view mirror.

But, for fanbases of teams that get beaten by the Pats, it will always remain close at hand, just like Spygate.

As a Patriots fan it is tiresome to hear how people think all their victories are invalidated due to cheating.

At this point I don't care, what happens as long as their aren't sanctions that inhibit our ability to win, now and in the future.

A suspension or loss of picks coming from the findings of a report would upset me. Reading through the report it seems that they thought the Pats were guilty before looking into the case.

Oh there's no doubt in my mind that Ted Wells and the league made the pre-conclusion that they were already guilty and then conducted the investigation with the mindset of "ok, let's go find what we can to prove that they're guilty"...but what's unfortunate is that while it may not be right, they still found them guilty.  Much like spygate, it may not be that much of a competitive advantage, but the fact is they still did it and got caught and so all those anti-Patriot jihadists have all the ammo they need from here on out.

This is why it's pointless to argue with them on it.  If somebody gives you crap about the Pats, just immediately take it to the bigger picture and ask "ok, switch the positions, say it's your team that did all this...would you rather have 4 'tainted' super bowls in which you can debate the level of taintedness, or no super bowls at all?"  Personally, I'll still take the rings, even with all the schtuff that's come with it.

[D.o.s.]

A take so hot you could melt steel beams.

[GreenFaith1819]

You let me down, Tommy.

As a lifelong Redskins fan I defended you AND the NE Patriots when this broke.

You were the chosen one

Consider this payback for that 52-7 drubbing you gave my Redskins back in 2007.

You should be suspended for the season

[kozlodoev]

By the way, the report indicates that Ref Walt was able to reproduce the PSI of each of the balls measured at halftime from memory (it was NOT recorded), but couldn't recall whether the Patriots presented 12 or 13 balls for approval prior to the game.

Seem legit. 

[mef730]

As a relatively unbiased observer, watching the shots get lobbed back and forth between pats fans and those who are not is pretty fantastic.

I really do wonder how this would've gone down & what this whole thing would've been like if it involved, say, the Jacksonville Jaguars instead.

Definitely would not be a story.  The Pats are a team that has enjoyed more success than any other franchise in the league in the last decade or two, and they constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable under the rules.

Is it any surprise that opposing teams (and fanbases) are eager to catch the Pats bending (or arguably outright breaking) the rules at every turn?  Even if what the Pats are doing is done, to a lesser or greater extent, by numerous other franchises?

Hey, c'mon, think about all the ruckus that ESPN cooked up over #CrowdnoiseGate in Atlanta.  I mean, wasn't that on the news every night?  Oh, wait...

Mike