#DeflateGate (Court of Appeals Reinstates Suspension)

[Granath]

Since Brady is appealing, there's a solid chance this isn't over by a long shot.  Don Yee made a fantastic point in his recent statement bringing up the fact that in multiple occasions when a player appeals a Goodell ruling with an independent arbitrator, every time the ruling gets retracted with an added statement that they think Goodell is being too abusive with his power.

Happened with Adrian Peterson, happened with Ray Rice, happened with Jonathan Vilma.

So it's not totally inconceivable that Brady could take this to an independent judge and have the majority, if not all, of this punishment be overturned

Don't get your hopes up.

Brady's opportunities for appeal may be limited. This isn't a violation of the negotiated union contract (aka Ray Rice being penalized twice for the same offense) or a conflict with state law (Pat Williams in Minny - a suit he ultimately lost) or Adrian Peterson's suspension (which was for non-football reasons and therefore he couldn't be suspended for more than two games). Vilma's suspension was the only one dealing with on-field activities and his suspension was reduced, not overturned. And his defamation lawsuit was thrown out.

This is also for on-the-field activities, something the NFL has sole jurisdiction over; and for failing to comply with an investigation, which is something that is required in the player's contracts. That the NFL offered to let Brady's attorney screen the texts will be seen as an attempt to compromise. I expect the suspension to get reduced to 2 games on appeal but I doubt Brady has much recourse beyond that. Judge Doty simply doesn't have much leeway here because it's for on-the-field activities, which is the same reason why Goodell could implement suspensions for head-to-head contact without the union's consent. It simply falls under his domain as commish to deal with as he sees fit.

[LooseCannon]

So far, the ESPN.com poll has 52% saying the punishment was too excessive and 48% saying the punishment was just right or not enough.  Is that about what people expected?

[TheBig3]

If I'm Bill B I make a killer game plan to expose the colts weakneses then share it with all their opponents next year
 

[Atzar]

Well, the only way I as a fan can protest this is to stop watching NFL games.  Giving some serious thought to that.  I like college football more anyway, though I admit that the NCAA is probably at least as bad as Goodell.

[Granath]

Well, the only way I as a fan can protest this is to stop watching NFL games.  Giving some serious thought to that.  I like college football more anyway, though I admit that the NCAA is probably at least as bad as Goodell.

While I applaud your sentiment, why would you protest this and not the Big Ben suspension, the Saints' bountygate, the Ray Rice screw up and a host of other Goodell overreaches? What makes this one special? Was it because it finally happened to your team?

It was Bountygate that turned me off from the NFL and I have no love for the Saints. It was yet another example of Goodell trying to make someone a scapegoat for his own failures as a commish. I haven't watched the Super Bowl the past two years. I never even turned on an NFL game on the TV last year. Last year was the first time that no one in my family got NFL merchandise for Christmas. And it all has to do with how the league is run.

The only sports merchandise purchased last year was a Celtics cap!

[Eja117]

Well, the only way I as a fan can protest this is to stop watching NFL games.  Giving some serious thought to that.  I like college football more anyway, though I admit that the NCAA is probably at least as bad as Goodell.

While I applaud your sentiment, why would you protest this and not the Big Ben suspension, the Saints' bountygate, the Ray Rice screw up and a host of other Goodell overreaches? What makes this one special? Was it because it finally happened to your team?

It was Bountygate that turned me off from the NFL and I have no love for the Saints. It was yet another example of Goodell trying to make someone a scapegoat for his own failures as a commish. I haven't watched the Super Bowl the past two years. I never even turned on an NFL game on the TV last year. Last year was the first time that no one in my family got NFL merchandise for Christmas. And it all has to do with how the league is run.

The only sports merchandise purchased last year was a Celtics cap!

Those suspensions had the opposite problem, which was that they weren't long enough. Are we actually at the point now where we compare Tom Brady to a rapist (more likely than not folks...twice), and guy that knocked out his wife on video, and guys getting paid to hurt people circumventing the salary cap?

Is that really happening now? Yes. Yes it is. Which is why the rest of the league should have an asterisk next to what they do. There's just no league integrity. The only place that has it is Foxboro and they aren't angels.

[Granath]

Well, the only way I as a fan can protest this is to stop watching NFL games.  Giving some serious thought to that.  I like college football more anyway, though I admit that the NCAA is probably at least as bad as Goodell.

While I applaud your sentiment, why would you protest this and not the Big Ben suspension, the Saints' bountygate, the Ray Rice screw up and a host of other Goodell overreaches? What makes this one special? Was it because it finally happened to your team?

It was Bountygate that turned me off from the NFL and I have no love for the Saints. It was yet another example of Goodell trying to make someone a scapegoat for his own failures as a commish. I haven't watched the Super Bowl the past two years. I never even turned on an NFL game on the TV last year. Last year was the first time that no one in my family got NFL merchandise for Christmas. And it all has to do with how the league is run.

The only sports merchandise purchased last year was a Celtics cap!

Those suspensions had the opposite problem, which was that they weren't long enough. Are we actually at the point now where we compare Tom Brady to a rapist (more likely than not folks...twice), and guy that knocked out his wife on video, and guys getting paid to hurt people circumventing the salary cap?

Is that really happening now? Yes. Yes it is. Which is why the rest of the league should have an asterisk next to what they do. There's just no league integrity. The only place that has it is Foxboro and they aren't angels.

That your first reaction is to call someone a rapist shows how very little objectivity or clarity of thought you have. But please feel free to go on ranting illogically because it is quite amusing to see you jump at conspiracy theories.

The league is not out to get the Patriots. Foxboro is not a beautiful, unique snowflake. The Patriots have been caught cheating - again. Deal with it.

[PhoSita]

You know who I feel worst for in all of this?


The two scrubs from Rutgers who won't get any guaranteed draft pick money from the Pats because of those lost draft selections.

[D.o.s.]

Since Brady is appealing, there's a solid chance this isn't over by a long shot.  Don Yee made a fantastic point in his recent statement bringing up the fact that in multiple occasions when a player appeals a Goodell ruling with an independent arbitrator, every time the ruling gets retracted with an added statement that they think Goodell is being too abusive with his power.

Happened with Adrian Peterson, happened with Ray Rice, happened with Jonathan Vilma.

So it's not totally inconceivable that Brady could take this to an independent judge and have the majority, if not all, of this punishment be overturned

Don't get your hopes up.

Brady's opportunities for appeal may be limited. This isn't a violation of the negotiated union contract (aka Ray Rice being penalized twice for the same offense) or a conflict with state law (Pat Williams in Minny - a suit he ultimately lost) or Adrian Peterson's suspension (which was for non-football reasons and therefore he couldn't be suspended for more than two games). Vilma's suspension was the only one dealing with on-field activities and his suspension was reduced, not overturned. And his defamation lawsuit was thrown out.

This is also for on-the-field activities, something the NFL has sole jurisdiction over; and for failing to comply with an investigation, which is something that is required in the player's contracts. That the NFL offered to let Brady's attorney screen the texts will be seen as an attempt to compromise. I expect the suspension to get reduced to 2 games on appeal but I doubt Brady has much recourse beyond that. Judge Doty simply doesn't have much leeway here because it's for on-the-field activities, which is the same reason why Goodell could implement suspensions for head-to-head contact without the union's consent. It simply falls under his domain as commish to deal with as he sees fit.

It depends on how the suspension is worded (I haven't looked into it yet), but if it's for the deflation, then you're right. If it's for failing to render any and all requested materials to Wells, then it's a little bit greyer (but you're probably still right).

i.e. "The extent to which the club and relevant individuals cooperated with the investigation" is what's going to get argued here.

[jambr380]

So far, the ESPN.com poll has 52% saying the punishment was too excessive and 48% saying the punishment was just right or not enough.  Is that about what people expected?

Since everybody who is not a New England Patriots fan vehemently despises them, I would say this is better than what I expected. Being on the plus side shows just how egregious this is (so many people who dislike them think it's crap).

[Donoghus]

So far, the ESPN.com poll has 52% saying the punishment was too excessive and 48% saying the punishment was just right or not enough.  Is that about what people expected?

Since everybody who is not a New England Patriots fan vehemently despises them, I would say this is better than what I expected. Being on the plus side shows just how egregious this is (so many people who dislike them think it's crap).

I was actually thinking the same thing. Kinda speaks to the over the top ridiculousness of the penalty if you ask me.

[LarBrd33]

I don't have time to read all 89 pages.  Can someone give me a short summary of the Wells Report?  Did they find conclusive proof that the staff intentionally deflated the balls?  I thought it was just speculation without any evidence.  Did they find some?

[knuckleballer]

I don't have time to read all 89 pages.  Can someone give me a short summary of the Wells Report?  Did they find conclusive proof that the staff intentionally deflated the balls?  I thought it was just speculation without any evidence.  Did they find some?

It's just speculation.  There isn't even conclusive proof that the balls were even deflated.  Temperature and rain, as per the report, may explain everything.

[LarBrd33]

I don't have time to read all 89 pages.  Can someone give me a short summary of the Wells Report?  Did they find conclusive proof that the staff intentionally deflated the balls?  I thought it was just speculation without any evidence.  Did they find some?

It's just speculation.  There isn't even conclusive proof that the balls were even deflated.  Temperature and rain, as per the report, may explain everything.

I haven't read the actual report, but the article I just read about the Brady suspension makes it seem like there are text messages that prove the guilt of two staffers (McNally and Jastremski) and that there may have been texts from Brady that they also saw.  No?

[KG Living Legend]

 AInge for three, You should pipe down now. Either your with The Pats Or your with the terror people like Eja said.