#DeflateGate (Court of Appeals Reinstates Suspension)

[celticsclay]

if you read these guys other texts, like where they call each other dorito dink and things of the like, it seems crazy that Wells would want to pass their exchanges off as the basis for anything. I want to see ALL the texts between these guys. Lol

[danglertx]

The other issue that doesn't sit well with me, other than the scientific part which I mentioned before this report came out, was that the NFL refused to give the Patriots the halftime measurements of the balls for two months, and when they did, it was on the condition they don't reveal it to the media.

What?  Why are the halftime measurements some code to nuclear warheads that can't be made public?  Isn't the League interested in setting the record straight?  How is the truth to be kept from the public but all the leaks (most of which weren't accurate) allowed out of the NFL offices?

I'd really like to hear Rodger's explanation for that.  So the Patriots have to twist in the wind unable to get the measurements and then unable to share them?  For what purpose?

[kozlodoev]

The other issue that doesn't sit well with me, other than the scientific part which I mentioned before this report came out, was that the NFL refused to give the Patriots the halftime measurements of the balls for two months, and when they did, it was on the condition they don't reveal it to the media.

What?  Why are the halftime measurements some code to nuclear warheads that can't be made public?  Isn't the League interested in setting the record straight?  How is the truth to be kept from the public but all the leaks (most of which weren't accurate) allowed out of the NFL offices?

I'd really like to hear Rodger's explanation for that.  So the Patriots have to twist in the wind unable to get the measurements and then unable to share them?  For what purpose?

It is also crazy that they put a blatant lie (that a Pats ball was measured at 10.1 PSI) in an official NFL communication. Wow. It would have been different if it were some sort of a misinformed leak, but for the NFL to put this thing out and not correct it is absolutely insane.

[knuckleballer]

The other issue that doesn't sit well with me, other than the scientific part which I mentioned before this report came out, was that the NFL refused to give the Patriots the halftime measurements of the balls for two months, and when they did, it was on the condition they don't reveal it to the media.

What?  Why are the halftime measurements some code to nuclear warheads that can't be made public?  Isn't the League interested in setting the record straight?  How is the truth to be kept from the public but all the leaks (most of which weren't accurate) allowed out of the NFL offices?

I'd really like to hear Rodger's explanation for that.  So the Patriots have to twist in the wind unable to get the measurements and then unable to share them?  For what purpose?

The one piece of info they did give them was that one ball was 10.1 which is completely erroneous. The lowest ball as per the gauge the ref says he used was 10.9.  The NFL also failed to correct the erroneous and exagerated leaks to the media that turned this into a media frenzy. 

The average ball was 11.4 which falls in line with the ideal gas law. This issue should have died then.

[PhoSita]

if you read these guys other texts, like where they call each other dorito dink and things of the like, it seems crazy that Wells would want to pass their exchanges off as the basis for anything. I want to see ALL the texts between these guys. Lol

More and more, the Wells Report comes across less like an unbiased summary of the contents of an independent investigation, and more like the argumentative statement of findings that support the position of the NFL i.e. the conclusions in the report.

[Fan from VT]

if you read these guys other texts, like where they call each other dorito dink and things of the like, it seems crazy that Wells would want to pass their exchanges off as the basis for anything. I want to see ALL the texts between these guys. Lol

More and more, the Wells Report comes across less like an unbiased summary of the contents of an independent investigation, and more like the argumentative statement of findings that support the position of the NFL i.e. the conclusions in the report.

I mean, its pretty clear the Wells report started with a conclusion and looked for what would support it rather than gathering data and in an open ended way asking what the data shows.



Similar to a drug company saying "the blood pressure market is huge, i have a novel compound, lets test how it could get fda approval for blood pressure" rather than saying "hey, i have an interesting new novel drug, i wonder what it would be good for?"


Or, more accurately, its like a high school english paper where you are just learning what a thesis statement and supportive arguments are, so you take things a little out if context, use slightly different definitions if words, etc, to support your preconceived thesis, and you get graded positively just for having the right structure and process rather than evaluated on the actual validity.

[Quetzalcoatl]

I'd like him if and only if we can get another player in FA or via Trade that commands a double team.  I'd like a back court of him and Smart if we had say Aldridge taking heat off him.  He would be able to play his game even in pressure situations, but I don't like him as the first option.  DeRozan is great, but he just kind of takes hard shots all the time and they randomly go in or they don't.

[hpantazo]

This offseason is great! Not only did we beat the heck out of all NFL teams on the field this past season, now we're going to do the same to the NFL offices off the field this summer, LOL

[Granath]

if you read these guys other texts, like where they call each other dorito dink and things of the like, it seems crazy that Wells would want to pass their exchanges off as the basis for anything. I want to see ALL the texts between these guys. Lol

More and more, the Wells Report comes across less like an unbiased summary of the contents of an independent investigation, and more like the argumentative statement of findings that support the position of the NFL i.e. the conclusions in the report.

This is only the case if you live in the echo chamber of the Boston media.

[D.o.s.]

if you read these guys other texts, like where they call each other dorito dink and things of the like, it seems crazy that Wells would want to pass their exchanges off as the basis for anything. I want to see ALL the texts between these guys. Lol

More and more, the Wells Report comes across less like an unbiased summary of the contents of an independent investigation, and more like the argumentative statement of findings that support the position of the NFL i.e. the conclusions in the report.

This is only the case if you live in the echo chamber of the Boston media.

For those asking why Patriots suspended two employees if those two did nothing wrong, as New England claims: NFL asked Pats to suspend them prior to discipline being handed down, per a league source in New York. New England obliged with the NFL’s request.

https://www.facebook.com/AdamSchefter/posts/957919684260673

¯\_('=')_/¯

[Donoghus]

Wait....there is an NFL leak that actually looks somewhat favorable to New England?  Whoa....

[Donoghus]

Pats won't appeal.  If he's swallowing the medicine here, I have to think the Brady suspension is getting reduced or dropped.   

I do know that Kraft just peeved off a ton of Patriot fans, though. 

Kraft: I disagree with Goodell, but I accept it and we won’t appeal

Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced today that his team will not fight NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s decision to strip the team of a first-round draft pick, a fourth-round draft pick and $1 million for Deflategate.

In a long statement at the league meeting, Kraft explained that he thinks it’s in the best interests of the league if the Patriots take their medicine, even if they disagree with Goodell’s decision. Here is Kraft’s statement:

“it’s been an emotionally charged couple of weeks as all of you know, and I’ve been considering what my options are. And throughout this whole process there have been two polarizing audiences. At one end of the spectrum we’ve had Patriots fans throughout the country who have been so supportive and really inspirational to us and believing in us. But, also mindful, at the other end of the spectrum, there are fans who feel just the opposite. And what I’ve learned is the ongoing rhetoric continues to galvanize both camps. And I don’t see that changing, and they will never agree.

“But the one thing we can all agree upon is the entire process has taken way too long. And I don’t think that after four months of the AFC Championship Game, we are still talking about air pressure and the PSI in footballs. I think I made it clear when the report came out that I didn’t think it was fair. There was no hard evidence, and everything was circumstantial. And at the same time, when the discipline came out, I felt like it was way over the top, it was unreasonable and unprecedented in my opinion.

“So I have two options: I can try to end it, or extend it. And I have given a lot of thought to both options. The first thing that came to mind is 21 years ago, I had the privilege of going to a meeting similar to what we have here, in Orlando, and being welcomed in an NFL owners’ meeting. So here’s a fan and a former season ticket holder, living a dream and being welcomed in that room. And I got goosebumps that day. And I vowed at that time that I would do everything I could do to make the New England Patriots an elite team, and hopefully respected throughout the country and at the same time, do what I could do to help the NFL become the most popular sport in America.

“You know, what I’ve learned over the last two decades is that the heart and soul and strength of the NFL is a partnership of 32 teams. And what’s become very clear over those very two decades is at no time should the agenda of one team outweigh the collective good of the full 32. So I have a way of looking at problems that are very strong in my mind, and before I make a final decision, I measure nine times and I cut once. And I think maybe if I had made the decision last week it would be different than it is today.

“But believing in the strength of the partnership, and the 32 teams — we have concentrated the adjudication of problems in the office of commissioner. And although I might disagree with what is decided, I do have respect for the commissioner and believe that he’s doing what he perceives to be in the best interests of the full 32. So in that spirit, I don’t want to continue the rhetoric that’s gone on for the last four months. I’m going to accept, reluctantly, what he has given to us, and not continue this dialogue and rhetoric. And we won’t appeal.”

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady still plans to appeal his four-game suspension. But Kraft is done fighting.

[D.o.s.]

What will almost certainly happen is that the NFLPA will argue it regardless of what the outcome actually is, and Brady will wind up missing an insignificant amount of time at most and, ultimately, no one will care. That is what I mean by "the outcome," not about whether Jim Rome is talking about it or not (because who actually cares about Jim Rome beyond morons and mouthbreathers and Mrs. Jim Rome?)

¯\_("o")_/¯

[celticsclay]

What will almost certainly happen is that the NFLPA will argue it regardless of what the outcome actually is, and Brady will wind up missing an insignificant amount of time at most and, ultimately, no one will care. That is what I mean by "the outcome," not about whether Jim Rome is talking about it or not (because who actually cares about Jim Rome beyond morons and mouthbreathers and Mrs. Jim Rome?)

¯\_("o")_/¯

Weren't you pretty much completely wrong about the Brady thing being the only outcome? Losing a first round draft pick is huge. A first round draft pick has a TON of value and if desired, can be traded for a highly valuable veteran for a team hoping to compete now. That loss could really hur thte team down the road and obviously Brady is not going to be playing more than a few more years. Pretty harsh outcome.

[D.o.s.]

When did I say the Brady thing would be the only outcome?

My guess on the Patriots front was that they'd lose their fourth rounder and be fined a relatively insubstantial amount of money.