Sports: Deflate-Gate

[declansdad]

Most of the general public does not have time to investigate the claims toward other players. That is why the verdict by the league is so important. For right now Brady is the only one being punished. That goes further than the other claims.

At least we seem to agree Brady is a cheater.

but not a wife beater, that seems to be ok with the NFL.

 

[JoeA]

Most of the general public does not have time to investigate the claims toward other players. That is why the verdict by the league is so important. For right now Brady is the only one being punished. That goes further than the other claims.

At least we seem to agree Brady is a cheater.

No, people hate the Pats because they win. The report is biased. The report only states, "likely". It's a plot against the genius that is Bill Belichek. Aaron Rodgers is the real cheater. Pitchers scuff balls. Everybody does it. And Ray Rice has a wicked hook!

Etc...etc...etc...!

 

[asta]

"If you cheat on the practice field, you'll cheat in the game. And if you cheat in the game, you'll cheat the rest of your life."
--Vince Lombardi

Awesome quote from one of the greats!

 

[ilovefh]

Most of the general public does not have time to investigate the claims toward other players. That is why the verdict by the league is so important. For right now Brady is the only one being punished. That goes further than the other claims.

At least we seem to agree Brady is a cheater.

Don't get me confused with someone else, I was careful not to say anyone was a cheater. For me, it has become very clear that doctoring the balls the way the QBs want them, whether it is inflating, deflating or even putting a sticky substance on them is common practice in the NFL and has been for quite some time. Heck, Brad Johnson was in the 2002-2003 season. I do find it odd that Brady is strung up like a witch at a trial in Salem when others have come out and admitted to paying people to do the same and they are given a pass. I find it odd that other teams face allegations and it is just a blip on the media radar while this requires a months long investigation and a 243 page document.

 

[desamnik]

Most things come down to being about the all mighty dollar. I haven't heard anyone thinking that this could be about money. The patriots have been so successful in the past 10? years. Maybe the NFL is taking heat from other NFL team owners that they want a bigger piece of the $$. Every pats game is sold out, they have cornered the market on product sponsorship, team marketing, hats, shirts, etc. What better way to pull the Patriots team down and give another team(s)chances to get what the patriots have gotten? For them to say this is about "integrity" is a complete joke. The NFL is not about "integrity" never has been and now with social media being what it is, we all know, it is not now about integrity. seriously. Somewhere there has got to be another angle on this story. It can't be about deflated balls that had no effect on any game.

 

[undertheradar]

Most things come down to being about the all mighty dollar. I haven't heard anyone thinking that this could be about money. The patriots have been so successful in the past 10? years. Maybe the NFL is taking heat from other NFL team owners that they want a bigger piece of the $$. Every pats game is sold out, they have cornered the market on product sponsorship, team marketing, hats, shirts, etc. What better way to pull the Patriots team down and give another team(s)chances to get what the patriots have gotten? For them to say this is about "integrity" is a complete joke. The NFL is not about "integrity" never has been and now with social media being what it is, we all know, it is not now about integrity. seriously. Somewhere there has got to be another angle on this story. It can't be about deflated balls that had no effect on any game.

OMG, conspiracy theory? The Patriots cheated, just own it.

 

[GAN]

Over the limit? Nope, because most people realize an overinflated football is not an advantage. Have you ever tried to catch a rock hard football?

"If you cheat on the practice field, you'll cheat in the game. And if you cheat in the game, you'll cheat the rest of your life."
--Vince Lombardi

Huh? That's ridiculous!

Right -and Vince is rolling in his grave over a particular GB QB.....

 

[GAN]

but not a wife beater, that seems to be ok with the NFL.

Please -let's not forget murderer, rapist, drug dealer, HGH abuser......

 

[jdb in AZ]

I think it's interesting that the fines/penalties are for "
conduct detrimental to the integrity of the NFL." What integrity?

I think the fines are a bit over the top, but will be reduced. It's "better" to start out with a 4-game suspension which will be cut to two games. Instead of starting with a 2-game suspension then cutting it to one.

 

[TaylorEar]

Phew, all I can say is that I am glad the Broncos no longer hold the record for the largest fine in the league's history. That legacy now belongs to the Pats.

As for Brady, his legacy will go down as a cheater because of his arrogance.

It is precisely because the other QB's will openly admit they would do the same thing that will save their legacy. Brady's arrogance that prevents him from ever admitting he did anything is what makes people dislike him so much and will cause people to remember him as a cheater and not the QB's who have no qualms admitting they cheat. And it is not because anybody is jealous of Brady as Disney Ron keeps trying to insist on.

Everybody knows that everybody does it. Doesn't mean it is right. People don't like cheaters, but if somebody admits they are a cheater, it kind of just proves everybody does it. So, the ones who admit it, well, people are resigned to the fact so that is not news, thus forgettable and not a ding on their legacy (note: not reputation.) The fact that Brady is so arrogant, he cannot admit he cheats just like the rest of the league even when proven is what will seal his legacy as a cheater. It is not the act of cheating, but his arrogance that he is better than everybody else and would "never" stoop to that level.

Brady's refusal to admit that he did it/knew about it is the part that really makes me mad. It's one thing to break a rule that "everybody" breaks, it's another thing to lie about it and act like the whole thing is one big joke. I also think it sucks that Belichick wasn't held accountable. Didn't Goodell say something about ignorance not being an excuse when Sean Payton was suspended??

 

[kimmar067]

.....this morning on ESPN, they compared Brady to Derek Jeter....ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!?!?!?

not. even. CLOSE.

 

[IndyRnRfan]

.....this morning on ESPN, they compared Brady to Derek Jeter....ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!?!?!?

not. even. CLOSE.

Tom Brady couldn't hold Derek Jeter's jock.

All Brady had to do was admit he knew about it when first questioned and he would have probably had a $25,000 fine for making a mistake. Instead, he threw the two ball boys under the bus and lie to try and save his reputation and legacy. News flash, you and the Patriots were already known as a cheating program and now it has happened again. Now you get into harming the reputation and integrity of the game and there are a ton of rules and fines on these issues. Examples, Rice and Peterson. Be a man and own up to your mistakes. He probably had a shot at becoming the greatest QB ever, after this Joe Montana will still reign at the top. He must not have been paying attention to baseball for the last 10 years. Look at what has happened to those who admitted to using steroids compared to those that still refuse to admit. The public accepts people who makes mistakes and admits to them when confronted. When you try and deny, you will be looked at like a cheater.

 

[declansdad]

Did they cheat, according to the report - probably. Are these penalties reasonable - no way! Compared to other suspensions given by the NFL this is idiotic. The NFL continues to make things up as they go and they they have to backpedal to fix the mess they create.

In the interest of disclosure, the Patriots are not my favourite team.

 

[gwynne]

I think there's still a chance the 4 game suspension will be reduced to 2, but we'll see.

 

[ilovefh]

C

Did they cheat, according to the report - probably. Are these penalties reasonable - no way! Compared to other suspensions given by the NFL this is idiotic. The NFL continues to make things up as they go and they they have to backpedal to fix the mess they create.

In the interest of disclosure, the Patriots are not my favourite team.

You know, I was thinking about the punishment handed down this morning. I equate it to something like this:

In my area it is generally accepted by both police and citizens that you can do 5 mph over the speed limit on the highway. Is it speeding, yes, but it's an accepted practice. It would be like if a cop stopped someone doing 5 mph over the speed limit. Then an investigation was mounted because the radar gun is not 100% accurate so they determine that the person probably was speeding. Since the person denied speeding, instead of the $67.17 fine that they should impose they up it to $1000 and a week if jail time.

I'm not saying that inflating, deflating or messing with the balls in any other way is right or wrong, but it seems to be accepted practice so I don't get the severity of the punishment.

 

[TAX GUY]

C


You know, I was thinking about the punishment handed down this morning. I equate it to something like this:

In my area it is generally accepted by both police and citizens that you can do 5 mph over the speed limit on the highway. Is it speeding, yes, but it's an accepted practice. It would be like if a cop stopped someone doing 5 mph over the speed limit. Then an investigation was mounted because the radar gun is not 100% accurate so they determine that the person probably was speeding. Since the person denied speeding, instead of the $67.17 fine that they should impose they up it to $1000 and a week if jail time.

I'm not saying that inflating, deflating or messing with the balls in any other way is right or wrong, but it seems to be accepted practice so I don't get the severity of the punishment.

Would it also mean that the passenger was issued citation (including the one's in the back) since the one actually doing the speeding is the driver and not the others that are in the car too? I'm sure the driver knows the passenger prefers to go a little faster but did he actually instruct the driver to do it? More likely than not....or probably, but...

 

[soccerdad72]

I think there's still a chance the 4 game suspension will be reduced to 2, but we'll see.

I agree. I think it'll become a 2 game suspension. I wouldn't be surprised if the appeals process drags on past the first game or two of the season so that Brady can play in the opening Thursday night game. I doubt the NFL wants to open up the season with their first prime time game led by Jimmy Garoppolo.

 

[gwynne]

I agree. I think it'll become a 2 game suspension. I wouldn't be surprised if the appeals process drags on past the first game or two of the season so that Brady can play in the opening Thursday night game. I doubt the NFL wants to open up the season with their first prime time game led by Jimmy Garoppolo.

Makes sense to me. Unless they have a big stack of Garoppolo #10 jerseys they need to move.

 

[undertheradar]

Here is where the NFL has to change. A player/coach/team employee should not be allowed to participate in any organized team activities while appealing a suspension. Would speed up the process and make most people with any sense of integrity, own up to what they did. I have yet to see where Brady admits any ownership of this, he appears to be quite content to let the little people take the fall.

 

[Hrhpd]

Most things come down to being about the all mighty dollar. I haven't heard anyone thinking that this could be about money. The patriots have been so successful in the past 10? years. Maybe the NFL is taking heat from other NFL team owners that they want a bigger piece of the $$. Every pats game is sold out, they have cornered the market on product sponsorship, team marketing, hats, shirts, etc. What better way to pull the Patriots team down and give another team(s)chances to get what the patriots have gotten? For them to say this is about "integrity" is a complete joke. The NFL is not about "integrity" never has been and now with social media being what it is, we all know, it is not now about integrity. seriously. Somewhere there has got to be another angle on this story. It can't be about deflated balls that had no effect on any game.

Sorry, last year the Seahawks then Broncos then 49rs lead the league in merchandise sold. As of last year, Brady's jersey was ranked #4 in sales.

As for attendance in 2014, the Pats rank a measly #17. Cowboys are #1 in total attendance, but that is because they can stuff more people in their stadium. However, if you change the rankings to pct, Pats move up a bit, but still are low at 11th.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/attendance