OT - Patriots Deflate Report

steve B · #1 05-09-2015, 10:56 PM

So as a Pats fan............

When the whole thing began I figured there was a technical explanation.

But, between the texts and the odd pattern of Brady all of a sudden communicating with the equipment guys he hasn't called for months and calling one into what's essentially his office which hadn't happened since before Brady - something like 20 years.

That to me looks very much like something was up.

Enough that there should probably be some punishment.

The guesses on the radio station I listen to - Rock, not sports, was that it would be one game for Brady, he'd appeal until after the season opener, then take his one game off. The rumor was that a "source" in the league office said 4 games for Brady. All with the team and Coach in the clear since there was no evidence they knew about it (Since the NFL spent big bucks checking I'll go with that even though I don't believe it) And I think either would be entirely appropriate.

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The other side of how I feel about it.

The rule isn't well written, either from a technical standpoint or from a clarity standpoint. It doesn't actually say the balls have to remain inflated - except the home team has a responsibility to provide "playable" balls at all times. 12 primary ones and 12 backups which apparently weren't used and possibly weren't deflated. And it mentions no penalty. Except in a totally different section where the commissioner can investigate and punish "extraordinarily unfair acts" - To me also vague. What's extraordinarily unfair as opposed to just unfair or sort of unfair? Could I put together a team of lazy guys and then say it's extraordinarily unfair they have to play a team that practices?

Yeah, a bit over the top but it makes the point.

From everything I've read it seems the handling of the balls is very lax, and even the refs might push the limits. The one text complaining about the refs making some of the balls more like 16 psi is interesting. Did they just pump them up by feel, or did they know some would be let out and cover for it by deliberately overinflating? And if that's the case that crew should get the same suspension.
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In a more general sense-

I've never bought the NCAA style stripping of titles for a team sport. It makes some sense with individual sports where it's more clear the winner wouldn't have won without cheating. Lance should have been stripped of his 7 wins. without doping he probably wouldn't have won all of them. He might have won a couple, but not all 7. Oddly, a few of those years there isn't a clean rider for several positions. If you figure they were always on something you'd have to remove a few riders. I also think there were people at the top of the UCI that should have also been banned. The one statement another rider made that someone came in and said "the test was positive but Nike took care of it" to me is very telling.

But for a team sport? Nonsense. Stripping a college team of a title because one really good player gets some cash from a booster, or a job, or someone does a bit of recruiting at the wrong time very much does a disservice the rest of the team, especially the second stringers who worked just as hard sometimes knowing that the only way they'd see the inside of a pro stadium was as a spectator. And all at the same time they're making millions from the kids who aren't allowed to make anything if there's any connection to the team at all.

Steve B

bcbgcbrcb · #2 05-12-2015, 05:21 AM

Pretty fair penalty handed out by the NFL, now it has to stick to remain meaningful. Brady's suspension can't get reduced to two games instead of four, otherwise not enough incentive to prevent some other form of cheating by another team in the future. I won't mind seeing the Pats have to forfeit that playoff win but that would leave the NFL in a shambles as to the 2014-2015 playoffs outcome.........No Champion?............What would they do?

wolf441 · #3 05-12-2015, 06:09 AM

Patriots sign undrafted free agent....

packs · #4 05-12-2015, 09:18 AM

I still don't think you can turn back time so they are the champs to me. But I hope that moving forward they will be under the most intense of scrutiny and be embarrassed every weekend when a ref stops play to test the inflation of their footballs.

Peter_Spaeth · #5 05-12-2015, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by packs

I still don't think you can turn back time so they are the champs to me. But I hope that moving forward they will be under the most intense of scrutiny and be embarrassed every weekend when a ref stops play to test the inflation of their footballs.

The same refs who must have handled the balls dozens of times during the game and not noticed anything amiss?

packs · #6 05-12-2015, 09:58 AM

Yes, those refs. Maybe some new ones. I don't know what the NFL's turnover is like.

steve B · #7 05-12-2015, 02:58 PM

Having read the excerpts from the letters sent to the team and Brady I think the punishment is just about right. Maybe a bit less so for the team. I'll go with the coach and management not knowing, since the NFL investigation says no. But I'm not sure I believe that. Brady trying to cover stuff up is probably at least two of the four games.

Brady certainly was acting like a guy with something to hide.
But..............He must have some "interesting" stuff on his phone, maybe some pictures he was sent? yeah, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't hand over the phone either I can't imagine Giselle being mad as a good thing.

I do have a few questions though.

My phone shows both sides of the text conversation. But it's windows. Do the other two hide the incoming side after a time? And if not why would they even need Bradys phone after getting the other two?

The next two are partly sarcastic/kidding, partly not.

Two of the Colts balls were also underinflated at halftime. Since we have to believe the refs checked ALL the balls, then the Colts must have deflated a couple too. When is the report on that and the announcement of fines/suspensions ? Or do they claim the pats staff also deflated a couple for the other team? Or just maybe - The refs didn't check all of them?

One of the texts references the refs overinflating some balls to 16 Psi for an earlier game. Can I assume that either 1) They were sort of covering for deflation by overinflating. OR 2) The refs were altering the ball by overinflating and we'll see some fallout from that soon.
Either way those refs were either adversely affecting the team deliberately, or were attempting to cover up cheating with some other cheating.
Neither is acceptable, but I'd be willing to bet there won't be any punishment.

All in all the rule and it's oversight is very poor. But it won't get rewritten, and the equipment used won't get any better.

Steve B

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