OT - Patriots Deflate Report

[bcbgcbrcb]

In my opinion, based on the league findings, the Patriots victory in the playoff game tarnished with the deflated footballs should mean that the Patriots forfeit that win. Thus, they lose their Super Bowl victory over Seattle as they obviously won't have been in the game to begin with. That's what happens to Olympic gold medalists that have been found to have cheated.

That would put a stop to this type of thing happening again in the future real fast. Forget about a small fine on the team and/or Tom Brady. Maybe disqualifying them from postseason play in the 2015-2016 season might do the trick as well..........

[conor912]

If they had hard proof, I would 100% agree....but this "they likely probably kinda sorta perhaps knew" BS is just plain stupid. Besides, there's no way a slightly deflated ball gives them a 30+ point advantage, no matter how you slice and dice it.

[nolemmings]

You are referring to a preponderance of the evidence standard, the one used in US civil cases for 200 years.

Oh, and the week before the Indy game, when the Ravens believed the Pats used the same tactic, New England trailed most of the game, winning in the last 5 minutes 35-31 with Brady having one of his best post-season games (360 yds, 33 completions and 3 TDs). Probably had no effect there either, right? The team that texts showed had deflated balls throughout the early season and whose equipment guy referred to himself as the Deflator before the season started I'm sure did nothing of the sort in that playoff game.

[conor912]

Todd, I live in Seattle. I am in no way defending NE...but OJ probably killed Nicole too. If the proof's not there, it's not there.

[nolemmings]

You truly have no understanding of what you speak. Sad really.

[KCRfan1]

Most are making WAY too big of an issue over this.

[Joshchisox08]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

In my opinion, based on the league findings, the Patriots victory in the playoff game tarnished with the deflated footballs should mean that the Patriots forfeit that win. Thus, they lose their Super Bowl victory over Seattle as they obviously won't have been in the game to begin with. That's what happens to Olympic gold medalists that have been found to have cheated.

That would put a stop to this type of thing happening again in the future real fast. Forget about a small fine on the team and/or Tom Brady. Maybe disqualifying them from postseason play in the 2015-2016 season might do the trick as well..........

Can't stand FOOOSEEEBALL. It's a league full of criminals. It's boring and there's about 6 minutes of actual gameplay the rest is watching the sidelines horrible commercials and overgrown guys who get away with steroids on the phone.

That said things like this help make me hate it even more. I totally agree they should forfeit the win. THEY CHEATED. So they just get a slap on the wrist gotta love Goodell.

[William Todd]

I agree with Barry, some penalty is warranted, but what about what other teams do.

[nolemmings]

Again, all the NFL cares about is money and the perception that the Pats cheated in the playoffs was enough to make the commissioner freak out. Heating up the balls illegally on the sideline? 25K fine because the press didn't run with it. Brady messing with the balls? He's 1/4 Paul Hornug-ed.

Not sure if you're referring to the Vikings-Panthers game or some other, but in that game both teams heated the footballs, basically in front of each other on the sidelines during pre-game, with tens of thousands in the stands and the Fox pre-game cameras focused right on them. The difference was not the media, but the fact that such scenario screamed ignorance rather than an intent to deceive, with neither team designed to gain an advantage over the other. Much different than stuff happening down in the tunnel, or the nearby bathroom, deliberately done out of view and with an intent to gain an edge, followed by the QB sand-papering his equipment guys, refusing to turn over records and then giving a "what me?" press conference that his contemporaries pretty much to a man found deceitful.

The Hornung reference is a good one though. There of course two marquee guys get bounced for a whole year for betting on games (not their own) -- acts that had no influence on who actually won. Here, the conduct was specifically designed to help the cheating team win, and yet the one with knowledge and orchestrator of that conduct is suspended for only 1/4 of the season (likely less after appeal), still causing the gnashing of teeth by those who cry railroad. Some could say the firm hand of league integrity is a little wobbly today.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

Not sure if you're referring to the Vikings-Panthers game or some other, but in that game both teams heated the footballs, basically in front of each other on the sidelines during pre-game, with tens of thousands in the stands and the Fox pre-game cameras focused right on them. The difference was not the media, but the fact that such scenario screamed ignorance rather than an intent to deceive, with neither team designed to gain an advantage over the other. Much different than stuff happening down in the tunnel, or the nearby bathroom, deliberately done out of view and with an intent to gain an edge, followed by the QB sand-papering his equipment guys, refusing to turn over records and then giving a "what me?" press conference that his contemporaries pretty much to a man found deceitful.

The Hornung reference is a good one though. There of course two marquee guys get bounced for a whole year for betting on games (not their own) -- acts that had no influence on who actually won. Here, the conduct was specifically designed to help the cheating team win, and yet the one with knowledge and orchestrator of that conduct is suspended for only 1/4 of the season (likely less after appeal), still causing the gnashing of teeth by those who cry railroad. Some could say the firm hand of league integrity is a little wobbly today.

I was unaware the heating of the footballs during that game was mostly innocent and with both teams involved.

I suspect Brady will appeal and considering Goodell's horrible luck with the appeal process the number of games suspended will likely go down. But the main reason he keeps losing is because he overreacts with a monster suspension after the media and public cry out over the light sentence he had previously handed out. I don't think Brady's 4 games is an overreaction and I suspect it might stick. Hard to feel sorry for Brady when he lied to the investigators and didn't turn over his phone. He's acting like a criminal in a context which does not include possible criminal penalties. He got what he deserved here.

[nolemmings]

I suspect Brady will appeal and considering Goodell's horrible luck with the appeal process the number of games suspended will likely go down. But the main reason he keeps losing is because he overreacts with a monster suspension after the media and public cry out over the light sentence he had previously handed out. I don't think Brady's 4 games is an overreaction and I suspect it might stick. Hard to feel sorry for Brady when he lied to the investigators and didn't turn over his phone. He's acting like a criminal in a context which does not include possible criminal penalties. He got what he deserved here.

Exactly.

[frankbmd]

Suspending Brady for four games accomplishes nothing in my opinion.

They should have allowed Brady to play and suspended the offensive line for four games.

[Jewish-collector]

[barrysloate]

On David Letterman last night:

It was so hot in New York today that Tom Brady was deflating footballs just for the breeze.