The Assassination of Brady's Legacy By the Fat Coward Deflator McNally

[137th Gebirg]

I think I've probably been a member here since maybe 1999 or so and have never posted in this particular sub-forum. Until now.

The Associated Press reports that the NFL investigative commission on "Deflategate" determined that the "Patriots employees probably deflated balls".

"Probably"?

Doesn't sound very conclusive. They go on to say:

But the NFL report concluded "it was more than probable than not" that Jim McNally, the officials' locker room attendant, and John Jastremski, an equipment assistant for the Patriots, were involved in "a deliberate effort to release air" from the footballs in the moments before kickoff of the AFC title game - and after they were examined by the referee.

Does this mean that it's "more probable than not" that the Patriots will be stripped of their Superbowl title? Likely not.

Does this mean that it's "more probable than not" that Coach Belichick and Quarterback Tom Brady will either be suspended or expelled from franchise employment for knowing that this had been done at the very least - and possibly even requested/ordered it be done at most? Likely not.

It probably isn't that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things, and if this was their first running-afoul of NFL rules I may be inclined to let them get off with a fine. But this comes only several years after the illegal "Spygate" video-taping scandal.

I am quite vexed. I hope something happens here, but I suspect that it's "more probable than not" that they'll walk away with just another fine and a slap on the wrist.

 

[Shaw]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

Doesn't sound very conclusive.

The article you link to included this passage...

Former NFL executive Bill Polian, familiar with the league's crime-and-punishment procedures after spending 19 years on the powerful competition committee, said the term Wells used - "more probable than not" - has been the standard of proof the NFL has used for competitive violations over the last six years.​

There isn't much question as to what happened... the question is what happens next.

My guess is not enough to deter teams from doing the same thing in the future.

 

[JohnChod]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

As noted, 'more probable than not' is standard NFL speak and is much the equivalent of 'by a preponderance of the evidence.'

What the actual deflation amounts to is a hill of beans. The Pats destroyed their opponent in the AFC championship game, so it had little actual effect on the game.

My issue, and I hope that this is what the NFL looks at, is that the Patriots continue to try theses little 'cheats.' It is the mindset of the franchise that should be rather severely punished. It certainly won't be stripping them of the title. But, suspensions of Brady and Belichick as well as financial penalties and lost draft picks would be fitting. What's really insane about this is that the Patriots have no need to resort to these shenanigans.

 

[Corran Horn]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

"Fuck Tom"

 

[137th Gebirg]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

What's really insane about this is that the Patriots have no need to resort to these shenanigans.

Agreed - they have enough talent on that team that such things shouldn't be necessary, and yet they still do. And they perpetually lie about doing them, making it even worse. It's almost pathological, and at the highest levels of the franchise.

"Fuck Tom"

Absolutely!

Looks like there's talk of a potential full season suspension for Brady. That article does have Miami bias due to the AFC-East implications of such a suspension (they're drooling about this, obviously), but it's interesting to see what's on the table. Maybe something will actually come of this besides a fine and a slap on the wrist - although nobody seems to be talking about what might happen to Belichick.

 

[Scout101]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

Probably because you didn't read enough of the report to notice that they said pretty clearly that Belichick and Kraft (or anyone at that organizational level) had nothing to do with it?

 

[Corran Horn]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

Probably because you didn't read enough of the report to notice that they said pretty clearly that Belichick and Kraft (or anyone at that organizational level) had nothing to do with it?

yeah, they might get dinged on 'lack of institutional control' but Belichick is obvious by his lack of mentioning.

The org will either get fined or lose picks I'd say.

Brady might get a few games.

The texts are wonderful to read.

 

[Timby]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

I think the ship sailed on Brady getting suspended when the NFL decided to punt this until after the Super Bowl.

That said, Brady’s statement is very telling in that it was released by his agent and attacks the process without refuting the conclusions and facts.

 

[Tom Servo]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

I'm just going to leave this here for when people start throwing around the cheating label on the Patriots.

http://yourteamcheats.com/

This whole thing is unbelievable. Roger Goodell and the NFL have fucked this up in a way only the NFL can. If they suspend Brady, I hope that the Packers backup QB is ready as well, since Rodgers should be out of there as well. Of course neither should be, because this whole thing is so unbelievably stupid it boggles the mind, but its the NFL. I expect Brady to be publicly executed.

 

[137th Gebirg]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

^^^ Great site - thanks for the link!

I am genuinely shocked at how my team (Redskins) are tied with Indianapolis at 4th worst cheaters in the league! You'd think that a team that cheats that much would be able to benefit a little more from it. The other teams around them (Denver, New York (Giants), Pittsbugh) are all recent conference and/or league champions - well, except for the Jets. It shows just how bad my poor old team really sucks balls (and the Jets)! Dumbasses can't even cheat right...

Who knew?

 

[Kor]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

This whole thing is a testament to the huge importance of recreation and entertainment in our society. "First world problems," as they say.

And on a side note, I think it's ridiculous how every public scandal gets the word "gate" tacked on to the end. Watergate was decades ago, and it was actually the name of a real place.

Kor

 

[137th Gebirg]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

Anyone catch the press conference non-event last night? A brilliant marketing procedure, masterfully designed to start rebuilding the Patriots'/Brady's image and brand where nothing substantive was actually discussed. Thousands of people were in attendance. It was a bigger event than most Presidential press conferences from the White House. Brady was all smiles, the crowd seemed 100% supported and adoring, and when put to "the question" about the conclusions made by the investigating commission, he pretty much said that it had "only been 30 hours", he hadn't time to "fully digest it" yet and had no comment. "Only 30 hours"? He reads that slow? He did joke about not being as much of a scholar and more of a jock. That was funny. If it were me, I'd have been pouring all over that thing with my lawyers sitting next to me the millisecond it was released, building a strategy and developing a clear message.

I stopped watching after about 5 minutes when I realized nothing was going to happen. He was clearly never going to own up to any knowledge of it (never expected he would, to be honest), but I was at least hoping for some kind of commentary on the matter. Maybe it happened after I switched away, but I doubt it.

Well done, Tom. Deftly played.

 

[Jedi_Master]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

Yeah, his agent was on NPR, and the NPR anchor was lofting softballs at the agent with such deference and grace that I turned the interview off. Jesus folks, I get that Brady isn't Satan incarnate, but he isn't God either. He did something wrong, and there has to be some kind of consequence.

 

[Tom Servo]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

Yeah, his agent was on NPR, and the NPR anchor was lofting softballs at the agent with such deference and grace that I turned the interview off. Jesus folks, I get that Brady isn't Satan incarnate, but he isn't God either. He did something wrong, and there has to be some kind of consequence.

But the point is the report didn't prove that HE DID ANYTHING WRONG AT ALL. That's the whole point to this damn thing. There is nothing in there to prove that A. he was making the team employee's deflate balls after the ref's had checked them, and B. that he wanted those balls out of regulation PSI levels.

Also that appearance Brady made last night was already scheduled and had nothing to do with this whole situation.

 

[Jedi_Master]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

Chuckle. I know, those equipment managers are always doing things that the star QB doesn't like or approve of.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

Does this mean that it's "more probable than not" that the Patriots will be stripped of their Superbowl title? Likely not.

Would that even be possible?

 

[Scout101]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

Kinda gotta prove he told them to make them 10 psi when he said he liked them on the soft side, and not that he wanted them all right at 12.5 though if you want to publically execute him, no? Report was a little, uh, vague on that part. The strong language about it being "more likely than not that he was generally aware of..."

Not saying there wasn't something to this, but let's not pretend they got video of Brady popping the balls, either.

Also, can we determine whether this even matters? IMO it's more in Brady's head than anything. Total deflection change, if you let 2 PSI out of the ball, is around 1 millimeter. Not like it turns it into a NERF ball.

And despite the non-sting that the report was very defensively clear that the NFL didn't do (bull, they were perfectly willing to sacrifice the AFC championship game to try and catch the Pats red handed), the refs handled the balls on every play and couldn't tell the difference. But then for totally un-sting-related reasons, gauged the balls at halftime for the first time in their memory. But they didn't feel a difference or do it as a result of a report, so why, exactly?

Whole thing is a joke, looking for suspensions and draft picks. Like doing 30 days in jail for doing 70 in a 65 on the highway. Technically a crime, maybe the air pressure in your tires had you thinking you were only going 67, but not exactly reckless speeding, and it's very likely that everyone around you was doing the same speed. At best, pay the speeding ticket and move on. Public outcry wants you doing more time than a DUI conviction, though. Come on...

 

[Scout101]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

Does this mean that it's "more probable than not" that the Patriots will be stripped of their Superbowl title? Likely not.

Would that even be possible?

Not that anyone's aware of. Balls were fixed at halftime and Colts were outscored 28-0 in the second half, it that helps? it was 17-7 with the 'bad' balls. Colts scored 7 points all game and their balls were fine, so not sure it mattered. And pretty sure they policed the hell out of the Superbowl balls, so can't imagine there were any questions about that game with respect to that issue.

Seems like the report would have had to have been WAY worse to start that kind of talk, no? Like they replaced the balls with Nerf balls, were caught filling them with helium or something.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

Does this mean that it's "more probable than not" that the Patriots will be stripped of their Superbowl title? Likely not.

Would that even be possible?

Not that anyone's aware of. Balls were fixed at halftime and Colts were outscored 28-0 in the second half, it that helps? it was 17-7 with the 'bad' balls. Colts scored 7 points all game and their balls were fine, so not sure it mattered. And pretty sure they policed the hell out of the Superbowl balls, so can't imagine there were any questions about that game with respect to that issue.

I was just wondering if it would be theoretically possible for NFL to have yanked the title (if they'd found anything). Is it within the commish's powers to do so?

(I would guess not, since even Judge Landis didn't pull the 1919 Whitesox's WS title after that scandal...just thought I'd check.)

 

[137th Gebirg]

Re: Decision on Deflategate

Does this mean that it's "more probable than not" that the Patriots will be stripped of their Superbowl title? Likely not.

Would that even be possible?

Not that anyone's aware of. Balls were fixed at halftime and Colts were outscored 28-0 in the second half, it that helps? it was 17-7 with the 'bad' balls. Colts scored 7 points all game and their balls were fine, so not sure it mattered. And pretty sure they policed the hell out of the Superbowl balls, so can't imagine there were any questions about that game with respect to that issue.

I think other teams who played against them in the 2014-2015 season could argue that they had been doing this the entire time, as a genuine means to get them to the Superbowl in the first place. Yes, the inflation problem was fixed at halftime, but it could be debated whether the Patriots benefitted from such behavior in the games leading up to the final one and should never have legitimately gotten all the way there to begin with.

Using that argument, from a cause-and-effect perspective, the title could be logically revoked.