Deflategate: Brady suspended, Pats lose draft picks & fined

[Demi]

Why not cheat? If caught, just destroy any evidence, fire anyone responsible. Lose a pick, some cash, and look at your shiny ring.
(Not referring only to this...)

[IrishViking]

I actually agree, Demi.

We are so caught up with the idiocy that is Gooddell and enjoying watching someone he cant punish take him to task I think we are missing the point here. Does anyone really doubt that Brady had a hand in what took place? I know from what I saw it blatantly obvious; texts, nick names, emails, the awkward "I dont know how footballs work" cover up. He did do this but now he gets off punishment free and all the patriots really lost was a first round pick. Now, I wont say that the actual deflating of the footballs had any bearing on the outcome of any game (although anyone who lost to the Pats last year will say so) I dont know that. But what I will say is this show a team or player that if you THINK cheating will win you the ring, all you really lose is next years 1st rounder (if you get caught).

[Mothman]

The investigation (and I mean the measurements taken before and during the game as well as the farcical Wells report) was so sloppy that I don't think it's even been clearly established that cheating took place. There's some circumstantial evidence (much of it open to interpretation) that points that way but it's inconclusive. If the Patriots did intentionally let a little air out of some footballs (gasp!), the transgression was of such a minor nature that it's deservedly overshadowed by the complete lack of integrity the NFL has shown in supposedly trying to protect it's integrity.

Deflategate was a mountain made out of a molehill from the start. Now it's an entire range of mountains made from that molehill and the NFL is still too stubborn to just let it go and walk away. They've wasted millions of dollars on this ridiculous controversy. Think of how much more good that money could have done if the league had applied it to say, helping NFL veterans struggling with post-career ailments or research on better safety measures for protecting players from concussions. Instead, the money has been squandered over a silly controversy that obviously didn't even impact the outcome of a game.

[PurpleMustReign]

The investigation (and I mean the measurements taken before and during the game as well as the farcical Wells report) was so sloppy that I don't think it's even been clearly established that cheating took place. There's some circumstantial evidence (much of it open to interpretation) that points that way but it's inconclusive. If the Patriots did intentionally let a little air out of some footballs (gasp!), the transgression was of such a minor nature that it's deservedly overshadowed by the complete lack of integrity the NFL has shown in supposedly trying to protect it's integrity.

Deflategate was a mountain made out of a molehill from the start. Now it's an entire range of mountains made from that molehill and the NFL is still too stubborn to just let it go and walk away. They've wasted millions of dollars on this ridiculous controversy. Think of how much more good that money could have done if the league had applied it to say, helping NFL veterans struggling with post-career ailments or research on better safety measures for protecting players from concussions. Instead, the money has been squandered over a silly controversy that obviously didn't even impact the outcome of a game.

I think the owners are fnially seeing what an incompetent fool Roger Goodell is, to the point that they are considering taking some of his power away from him. They put him there to clean up the league, and he has done such a bad job of it, they are trying to get him to stop. This has got to be so embarrassing for the owners. The only good thing he has done is make the last week of the season all divisional games.

[Jordysghost]

Its annoying that they were let off, not because of lack of evidence, but because the trial was 'unfair'.

So even if they did cheat, which the whole destroyed cell and firing of equipment manager indicates, Goodell's 'incompetence' let them off the hook.

Sigh.

[Jordysghost]

I think the owners are fnially seeing what an incompetent fool Roger Goodell is, to the point that they are considering taking some of his power away from him. They put him there to clean up the league, and he has done such a bad job of it, they are trying to get him to stop. This has got to be so embarrassing for the owners. The only good thing he has done is make the last week of the season all divisional games.

I completely disagree that the only good thing Goodell has ever done is make the last game of the season Divisional, but this isnt the thread for that.

[dead_poet]

Report: Patriots taped 40 opposing teams; NFL destroyed tapes

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-foo ... oyed-tapes

[dead_poet]

‏@SeifertESPN Roger Goodell on @MikeandMike says he is “very open” to lessening his role in discipline but has some “resistance” to 3rd-party arbitrators.

[dead_poet]

Ensuring properly inflated NFL footballs, in 23 simple steps

To mitigate future confusion -- no jokes, please, as this is a serious matter of international importance -- the NFL quietly overhauled its policies and protocol for the handling of footballs on game day. Here is how it will go, more or less, in the hours leading up to Thursday night's season opener between the Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers. (And yes, we'll have a little fun with this. Deal with it.)

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/ ... mple-steps

[jackal]

I don't want Tom Brady hurt physically but I want to see a 250 pound linebacker hit him at full speed and send
him backwards with great force wrapping arms around him and knocking the wind out of him, fully. Tom lying
on the ground crying and afraid.. yeah I am good with that, a few snot bubbles forming, at that moment.

[dead_poet]

@McCannSportsLaw Tom Brady lawyer Jeff Kessler on @WEEI: "We got terrific testimony from Troy Vincent about how they didn't know what the Ideal Gas Law was."

[Demi]

"We got terrific testimony from Troy Vincent about how they didn't know what the Ideal Gas Law was."

The colt's footballs probably didn't know what it was either.

[DK Sweets]

The colt's footballs probably didn't know what it was either.

...?

[Mothman]

Headsetgate!

Steelers’ website makes strong claim about Headsetgate

[jackal]

Steeler's fan quote

It’s unreal this franchise is still cheating inside that stadium. This league is so unbelievably tainted and turned into a soap opera. Turned off the game in the 2nd quarter then cancelled my Sunday Ticket. I’m done. Enjoy your cheating team and this ruined league. I’ve had it with everything about the NFL and they lost a life-long fan here. Signing off forever.