NFL upholds Tom Brady's four-game 'Deflategate' suspension

[PDXChris]

That is incorrect, he missed 16 games last season, that makes 20 games... Not even in the same area code...

Expect Hardy was not suspended and was paid to stay at home. Oh yeah, and the NFL didn't do it, the Panthers did.

 

[moklerman]

The commissioner has been exercising the authority to discipline the players and "protect the shield" before this version of the CBA was signed.

It would not surprise me if Brady is responsible for the lack of PSI in the footballs and I think he should be punished. However, I do not understand why this particular offense warrants a four game suspension rather than the fine that is prescribed in the league rule book:

“Once the balls have left the locker room, no one, including players, equipment managers, ball boys, and coaches, is allowed to alter the footballs in any way. If any individual alters the footballs, or if a non-approved ball is used in the game, the person responsible and, if appropriate, the head coach or other club personnel will be subject to discipline, including but not limited to, a fine of $25,000.”

— From the NFL Game Operations Manual

If Goodell was acting inappropriately before the new agreement, that makes it even worse in terms of the players voting to keep him, doesn't it?

As far as the punishment on Brady, it isn't because of the inflation issue it's because of a lack of compliance by Brady and the integrity of the game. Very ambiguous terms but the commissioner seems convinced about them.

 

[Cardiac]

The commissioner has been exercising the authority to discipline the players and "protect the shield" before this version of the CBA was signed.

It would not surprise me if Brady is responsible for the lack of PSI in the footballs and I think he should be punished. However, I do not understand why this particular offense warrants a four game suspension rather than the fine that is prescribed in the league rule book:

“Once the balls have left the locker room, no one, including players, equipment managers, ball boys, and coaches, is allowed to alter the footballs in any way. If any individual alters the footballs, or if a non-approved ball is used in the game, the person responsible and, if appropriate, the head coach or other club personnel will be subject to discipline, including but not limited to, a fine of $25,000.”

— From the NFL Game Operations Manual

The 4 game suspension is not for deflating the balls, it's for impeding an investigation, destroying evidence, lying, and acting like an entitled brat.

If Brady had simply said, I asked the ball boys to make the balls more the way I like them but they must have gone a bit overboard.....my bad and my mistake. Then he would have just been fined and the Pats probably wouldn't have been punished so harshly either.

Even if he would have told the truth and said "yes I had the balls deflated" he wouldn't have gotten a 4 game suspension. The cover up and lies are the bigger issue now.

 

[Buckybird]

How do you know about the part in bold?

It was reported on Thursday's NFL insiders.

 

[Matt L]

It was reported on Thursday's NFL insiders.

Reported by the network that is owned by the league?

 

[Matt L]

The 4 game suspension is not for deflating the balls, it's for impeding an investigation, destroying evidence, lying, and acting like an entitled brat.

If Brady had simply said, I asked the ball boys to make the balls more the way I like them but they must have gone a bit overboard.....my bad and my mistake. Then he would have just been fined and the Pats probably wouldn't have been punished so harshly either.

Even if he would have told the truth and said "yes I had the balls deflated" he wouldn't have gotten a 4 game suspension. The cover up and lies are the bigger issue now.

Why was there an investigation into something as trivial as this? They could have just stated that there would be fines due to evidence they have regarding the pressure in the game balls; why the huge investigation?

 

[Matt L]

If Goodell was acting inappropriately before the new agreement, that makes it even worse in terms of the players voting to keep him, doesn't it?

As far as the punishment on Brady, it isn't because of the inflation issue it's because of a lack of compliance by Brady and the integrity of the game. Very ambiguous terms but the commissioner seems convinced about them.

1. I wasn't apart of the CBA negotiation but I have yet to see any major concessions that the players received from the lockout. In fact, I find it highly unlikely that Goodell's position, authority or title were even on the bargaining table.

2. "Lack of compliance" is such a vague term. Why are we acting like these are elected officials? This whole witch hunt is making the organization and their fans more sympathetic than anything.

 

[moklerman]

1. I wasn't apart of the CBA negotiation but I have yet to see any major concessions that the players received from the lockout. In fact, I find it highly unlikely that Goodell's position, authority or title were even on the bargaining table.

2. "Lack of compliance" is such a vague term. Why are we acting like these are elected officials? This whole witch hunt is making the organization and their fans more sympathetic than anything.

I know I've seen more than one ex-player say it isn't about Goodell, it's about Smith. That the Players Union Rep is the one who should be taking more criticism for signing a CBA that gave Goodell this power.

Honestly, I have very little sympathy for these guys who are trying to get "fair" treatment for taking drugs, carrying guns, beating their wives and/or kids, taking PED's and outright cheating.

I wouldn't mind at all if Goodell carried a bigger "hammer".

 

[Cardiac]

Why was there an investigation into something as trivial as this? They could have just stated that there would be fines due to evidence they have regarding the pressure in the game balls; why the huge investigation?

It's a rule for a reason and breaking it requires a response from the league office. Now factor in how the Pats stole the balls and took them into the bathroom to let air out after they had been measured and approved......Do I really need to paint this picture for you?????????

It's freaking cheating with malice and then a cover up with lies and obvious lack of respect for the rules and the league.

 

[Dude]

It's a rule for a reason and breaking it requires a response from the league office. Now factor in how the Pats stole the balls and took them into the bathroom to let air out after they had been measured and approved......Do I really need to paint this picture for you?????????

It's freaking cheating with malice and then a cover up with lies and obvious lack of respect for the rules and the league.

Poor guy forgot and cleaned his phone. Nothing to see he's just a little lost.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Bottom line: it's not the crime, but the cover up. Take your suspension and eat it,Brady and Pats! This story has become Tebow/Favre.

 

[Iceman]

https://twitter.com/BR_NFL/status/628694376500305920

 

[Cheesebeef]

Insulted? You should be, Goodell is following his model.

I'm just calling it out. You shouldn't be insulted at me, you should be insulted at the people following his handiwork. You do realize his 'model' is followed today and is RAMPANT in the USA and the World, right?

...and that's a fact, and that's the BEST way to remember. To NEVER FORGET.

I guarantee you, sticking your head in the sand, to avoid remembering, is exactly how we'll arrive at the same position, again. That would be the ultimate insult.

no, comparing what happens in an entertainment league where a Commish has handed a superstar playboy a 4 game suspension to a Goebbles who ORCHESTRATING THE FREAKING HOLOCAUST WHERE 6 MILLION JEWS WERE KILLED is the ultimate insult. Get a freaking grip.

Seriously. The above is even more insulting because you're doubling down on the completely inane comparison.

I seriously can't believe anyone in their right mind would put a genocidal maniac and Goodell in the same sentence. It's mind-bogglingly stupid and quite frankly, so freaking tone-deaf that I believe you've either been lobotomized or Goodell screwed your wife. That's the only reason I can imagine making the comparison. And if you want to ban me for that statement, well go ahead. But someone taking the Holocaust and entire generations of my family and throwing them into ovens and exterminating this lightly deserves to be put on blast.

 

[Stout]

no, comparing what happens in an entertainment league where a Commish has handed a superstar playboy a 4 game suspension to a Goebbles who ORCHESTRATING THE FREAKING HOLOCAUST WHERE 6 MILLION JEWS WERE KILLED is the ultimate insult. Get a freaking grip.

Seriously. The above is even more insulting because you're doubling down on the completely inane comparison.

I seriously can't believe anyone in their right mind would put a genocidal maniac and Goodell in the same sentence. It's mind-bogglingly stupid and quite frankly, so freaking tone-deaf that I believe you've either been lobotomized or Goodell screwed your wife. That's the only reason I can imagine making the comparison. And if you want to ban me for that statement, well go ahead. But someone taking the Holocaust and entire generations of my family and throwing them into ovens and exterminating this lightly deserves to be put on blast.

+1

 

[GuernseyCard]

no, comparing what happens in an entertainment league where a commish has handed a superstar playboy a 4 game suspension to a goebbles who orchestrating the freaking holocaust where 6 million jews were killed is the ultimate insult. Get a freaking grip.

Seriously. The above is even more insulting because you're doubling down on the completely inane comparison.

I seriously can't believe anyone in their right mind would put a genocidal maniac and goodell in the same sentence. It's mind-bogglingly stupid and quite frankly, so freaking tone-deaf that i believe you've either been lobotomized or goodell screwed your wife. That's the only reason i can imagine making the comparison. And if you want to ban me for that statement, well go ahead. But someone taking the holocaust and entire generations of my family and throwing them into ovens and exterminating this lightly deserves to be put on blast.

+11111111111111111111

 

[Russ Smith]

Kurt Schilling on Mike and Mike this morning on the phone and he switched from talking about A Rod, to deflate gate, unprompted, and then started in on how Brady is being framed and how so many stories we hear about are made up etc. Cris Carter cut him off cold, said we'll have to talk later off camera lets get back to baseball.

Carter has been pretty clear that he doesn't believe Brady, knows people around the game who have long suspected the Patriots were tampering with the balls, and that people in the game think the fact that the guy had the balls for both teams in the bathroom was the worst part of the whole story. So I'm not surprised he didn't want to hear Schilling.

Schilling was starting to talk about Brady never using the word destroyed with his phone when Carter just cut him off.

Pretty funny to hear 2 former pro athletes have such clear disagreement.

Schilling of course played in Boston.