Tom Brady suspended 4 games

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How long will Tom Brady be suspended?

  • 2 games

    Votes: 21 14.7%
  • 4 games

    Votes: 48 33.6%
  • 6 games

    Votes: 8 5.6%
  • 8 games

    Votes: 13 9.1%
  • The whole season

    Votes: 6 4.2%
  • Who are you kidding? He won't be suspended at all

    Votes: 47 32.9%

  • Total voters
    143

Mackeyser

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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ally-called-himself-deflator-because-hes-fat/

Pats: Jim McNally called himself “Deflator” because he’s fat
Posted by Darin Gantt on May 14, 2015

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Getty Images

Oh, here we go, this makes perfect sense.

Jim McNally didn’t call himself The Deflator because he took air out of footballs, more probably than not at the behest of Tom Brady.

He called himself that because he’s fat.

That’s another of the arguments forwarded by the Patriots in their really long (nearly 20,000 words) refutation of the Ted Wells Report.

The Patriots explain that John Jastremski is a “slender guy,” and usually tried to work out and bulk up. McNally is described as “a big fellow,” and was trying to lose weight.

The Patriots contend investigators had possession of the “espn/deflator” text initially, but didn’t ask McNally about it in their first interview.

“Had they done so, they would have learned from either gentleman one of the ways they used the deflation/deflator term,” they wrote. “‘Deflate’ was a term they used to refer to losing weight.”

They cite specific texts including one which read “deflate and give somebody that jacket.”

“There was nothing complicated or sinister about it,” they wrote, before going through a blow-by-blow of previous texts between McNally and Jastremski which references beer pong and women whose names were “omitted out of respect to Mrs. Jastremski.”

The Patriots suggest that the “jocular texts” undermine Wells’ suggestion that deflator was a reference to anything wrong.

And frankly, that’s as thin as Jastremski apparently is.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...reason-for-espn-text-has-got-to-be-the-shoes/

Patriots: Reason for ESPN text has got to be the shoes
Posted by Darin Gantt on May 14, 2015

spike-lee.jpg


In their effort to poke holes in the Ted Wells Report, the Patriots are taking some pretty big liberties with logic and reason.

As incredible as the suggestion that Jim McNally called himself the “Deflator” because he was trying to lose weight, now they’re saying a reference to calling ESPN was in relation to his receipt of free shoes from John Jastremski.

“Mr. Jastremski had made it clear to Mr. McNally over time that his [Jastremski’s] boss would not be happy with him were he to give away sneakers to Mr. McNally,” the rebuttal reads. “That fact is quite explicit in a number of their texts. (p. 82 — after texting about possibly getting Mr. McNally sneakers and apparel, Mr. Jastremski writes: “unless Dave [his boss, Dave Schoenfeld] leaves the room tomorrow then it’ll wait till next week”).

“Getting sneakers or apparel for his friend Mr. McNally, in short, meant Mr. Jastremski would have to do so behind his boss’s back. They teased each other about whether Mr. Jastremski would get in trouble for giving him sneakers. The May 2014 McNally text reference to “not going to espn” follows his request for “new kicks,” and was Mr. McNally’s way of saying, in substance: “Hey, don’t worry about whether giving me those sneakers will get you in trouble — I’ll never tell.” . . .

“Certainly there is no way one could reasonably base conclusions that a scheme existed and was implemented to improperly deflate footballs based on these texts, particularly where ball tampering at the AFC Championship Game is belied by science, would have been illogical in concept and improbable in practice, and where it would, if anything, had disserved the quarterback.”

What may be illogical in concept is that there are people who feel this warm, yellow liquid running down their leg and are convinced that it’s just rain.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ejudged-by-league-before-wells-investigation/

Patriots: We were “prejudged” by league before Wells investigation
Posted by Josh Alper on May 14, 2015

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Getty Images

In their lengthy response to the Wells Report, the Patriots argue that the league prejudged the issues related to a loss of air pressure in footballs during the AFC Championship game.

The basis for that argument is the letter sent to the team by NFL senior vice president David Gardi on the day after the game was played. In the letter, Gardi writes that the league made “preliminary findings” that the balls used by the team did not meet the standard set forth in the rules. The team says that they made those findings “with no basis and no understanding of the effect of temperature on psi” and, therefore, “had already prejudged the issues” before hiring Ted Wells to investigate the issue.

The Patriots point out that Gardi’s letter was inaccurate regarding one ball used by the Patriots measuring at 10.1 psi and that all of the Colts balls conformed to the standard, which leads them to wonder why the team was “dealing with this investigation for months based on inaccurate information.”

“The investigators were not troubled by any of these obvious errors or by the League’s failure to correct them. The inaccuracies in this letter, combined with subsequent leaks to the media that were never corrected by the League placed this investigation on a footing of misinformation, to the Patriots substantial disadvantage.”

A rebuttal of the Wells Report’s scientific evidence by Nobel Prize winner Roderick McKinnon is also included in the report and the Patriots are clear that they believe the league worked backwards after jumping to a conclusion about what happened in January.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...the-guys-theyre-passionately-defending-today/

The Patriots fired the guys they’re passionately defending today
Posted by Darin Gantt on May 14, 2015

The Patriots have launched long-winded defense of themselves today, nearly 20,000 words of defense.

But through all the chapter and verse they’ve cited to explain the true motives of Jim McNally and John Jastremski in this document, one question becomes more and more curious.

If these two guys are so innocent, why did the Patriots fire them?

In the league’s initial release on the Patriots’ punishment, it is made clear who did what to whom.

“Patriots owner Robert Kraft advised commissioner Roger Goodell last week that Patriots employees John Jastremski and James McNally have been indefinitely suspended without pay by the club, effective on May 6th,” the league’s release last week read.

So, these two guys are completely misunderstood, a pair of hapless innocents who didn’t want to get busted for lifting shoes and just wanted to drop a few pounds.

Why then would the Patriots move so quickly and decisively to distance themselves?

Perhaps that can be the next installment of the Patriots’ blog.

The Deflator because he was trying to lose weight???

UW3FPFof5CKLC.gif
 

jrry32

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What are the rules around an NFL appeal?

I imagine these are heard in a law office somewhere with a former judge or panel sitting in. But any details would be appreciated.

Apparently, Goodell is presiding over it lol.
 

CGI_Ram

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After this appeal... they should increase his suspension to 8 games.

No kidding.

"After revisiting the evidence as a result of this appeal, it has become MORE CLEAR that this bastard was cheating. As a result it's now 8 games, douchebag".
 

Prime Time

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Apparently, Goodell is presiding over it lol.

It's like the fox guarding the hen house.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/14/goodell-to-handle-brady-appeal/

Goodell to handle Brady appeal
Posted by Mike Florio on May 14, 2015

Commissioner Roger Goodell delegated the initial decision regarding Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s suspension to someone else. Goodell apparently won’t do that a second time.

Per multiple reports (i.e., the league is affirmatively getting out the word), Goodell personally will handle the appeal of Brady’s four-game suspension.

The decision comes only two weeks after the Missouri Supreme Court found that Goodell can’t be truly independent in disputes involving the teams that employ him. In this case, however, Goodell has on one hand a desire to placate Patriots owner Robert Kraft and on the other hand a desire to further bolster the notion that Goodell will never again go too easy on someone accused of wrongdoing. Maybe those two competing desires will result in Goodell striking a fair balance.

Or maybe they’ll ensure that, no matter the outcome, Goodell will be relentlessly criticized.

Regardless, Goodell now will be asked to validate the work of the independent investigator he hired to investigate the case and the efforts of the senior executive to whom Goodell gave the authority to make the initial decision. If Goodell scuttles or adjusts in any way the decisions of Ted Wells and Troy Vincent, Goodell will look foolish for entrusting the situation to them in the first place.

As the NFL Players Association has argued, if the evidence against Brady is so strong, Goodell should welcome the opportunity to have a truly independent arbitrator examine it. But that would set a dangerous precedent at a time when more and more people are realizing that the Commissioner never can be truly independent in cases of his nature.

Maybe the reaction to Goodell’s decision to retain authority over the Brady appeal will create the kind of reaction that eventually will lead to the type of distraction that will get the NFL to change its course, like the league has done in response to persistent public pressure regarding the blackout policy and the league office’s tax-exempt status.
 

Athos

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The Deflator because he was trying to lose weight???

UW3FPFof5CKLC.gif

That shit ain't even a good lie!

I hope GoodHELL nukes these sons a bitches even more.

But we all know he won't. I'd ban BellyFat and Brady-Balls from the game of football.

Forever.
 

Mackeyser

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I dunno. If there's ONE thing you can't do... Ask James Harrison... It's piss off the Commish and lying to the Commish and then taking it public is pissing him off.

The Smart move was an independent arbitrator. But they pissed him off by crapping all over Troy Vincent and Ted Wells.

So he's retaining the final say in all this. Which is his way of saying... "Fine. You wanna sue? Go ahead. You'll never get this settled prior to the end of the four game suspension and that will come with subpoena power via discovery. That discovery may allow for further punishment. Don't F with the Commish."

He may be losing Kraft in all this, but he's gaining several owners who have wanted him pried from Kraft's side for awhile now.
 

Akrasian

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He may be losing Kraft in all this, but he's gaining several owners who have wanted him pried from Kraft's side for awhile now.

And he was in enough trouble with the way he's handled punishments recently, that his tenure as commissioner was likely over soon anyway, unless he did something to win over much of the league. This way he can look measured, fair, but strict and impress the other 31 teams that they can count on him. Whereas if he had sided with the Patriots he likely would have been out soon.
 

SierraRam

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By Jason Lisk May 14, 2015:

Roger Goodell will preside over Tom Brady’s appeal of his four-game suspension, according to Mike Freeman. Earlier today, the NFLPA officially filed an appeal on behalf of Brady, and requested an independent and neutral arbitrator. “Given the NFL’s history of inconsistency and arbitrary decisions in disciplinary matters, it is only fair that a neutral arbitrator hear this appeal,” the appeal stated.

My guess: Roger is seizing the opportunity to interview for the position of Tom Brady's New Ball Handler.
 

Mackeyser

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It's perfect. Goodell already gave them impartial. And they didn't cooperate.

Now they get Goodell. If they want to go further....can you say subpoena?
 

Dodgersrf

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It's perfect. Goodell already gave them impartial. And they didn't cooperate.

Now they get Goodell. If they want to go further....can you say subpoena?
I'm not sure. Since it really isn't a legal issue, but more of a workplace violation.
 

Akrasian

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I'm not sure. Since it really isn't a legal issue, but more of a workplace violation.

Wouldn't the next step be a lawsuit by Brady? That would open up subpoena powers. And if he's tried to destroy evidence, possible criminal charges I would think.
 

Dodgersrf

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Wouldn't the next step be a lawsuit by Brady? That would open up subpoena powers. And if he's tried to destroy evidence, possible criminal charges I would think.
I'm not sure.
If it did become a legal matter, it seems that there would be a legal right to subpoena his phone history. In a court of law of course. Not NFL fake court.
 

12intheBox

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Players association has only themselves to blame. They had a chance to negotiate the appeals process for the player conduct policy during the last CBA and it wasn't important enough to them to fight for.

And there is no subpoena power in a hearing like this. They can sue, of course, and then subpoena - but that won't affect this suspension.
 

Speeps

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The NFL would be wise to make smart decisions so this doesn't end up in court. The courts don't exactly like the way the league conducts its business...with good reason.
 

DaveFan'51

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It's perfect. Goodell already gave them impartial. And they didn't cooperate.

Now they get Goodell. If they want to go further....can you say subpoena?
This is probably the way things will go, Goodell will uphold the suspension, and Lose in court!
 

RamzFanz

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Wouldn't the next step be a lawsuit by Brady? That would open up subpoena powers. And if he's tried to destroy evidence, possible criminal charges I would think.

If there's no crime and no civil court subpoena, there's no reason he can't delete his texts, but it would definitely look bad to the jury.
 

Stranger

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Players association has only themselves to blame. They had a chance to negotiate the appeals process for the player conduct policy during the last CBA and it wasn't important enough to them to fight for.
If anyone want to go back and search these forums you'll see me screaming from the mountain tops about how poorly the players' interests were represented during the last CBA "renegotiation". I think I said it then, and I'll say it again, I believe DeMaurice Smith sold-out the players, and that he's the quintessential insider who is much more impressed by the power of the NFL machine than he is interested in protecting young expendable players. Such an utter disappointment.