could deflate gate affect our opener?

If apples are apples:

Bell got 3 games for smoking a joint.

What do you get for lying to the commissioner and cheating?

It will be interesting how this winds up. Some pundits say big suspension, etc. others say not? Bob Costas says if it was another team and QB it would be no big deal. I'm thinking if it was another team and QB there would be substantial suspension and penalties. They would probably have to move to Cleveland.

 

vegas take off the quotes .. these guys know they stuff .. they expected a suspension or at least a possible one

 

The damning part of this is that Brady said he didn't know McNally, didn't know his position, didn't have anything to do with deflating footballs.

The text messages say otherwise.

Had Brady fessed up to this back in January, none of this would have happened.

 

I wonder: was an actual crime committed? And, if not, how was the league able to obtain these text messages?

 

OMG, can you imagine all the bets that were made early based on the knowledge that Bell was going to be out? Those guys are stewing right now!

 

There's not really a crime per say, but this isn't the first time the league is having egg thrown on it's face by the Patriots' organization.


I'd guess that they're able to subpoena the records based on some contractual language or since "tampering" with a sporting event is illegal in most states, they were able to get that information based on that.

 

Indeed. Wells didn't use that language because of doubt; he used that language because it constitutes the NFL's threshold for instituting a penalty.

 

Here is what I'd like to see come out of all this.

1. Goodell and Kraft distancing themselves from each other. If it's not an owners meeting than no contact because it casts a shadow in the shield.

2. Kraft should man up. Stop casting stones at the investigation because you are looking like a fool the more you bluster. You publicly declared Tom and Bill have never lied to you and that has been proven false. Take responsibility for your team and say no matter what happened the buck stops here and accept the punishment.

3. Brady to accept that even if he didn't directly ask for it to be done it was done because of him and that he did play a role. Same as with Kraft man up and admit that cheating was done on your behalf and you can not stand for that and will accept whatever punishment the league deems appropriate.

4. A written and legally binding plan that says the Patriots must keep their house in order or face a post season ban for three years.

 

I agree something should and will happen. I'm just afraid good old Roger will find a way to minimize the penalty. I really don't think bft's boyfriend will be out of the opening game. I hope he is but I doubt it.

 

That last one is a little tough to implement. No way a pro-league with the tax exemptions it has could keep a team out of the post season. That wouldn't even be fair to the rest of the league. You'd basically be saying that they're just playing as spoilers.

 

Yet they kept a HC from his team for entire season. There has to be something beyond money and draft picks to make this team walk the straight and narrow

 

Oh, just read Kraft's statement.

"While I respect the independent process of the investigation, the time, effort and resources expended to reach this conclusion are incomprehensible to me. Knowing that there is no real recourse available, fighting the league and extending this debate would prove to be futile. We understand and greatly respect the responsibility of being one of 32 in this league and, on that basis, we will accept the findings of the report and take the appropriate actions based on those findings as well as any discipline levied by the league."

He kind of did say he would accept any discipline levied. After crying foul and pouting that it's futile to fight the league......

 

Yeah now read Arthur Blanks statement on discovering that they pumped fake crowd noise into the Georgia Dome. That is how an owner should act when finding out something horrible happened on his team. Not well this sucks that my buddy couldn't sweep this under the rug again so I guess we will have to live with it. However I still maintain nothing happened.

 

Additionally Brady refused to provide electronic data which could have condemned him further. I am pretty sure there are texts between the equipment manager and Brady and favours to the boys who did the good deed of deflating the balls

I expect a 2 game suspension and fine to Brady and Bubbachick. If you recall during Bountygate Sean Payton was fined even though he had no knowledge.

 

Hammer em! They may be the only ones getting caught doing what others may do as well, but it's repetitive at this point! And if the hammer actually comes down on the beloveds maybe EVERYBODY takes notice.

 

Imagine the Chowdaheads if he is out. They'll be cooking this as some kind of Steelers backed attempt to weaken the Cheatriots so they can beat them.

Also imagine how bad it would look for the league if their poster child and reigning SB MVP is suspended for the nationally televised season opening event that is the first game of the year. And thats why I think that there WILL NOT be a suspension.

 

Priority #1 for the NFL should be to protect the integrity of the game. The patriots are repeat offenders. Last time it was the coaches and spygate, and now it's the best QB in the league with deflategate.. They got off easy the 1st time, and I honestly believe they will again. Funny how spygate only brought a large fine to the head coach and a loss of a 1st round pick when it just so happens the patriots had 2 first round picks that year. So that basically didn't even matter. I look for a big fine to Brady and that's it. I truly hope I'm wrong, but with what the NFL has invested in the opening game of the season, they'll want their QB out there.

 

The worst part about this whole situation is Goodell has the biggest crush on Robert Kraft and Tom Brady. He won't suspend Brady or screw over the Patriots. Nope! Never! I can only hope the Steelers will crush them the first week to show them they can't win without cheating.