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NFL says deflating footballs twice as bad as beating your girlfriend into unconsciousness

Brady gets four-game suspension - twice as long as the one initially given Ray Rice.

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The NFL should primarily concern itself with the rules of the game. The courts can deal with players that break the law.

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with violations of the rules that actually have an adverse impact on the outcome of the game - which was NOT the case with the AFC championship. Unless they can conclusively show this was the case here, I hope Kraft and Brady sue the league for as much as they can get.

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It doesn't matter if it actually changed the outcome. The league can't allow a player or team to CHEAT! They have all week to prepare the balls until they turn them over to the officials. They can't THEN take the balls back and let air out of them. If Peyton Manning was caught doing this you would want to run both him AND his brother out of the league. But since it's YOUR glamour boy QB (who just so happened to dump his pregnant girlfriend to shack up with a supermodel and you STILL named your dog after him!), you can't believe that he would cheat. Really. He wouldn't cheat. Really.

This is like finding out that Jeter played with a corked bat his entire career. The entire career is tarnished.

It's not like he's a murderer or anything. That's just who he was throwing the ball to.

It's the Patriot way.

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the Patriots cheated and that Brady deliberately knew what was happening (which the "evidence" in this sham of a kangaroo court DOES NOT support), then how do you explain the second half of the AFC championship game, AFTER the problem has been identified and corrected, where the Patriots scored twenty eight points?

And, if you really believe that the Patriots cheated, then why didn't the league investigate this "scandal" immediately and, upon finding incontrovertible evidence that the Patriots intentionally deflated the footballs in such a way that the outcome of the game was adversely affected AND that the Patriots were given a distinct advantage they otherwise wouldn't have had (BTW, see #! above), require that the game actually be replayed?

The fact is that, the "underinflation" rules that the NFL have used in a blatant attempt to extort money from the Patriots and Brady in the thinly veiled guise of "fines and punishment" is so absurd it's pathetic.

As the saying goes - Silly rules that have no legitimate purpose are meant to be broken. And a rule that fails to recognize the fact that footballs can end up in a slightly underinflated state for perfectly logical and legitimate reasons (i.e., the laws of physics) is clearly a silly rule.

As for my views on if Manning had been accused of doing this, I would be making the same statements. The truth is simple - NONSENSE like this (adhering to niggling rules that do NOT AFFECT the outcome of the game and imposing DRACONIAN punishments based on 'well, he must of deliberately broke the rule with NO conclusive evidence to support the league's claim') is just one more reason why I don't closely follow professional sports.

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If you're going to acknowledge two low-level guys on the Patriots staff conspired to deflate game balls to Tom Brady's liking, it's a reasonable to assume Tom was in the loop, with or without plausible dependability.

That many NFL QBs want the ball over- or under-inflated is an open secret.

The Pats equipment guys knew Tom Brady liked his under-inflated not over-inflated, just how much, and knew they were breaking the rules when they did it.

Breaking the rules is just that, whether it helps you win or not.

That said, I think c to allow QBs to play with their balls just the way they like 'em.

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If you're going to acknowledge two low-level guys on the Patriots staff conspired to deflate game balls to Tom Brady's liking, it's a reasonable to assume Tom was in the loop, with or without plausible dependability.

...is "plausible deniability". "Plausible dependability" is a nonsense phrase.

Not, mind you, that your reasonable assumption is anything of the sort. The problem here is that the NFL is asking the Patriots to prove a negative, which of course is impossible. Result: the NFL gets to look all tough and impartial and rules-abiding (move on, move on, ignore that video of the man dragging that woman out of the elevator, let's just move on nothing to see here), the fans of 31 NFL teams get to screech "Cheaters! Cheaters! Doesn't count!", and the Patriots get screwed. Unfortunately, to a degree, they set themselves up for it. They obviously counted on a fair process and acted accordingly, and now they're just screwed.

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If you're going to acknowledge two low-level guys on the Patriots staff conspired to deflate game balls to Tom Brady's liking, it's a reasonable to assume Tom was in the loop

If Tom had come forward and acknowledged his involvement, would he still have gotten a four game suspension?

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...you don't closely follow professional sports. You just go to U Hub and comment on professional sports and display a familiarity with (although not an actual knowledge of) the current investigation, report and penalty. You probably just follow the "pure" sports such as the NCAA and Olympics. Yes, they are more pure. Really. You can feel justified that it is so. They are amateur athletes after all. Truly. Mostly students, really.

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To the casual fan, the story will be "the Patriots got caught cheating", when in fact they weren't "caught" doing anything.

Nobody knows what the balls were inflated to in the referee's room because this wasn't documented (even though the NFL received an email from the Colts questioning the inflation of footballs the day before and the ref was made aware).

The head ref remembered using a gauge that consistently measured lower psi's than his other gauge, yet when questioned again by Wells' team, he said it was "possible" he used the gauge that recorded higher psi levels. Possible.

Again, after being alerted that the Colts were concerned w/inflation levels, the ref "lost track" of the footballs before game time for "the first time in 19 years" and didn't bother to check them again at the field.

The Wells team found that the ballboy stopped in the bathroom for under 2minutes and somehow deflated 12 footballs to the exact level TB likes (because as all the talking heads have said, there's NO WAY a football gets on the field unless it's at the level TB likes), yet at halftime, the refereeing team had 20minutes to check 12 Patriots footballs and 12 Colts footballs, yet "ran out of time" and only were able to check 4 Colts balls (3 of which were under the 12.5min PSI level).

To the above point, the reports points out that all 12 Patriots footballs had lower psi levels than the 4 Colts balls, yet there was no mention of the fact that they checked the Pats balls first (thus only had time to do 4 Colts balls), allowing the Colts footballs to warm up again, which they acknowledge affects PSI levels.

So, the "smoking gun" they found was a grown man who works as a ballboy on Sundays who was previously reprimanded by Tom Brady for allowing balls on the field that were inflated to 16 PSI (Jets game...where's the investigation on that?), calling himself the "deflator" and saying "fuck tom, i'm going to blow these things up to be rugby balls this week". We also have him complaining about wanting free gear, and a couple autographs.

The other "evidence" the Wells report references is the fact that the Patriots "refused to cooperate". Meaning, they were allowed to interview EVERYONE they asked to meet with, sat with Tom Brady for 5 hours, and met with Jim McNally 4 times. They were refused a 5th McNally interview (my guess being, since inference is totally permissible evidence according to this group, that at that point Kraft knew the fix was in), and Tom Brady refused to allow them access to his personal cell phone. The commission told Brady he could also simply forward them his texts/emails relating to the deflation of footballs, but as his agent pointed out, this was a lose/lose for Brady. If this was the done, after the report was released, the media would just assume Brady withheld incriminating texts/emails.

So, that's it. Guilty of cheating? There's no evidence the balls were below 12.5 PSI's at kickoff. There's no evidence Tom Brady conspired with anyone to deflate balls below the legal limit. There's no evidence the Patriots did not cooperate with the investigation.

There is plenty of evidence the NFL knew there were questions about the PSI levels of Patriots footballs, yet they didn't ask for and documentation of pregame levels. An NFL executive (a former NY Jets exec) also stated on the sideline during the game (to the Pats equipment manager), "we weighed the footballs, you guys are fucking screwed".

Bottom line, this was the biggest screw job I've ever seen. The commission inferred whatever helped their case, and ignored whatever didn't. It makes sense though, had they come out and exonerated the Patriots, what are the odds they get the next $5million "investigation" from the NFL.

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Ya, Bos, the part I'm having trouble wrapping my head around is how much the Official NFL Approved Football Pressure Gauges (tm, NFL, a formerly non-profit organization) actually suck. There's apparently a 0.45 PSI difference at 12 PSI between the two gauges.

Call it a half pound in twelve, that's a pound in twenty four. Scales up to about a four percent difference.

I have several tire gauges that read about 2-5 lbs difference at 40 PSI. Not bad for cheap $5 gauges.
Four pounds at 40 PSI is a ten percent difference...

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What Would Swirly Do?

She'd go here:

https://nfllabor.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/investigative-and-expert-re...

and read a bit of the PDF and know a little something about the investigation.

You don't have to read it all, the first twenty or thirty pages are telling. Also, Camberville posted a great link to an NFL cheating page. The Colts link is interesting. The 'Suck for Luck' graph shows just how a graph can be made to illustrate a point. The point being, of course, they may or may not have done it.

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Because ALL CAPS means it's TRUE.

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...all caps, my man. Just used a few so that my tone could come across in written form. ee cummings would say it was lacking respect for the almighty. You saying it was all caps is just MORONIC.

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It's the Patriot way.

it's the NFL way.

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All the NFL seems to worry about, is money. Oh no! If their "star QB" doesn't play, oh the humanity! Both this "penalty" and the "penalty" handed to Ray Rice, are nothing more than slaps on the wrist.

This proves my point that these self-proclaimed "athletes" aren't worth anywhere near what they're being paid. And it's the reason why I don't watch, nor have an interest in, sports.

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This proves my point that these self-proclaimed "athletes" aren't worth anywhere near what they're being paid.

Hope you feel the same way about other "entertainers", like musicians, actors/actresses, etc.

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I haven't been to a movie theatre in years.

As to entertainers, there are some who are truly a class act, while others who claim to be entertainers shouldn't even have their own show.

This is just my personal opinion: People who claim to be entertainers go to these glitz and glamour parties having their picture taken, wearing next to nothing (and I don't have to name names). The younger generation looks at this and thinks that's OK.

Then people wonder what's wrong with society.

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If you haven't been to a movie theater in years you are missing out!!

Movies are a completely different experience in the dark theater....it's like a RIDE! .....movies were truly meant to be experienced in theaters - these conditions are the only way to come close to the kind of large-scale intimacy that happens in films....

And Kendall and Brattle show great things....as do Coolidge and Somerville

and don't forget the Harvard Film Archive!

and the MFA has great film programming as well!

-movie lover

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Consider your comments seconded. ;-}

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produce art that will last generations. The NFL seems to only produce brain dead sociopaths who add nothing of lasting value to society, unless you're a neurologist.

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They're not

self-proclaimed "athletes"

They are actual athletes.

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They're not

self-proclaimed "athletes"

They are actual athletes.

Actual athletes don't cheat.

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...and also very much out of touch with reality...but I'd expect that of someone who obsesses over pictures of celebrities and how much they're wearing (or not). Please consider that the problem may be in your vision more than in what you're looking at.

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Anyway...

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How does using a corked bat explain his lack of range in the field?

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...the steroids made him slow.

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Did Brady intend to impact the outcome of games?

If not, what was his intent?

Why is it good that he failed to adversely impact the outcome of a game?

If someone robs a bank but comes away with no money, no harm no foul?

Is it true that no games were impacted or just that none were adversely impacted? What does adversely mean in this case? Winning as opposed to losing? Couldn't a touchdown as a result of a deflated ball early in a game greatly impact the rest of the game? How can you say otherwise?

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I wonder if Brady had owned up to his role in the getting the footballs deflated to his liking instead of leaving low-level staff holding the bag, he'd have gotten a lighter rebuke.

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...when they cheated. Took the field in a knockout round game having pulled a bait-and-switch deception on the refs. That's indefensible.

I don't care about Brady. Let him play every game next season. Don't hurt the future product of the Patriots or the NFL, but their playoff and Super Bowl victories should be vacated.

This was a team that should not have been allowed to play in the Super Bowl. If you actually like and respect the sport (something I've now given up on), that's the only conclusion.

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So a minute in a half in the bathroom while some low level employee takes a leak and that's the smoking gun?

The only thing we know now is exactly what we knew before the report came out; which is that Brady likes playing with soft balls.

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that he took a leak in a urinal in that bathroom. Except, it has no urinal in it. And that was after he said that he went straight to the field with the balls without stopping. Well played.

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Again... that's the proof?

Some low level guy gets interviewed by a room full of high powered lawyers five times and the entire proof of this vast conspiracy is that he forgot what kind of bathroom fixture he used? That's pretty weak...

Have you read the report? The whole thing is filled with a bunch of people not remembering anything (many of them NFL personnel) and a bunch of stuff that contradicts the other stuff.

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More damning is the text evidence. Suddenly, Tom Brady... who denied knowing at least one of the fellows, is on the phone for long periods of time with someone who he hasn't called or texted in months? After the two staffers conversed about deflating the balls?

While not enough to send someone to the electric chair, it certainly is strong circumstantial evidence that Brady knew something was up and made an extra effort with the alleged henchmen after the problem was exposed.

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being circumstancial.

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The last time I sat on a jury, the judge instructed us that circumstantial evidence had as much weight as physical evidence.

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I can think of multiple reasons why Brady would want to talk to the guy that are much more reasonable.

The evidence of Brady and even the Patriots staff doing something nefarious is not even circumstantial, it's non existent.

Keep in mind that those two staffers spoke of over-inflating the balls as well. Which is it..? Did Brady use over-inflated footballs at another game? Does it matter? How many other times has the NFL measured the football pressure during a game to see how they react to use and the environment?

There was clearly sloppiness on both the Patriots and the NFL's part. If that's an indictment of cheating, then you better get out your pitchfork, cause there will be a lot of people to go after.

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This is most hilarious thing I have read, it is beyond silly. Please stop watching sports.

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By any chance?

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The reason the NFL concerns itself with off field behavior is sponsorship and advertising dollars.

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The Commie agents in the NFL won!

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greedy capitalists who run the NFL instead.

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Just like Armand Hammer. I mean, his baking soda was good, but he got too close with the Comintern.

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Add in the accelerated tire wear and that's a whole lot worse than the impact under-inflation has on footballs!

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Yet it looks like we already have a winner for this week's "Totally Irrelevant Comment Interjected Into a UHub Thread" award.

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The Zak wins that award.

Every.

Single.

Week.

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Under-inflated tires cost the US economy over $3,000,000.00 per year.
Under-inflated footballs cost the US economy no describable damage, and perhaps $1M to the Pats and a bunch more to Brady.

{edit] To the world, the effect of under-inflation of US car tires was 11 million more tons of CO2 in the atmosphere, and again the global effect of under-inflation of footballs was nada.

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There's a cyclist breaking a traffic law. And it's probably a black woman. Sic!

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"And it's probably a black woman."

Did I just read that?
Wow.

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If you have, you'll get the joke. If not, keep reading, you'll catch on soon enough.

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the actual crime vs. punishment aspect, because yes the NFL is a mess there. But I will firmly stand by this statement:

If the team in question were Denver, Indy, or any NY team, all of New England would be raising their pitchforks in celebration right now, while proclaiming that those teams can't beat the Patriots* even when they cheat.

*Unless it's the Giants, whom I admittedly hate, in a Super Bowl.

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...last time in the regular season. In Foxboro. On a last two minute of the game drive engineered by Eli Manning. Yup, you remember. I'm sure you do.

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am a lifelong Packers fan. That is still admittedly butthurt about the '07 NFC title game.

Regardless, I pay little attention to specifics around the Pats. Headlines are about it.

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IMAGE(http://i2.wp.com/www.tbae.co.za/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Vince-Lombardi-Team-Building-Quotes.jpg?resize=641%2C377)

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Its time for you to step up and call Roger the Dodger and tell him you are going to supoena his text messages in regards to Domestic Violence and Anti-Trust exemptions for the NFL

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Should the title reflect that the footballs were allegedly deflated?

We still have no proof of who or how those game balls were deflated since the evidence quoted in the report was spurious at best.

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Even taken as entirely true the report establishes passive complicity at best.

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We don't even know if they were properly inflated in the first place. How can you know someone deflated the balls if you don't know what the initial pressure was?

My sentiments match Adam's title. I wanted the penalty to show how the NFL really felt about the wife beaters, and well, now we know they don't give a shit about a guy 2-3 times the size of a woman beating the crap out of her.

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You beat the shit out of a woman with a _football,_ and that causes it to lose pressure... Then you're in for it.

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... for the fact that its officials grossly overinflatied at least one batch of balls to 16psi?

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so no more IRS 990 filings of over-inflated salaries of its officers.

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I find it hilarious to hear how similar/ interchangeable Patriot fans sound talking about Brady as Yankee fans have sounded over A-Rod the past few years

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even Yankee fans hated A-rod.

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especially Yankee fans hated A-rod

Fixed that for ya.

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thanks.

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Have heard a lot of Yankee fans go to the mat over their steroid heroes- even A-Rod and especially Andy Pettitte- with the same "everyone does it" refrain I've been hearing the past few months from Patriot fans

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So how many is "a lot"? I ask because I've been a Yankee fan my whole life, and every Yankee fan I know despises A-Rod. Think maybe I've talked to more than you have?

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NFL more concerned with the integrity of a football game then their players beating women and children. Sick.

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Earlier this season, teams were caught on video heating footballs in order to lower the air pressure. The NFL gave out no punishment even though it was blatant and on video. In this case, there is no evidence, the pressure change could be explained by temperature alone (the Colts balls were also deflated), yet there is a severe punishment. It makes no sense.

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That's interesting. Do you know which teams? Did the NFL even investigate?

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