Friday's NFL statement

PatsFanSince74 · Jan 23, 2015

I've had a busy day, but this is how I read the mess, admittedly without having parsed every word of the statements or read any commentary.

Because of the leak to the media, the NFL is stuck with either clearing the Pats or proving that they tampered with the balls.

Neither Brady nor Belichick copped to doing it. Belichick was quite convincing. Brady, in my opinion, not so much...but people can disagree about that. Just my feeling. Doesn't matter one way or the other.

The bottom line is that whatever anyone of us thinks about Brady's "believability" is irrelevant. At the end of the day, the League either has to to call one of its biggest stars and drawing cards a liar to his face or prove that he had something to do with it.

They're ****ing stuck! Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of guys.

The one part of the statement that caught my attention was the reference to "video" and other "forensic" evidence. To me that means, "if we can't get video or physical proof that somebody messed with the balls, we don't have a case." So, now they're running around trying to find a smoking gun.

I don't know whether anyone has mentioned it, but suggesting that Brady did this, without proof that he did it, would probably open the League to a defamation suit by Brady. I suspect that he and Gisele have talked to a couple of very high priced lawyers, which they can amply afford. Sweet.

I also wouldn't be surprised if there is some good, old-fashioned country hard ball being played behind the scenes. The possibility of a defamation suit has probably been raised and, unlike others, I'm not fooled by Kraft's bland statement.

What a waste of time and energy.

Delicate Genius · Jan 23, 2015

Arialgg said:
This is my new song. I have used it at work today and will for the foreseeable future.....Anyone who brings the subject up, I say "I heard the Colts actually deflated the Patriots game balls, and when the pick happened,they instantly alerted the officials because they knew the ball was low,they had done it themselves"! It's creating confusion & frustration and I love it. I'm expounding on it. I "heard" it online, and now its the gospel truth. What,you didn't hear it?!! Yes, it looks like the Colts planted the balls! It was all pre-planned! Sabotage!!

This is beautiful.

Patriotic Fervor · Jan 23, 2015

Dagg said:
How hard is this get the officials, the equip guy, Brady and ball boy in the room for for 2 hours. Ask the needed questions. Release a statement hand down a fine or whatever. That can all be done in about a half day.

You forget one very salient point:

Lawyers. Billable hours.

I'll leave it at that....

nabwong · Jan 23, 2015

pheenix11 said:
The NFL has officially become the WWF

If that's the case, I want Brady and Gronk to have finishing moves!

Uncle Rico · Jan 23, 2015

robertweathers said:
Interesting…

Our investigation will seek information from any and all relevant sources and we expect full cooperation from other clubs as well.

Click to expand...

Translation:

Because this is the Patriots and the league runs on jealousy, we are also actively inviting any team who is tired of having their axes kicked by the Patriots and want to file any and all unjustified grievances or unsubstantiated complaints to pile on until we find something, anything, to hold against the team in the name of "pattern of violations."

Froob · Jan 23, 2015

So much for fairness and integrity, why haven't the jets been punished for tampergate yet?

RobertWeathers · Jan 23, 2015

Uncle Rico said:
Translation:

Because this is the Patriots and the league runs on jealousy, we are also actively inviting any team who is tired of having their axes kicked by the Patriots and want to file any and all unjustified grievances or unsubstantiated complaints to pile on until we find something, anything, to hold against the team in the name of "pattern of violations."

Can I like,dislike and agree in the same post?

Kdo5 · Jan 23, 2015

FrodoBagginz said:
I was hoping the wake up to find the NFL investigation is over and they have released the report. Ugh. Now we have at least another day of h*ll.

I'm done being glued to this story. I'm now hearing how this may well take beyond the SB. Probably going to have a nice whiskey drink and roll up a doobie. It's been a little while but I need to let my mind wander off.

heavyde050 · Jan 23, 2015

PatsFanSince74 said:
I've had a busy day, but this is how I read the mess, admittedly without having parsed every word of the statements or read any commentary.

Because of the leak to the media, the NFL is stuck with either clearing the Pats or proving that they tampered with the balls.

Neither Brady nor Belichick copped to doing it. Belichick was quite convincing. Brady, in my opinion, not so much...but people can disagree about that. Just my feeling. Doesn't matter one way or the other.

The bottom line is that whatever anyone of us thinks about Brady's "believability" is irrelevant. At the end of the day, the League either has to to call one of its biggest stars and drawing cards a liar to his face or prove that he had something to do with it.

They're ****ing stuck! Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of guys.

The one part of the statement that caught my attention was the reference to "video" and other "forensic" evidence. To me that means, "if we can't get video or physical proof that somebody messed with the balls, we don't have a case." So, now they're running around trying to find a smoking gun.

I don't know whether anyone has mentioned it, but suggesting that Brady did this, without proof that he did it, would probably open the League to a defamation suit by Brady. I suspect that he and Gisele have talked to a couple of very high priced lawyers, which they can amply afford. Sweet.

I also wouldn't be surprised if there is some good, old-fashioned country hard ball being played behind the scenes. The possibility of a defamation suit has probably been raised and, unlike others, I'm not fooled by Kraft's bland statement.

What a waste of time and energy.

I still think the type of questions in the conference allowed BB to be more convincing, plus he did say Tom would have more info.

NJPatsfan26 · Jan 23, 2015

Uncle Rico said:
Translation:

Because this is the Patriots and the league runs on jealousy, we are also actively inviting any team who is tired of having their axes kicked by the Patriots and want to file any and all unjustified grievances or unsubstantiated complaints to pile on until we find something, anything, to hold against the team in the name of "pattern of violations."

Spot on.

supafly · Jan 23, 2015

Kdo5 said:
I'm done being glued to this story. I'm now hearing how this may well take beyond the SB. Probably going to have a nice whiskey drink and roll up a doobie. It's been a little while but I need to let my mind wander off.

I only wish that I could still partake in such activities, but yes--I'm ready to get sloshed myself.

kennyb · Jan 23, 2015

Brady needs to sue about 100 people for slander. Crush them. Take their last dollar. They're flat out calling him a liar. I think the standard is "reckless" . Ie they're not even considering anything else just insisting he did it.

Dr Pain · Jan 23, 2015

kennyb said:
Brady needs to sue about 100 people for slander. Crush them. Take their last dollar. They're flat out calling him a liar. I think the standard is "reckless" . Ie they're not even considering anything else just insisting he did it.

He won't do it as it will eat up his life but I would love to see it. At least go after someone very high visibility

Froob · Jan 23, 2015

How hard is it to win a slander case? Probably cost more than you would get from Brunell.

Dr Pain · Jan 23, 2015

Froob said:
How hard is it to win a slander case? Probably cost more than you would get from Brunell.

The more I think about it the more it makes sense to go after at least 1 high profile example. He won't though.

Froob · Jan 23, 2015

Dr Pain said:
The more I think about it the more it makes sense to go after at least 1 high profile example. He won't though.

should hire wells as his private investigator for the case.

supafly · Jan 23, 2015

Froob said:
How hard is it to win a slander case? Probably cost more than you would get from Brunell.

A lot harder than people think.

If there's clear cut proof such as Thomase's "error" which resulted in an official apology from the Herald, that's one thing. In my opinion, that was a fairly clear cut example. Even then, Kraft didn't go after it.

Many of these other cases are just reporters and mediots spouting off misinformation, which happens all of the time. Unless someone were to come forth and state "I definitely know that the Patriots are guilty of tampering with the footballs because of.....X and X," (new evidence that does not really exist and can be proven so in a court of law) I don't believe that there will be much definitive proof that malicious intent for slander existed.

Just my opinion, although I'd love to see it happen of course.

Crononaut · Jan 23, 2015

A couple thoughts on this:

1) They clearly have nothing at this point.

2) The investigation is being prolonged because the league is desperately searching for any reason why this happened outside of their own referees not doing their job. This actually isn't that bad for us:

3a) If the NFL miraculously uncovers something against us, it presents the report beaming with pride, we're toast, and the world dances on our ashes.

3b) If they find some other reason that exhonerates us and is definitive, the lynch mob won't be happy, but they'll begrudgingly lower their torches and skulk away. But..

3c) If the league finds NOTHING and is unable to provide an explanation to a public demanding blood, the scum of the earth (I.e. media, the lower quartile of most fanbases, Marshall Faulk) will almost certainly believe it's a cover up.

4) Anyone else find it funny the report explicitly states a law firm is being used to enhance independence? It's like "See! See! We ARE competent investigatory professionals, ensuring we have... uh... what's that word, Mr. Lawyer? Yeah! Independence! Congratulate us for the things that should be implicit in any investigation!"

turkeyneck · Jan 23, 2015

Whatever the NFL finally comes up with, I want that report to address this:

What is the rule regarding football inflation? - Does the rule require that the football be inflated to a range of 12.5-13.5 psi hours before the game starts and to remain within that range for the duration of the game?

If so, that is arrant physical nonsense akin to King Canute commanding the sea. It is a physical impossibility in the weather conditions typically seen in many stadiums. If, for example, a football is inflated to the low end of the legal range in the confines of a warm equipment room and then brought out onto the "icy tundra of Lambeau Field" in January it is absolutely, categorically guaranteed that as the football cools the air pressure will drop.

Is that football now illegal? If so, who determines this during a game? And how? And when? Are the footballs to be periodically gauged? May the coaches challenge the inflation of the opponents football?

If the ball is found to have lost pressure due to cooling who is at fault? Shall the normal functioning of the natural world lead to sanction against the team whose football lost pressure from cooling? How about if it gets slippery from rain or snow? Whose fault will that be?

jdwad246 · Jan 23, 2015

I am more of a reader than a poster, but I need to get a few things out of my brain. I apologize if this is redundant with other posts. There are a more than a few questions that need answers:
1) What did the Patriots balls come in at for the PSI level? How much did they drop. What did the Colts balls come in at, and was there a drop? Finally what were the Pats balls reinflated to, and what was the reading post game?
2) Did the referees document all of these figures, notably the pre-game figures?
3) What happened to the balls after they were approved? I read an article by Volin this afternoon that stated that they were retained by the refs and provided to the ball boys 10 minutes before the game.
4) Why did BB mention a drop from 12.5 to 12.3? Does he know something that we don't or is he trying to minimize the drop or maximize his lack of knowledge of the situation?
5) Why did Brady laugh this off Monday morning? He did not think this was an issue. Could someone who was involved in tampering with the balls laugh it off in such convincing fashion?

These are important questions that I want the answers to. I love the Patriots, and love Tom Brady, but if something was done prior to the start of the game, and after inspection, they should be held accountable. The balls had no impact on the game, but that is not the point as we all know. That being said, there needs to be PROOF that Brady, or another member of the Patriots, instructed a ball boy to tamper with the balls.

I really hope the team can block this out. It is truly US against the world.

Friday's NFL statement

PatsFans.com Supporter

Generally aware

2nd Team Getting Their First Start

Vice President of Boycott NFL Club

Pro Bowl Player

Independent Investigator & pliable af

Member of the Seattle 7 & Roadie for Metallica

Pro Bowl Player

In the Starting Line-Up

In the Starting Line-Up

Eff you, Shula

In the Starting Line-Up

In the Starting Line-Up

Independent Investigator & pliable af

In the Starting Line-Up

Independent Investigator & pliable af

Eff you, Shula

2nd Team Getting Their First Start

In the Starting Line-Up

Rookie

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