OT - Patriots, again- say it aint so Bill

[rugbysecondrow]

Originally Posted by Scuzzer

So you don't differentiate between actively trying to change the balls pressure after the refs checked them and balls that were slightly below 12.5 on one gauge but not the other with no intervention by that team?

If it is a rule, a standard, then it should be enforced like one. The only proof of a broken rule is the gauge which indicates the balls were outside the standard range. The issue is not the degree to which they are out side the range, but the fact they are.. If the rules state 12.5-13.5, then they should be 12.5-13.5. Period. Teams will start putting 13 in just to be safe.

If you facemask a person, they no longer have the OOPs rule. If you do it, even unintentional, it is 15 yards. Same with off sides, helmet to helmet and other rules.

[Scuzzer]

Originally Posted by rugbysecondrow

If it is a rule, a standard, then it should be enforced like one. The only proof of a broken rule is the gauge which indicates the balls were outside the standard range. The issue is not the degree to which they are out side the range, but the fact they are.. If the rules state 12.5-13.5, then they should be 12.5-13.5. Period. Teams will start putting 13 in just to be safe.

If you facemask a person, they no longer have the OOPs rule. If you do it, even unintentional, it is 15 yards. Same with off sides, helmet to helmet and other rules.

Lots of words, you could have just said "Yes, actively deflating balls isn't the issue". Or do you not even concede they deflated them?

[Len J]

For those of you that don't like the "more likely than not" conclusion of the Wells report, you should read the report as follows:

From Page 1...The investigation was conducted pursuant to the Policy on Integrity of the Game & Enforcement of Competitive Rules. [A policy accepted by all league teams] That Policy provides that "actual or suspected competitive violations will be thoroughly and promptly investigated."1

Footnote 1 states: Under the Policy, the "standard of proof required to find that a violation of the competitive rule has occurred" is a "Preponderance of the evidence," meaning that "as a whole, the fact sought to be proved is more probable than not."

You may not like that but it is the standard of proof under the Policy.

[rugbysecondrow]

Originally Posted by Scuzzer

Lots of words, you could have just said "Yes, actively deflating balls isn't the issue". Or do you not even concede they deflated them?

Hey man, you were the one who asked a question I already answered. I figured a few more words might help you understand what I had previously written.

Originally Posted by rugbysecondrow

I actually don't think it matters how or why the balls were under the PSI. If they were, it should be an automatic fine. No need to discuss the why, who, when etc. Less than 12.5 and any point during the game, BAM! Fine.

[Len J]

A good summary by an ex Packers GM.

http://mmqb.si.com/2015/05/07/wells-...andrew-brandt/

[Mayhem]

Well, for all the Brady defenders, there's a good saying. It's not the crime, it's the coverup. Remember that when the punishment comes down.

[rugbysecondrow]

I suspect there will be a time when we look back on Deflategate as the time the "NFL jumped the shark".

My beef with this whole thing is how the NFL handled it. They lacked decisiveness so much so that they actually hired an outside investigator, who produced a 200+ page document discussing the PSI of footballs. That. Is. Crazy. If the NFL had just fined them and moved on, it would be cool. If they just said "balls were 12.5 before the game (legal) but were 11.0 at half (illegal) fine is a gazzilion dollars, folks would have nodded and moved on. But they didn't. They acted wishy washy and lacked the balls to actually enforce the rules on the books.

I don't care what Brady said or what he didn't say, in Baseball pitchers never say they intended to bean a guy we don't expect them to incriminate themselves either, so why should Brady?

I actually can't think of a more overblown way to handle such a small thing. Either they are milking this small issue for ratings and attention, or they really can't make a clear decision...either way, I think the NFL has hit a new low.

[Louis]

Originally Posted by rugbysecondrow

I actually can't think of a more overblown way to handle such a small thing.

The NFL turns everything into a massive over-production.

[Louis]

I'm sure Tom will explain it all:

http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/live-vi...e-322521155994

[unterhausen]

fine them their suprebowl payoffs and be done with it, sheesh

[Corso]

First half of Indy game with slightly deflated balls: 17 points
Second half of Indy game with normally-deflated balls: 28 points

Super Bowl against Seattle with normally inflated balls:
-28 points total
-Came back from 10 points down with 8 minutes to go in the game, drove the length of the field TWICE for touchdowns to take the lead.
-140 QB rating in the 4th quarter

So, all those who simply don’t like the Pats or Brady continue to call him a cheat and liar if it makes you happy. He hasn’t killed anyone or beat his wife, or been busted for illegal substance, or paid bounty to injure players...

If ball inflation was such a BFD, the NFL would handle the balls all the time, and refs would use real equipment to insure air pressure, not weighing the balls. Just like the video crap, the NFL makes the Pats an example. And as long as they keep adding Superbowl wins, Kraft will keep “taking one for the NFL”...

[jr59]

Originally Posted by Corso

First half of Indy game with slightly deflated balls: 17 points
Second half of Indy game with normally-deflated balls: 28 points

Super Bowl against Seattle with normally inflated balls:
-28 points total
-Came back from 10 points down with 8 minutes to go in the game, drove the length of the field TWICE for touchdowns to take the lead.
-140 QB rating in the 4th quarter

So, all those who simply don’t like the Pats or Brady continue to call him a cheat and liar if it makes you happy. He hasn’t killed anyone or beat his wife, or been busted for illegal substance, or paid bounty to injure players...

If ball inflation was such a BFD, the NFL would handle the balls all the time, and refs would use real equipment to insure air pressure, not weighing the balls. Just like the video crap, the NFL makes the Pats an example. And as long as they keep adding Superbowl wins, Kraft will keep “taking one for the NFL”...

I guess you should tell the NFL how to run their business.

The bottom line is that they cheated, and Brady didn't fully tell the truth to Mr. Wells. That fact alone will get him in big trouble.

Like lance never tested positive. And neither did Bonds. Sorry doesn't fly!

[Corso]

Amazing how YOU seem to know Brady didn’t tell the truth.

Bottom line: 4 rings.

Comparing Brady to Lance is idiotic. You surely can do better.

[unterhausen]

there is a pretty big difference between Brady himself and LA, because Brady is just a beneficiary of the systematic and organized doping in pro football. There is enough money that he doesn't actually have to sully himself with being the enforcer. Cycling is a poor enough sport that the stars have to be complicit in the dirty work.

[mg2ride]

Originally Posted by Corso

Bottom line: 4 rings.

Comparing Brady to Lance is idiotic. You surely can do better.

True that! Lance has the equivalent of 7! Brady only has 4!

So far Brady's cheating is more on par with LeMond's cheating.