Patriots being investigated after Colts game (2 Viewers)

[rockaction]

NY Daily News reporting Brady will definitely be suspended. League still debating for how long and duration will be announced next week.

also from new york daily

Warren Sapp says he told a prostitute to quit yapping and start putting her mouth to good use

Jim Harbaugh ‘might be clinically insane,’ says San Francisco 49ers player

Craig James says support of gay marriage by Patriots shows ‘that’s Satan working on us’

An assault on logic by Kool-Aid Larry is nothing if not the norm.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

I do love how the NFL stays relevant 52 weeks a year

The draft is over and NHL and NBA playoffs are going on, and do us MLB, but tune in next week to see how long Brady gets suspended for

Up next: Brady Appeals...

 

[rockaction]

we are talking about air in a football and people care this much.

On our way to 200 pages over a psi or 2.

but it's not. the psi is the proverbial straw. Patriots are masterful at pushing the limits of the rules and even embrace it. there are many times when i wish i was a Patriots fan because the way the team cheats is so beautiful, to me it is like watching art bloom to life. why other teams don't make this an emphasis is a mystery to me. A few examples.

the weekly injury report is a bit middle finger to the league

stealing signals and recording walk-throughs so your players know what's coming

playing games with substitutions

drop a few psi to increase grip and reduce fumbles

the Patriots know what they are doing and have jilted other teams for years. cheating has been rewarded culminating in multiple Lombardi trophies. Goodell is expected to take the whole body of work and levy a punishment that will discourage others from defecating on his shield. If the punishment is weak, all teams need to get on board with leveling the playing field.

Patriot-haters take notice: this is a fresh angle, the super-backhanded compliment with a huge side of presumptuousness.

You'd think this guy was some kind of football connoisseur, rendered breathless by the Patriots' 'art' of cheating as he sips his Sunday chardonnay.

How I envy this man! All I ever see in a Patriots game is an immaculately prepared team that often whales on their hopelessly outclassed opponents. But I'm young...

Jercules thinks terrible wit and passable writing makes a point more sound.

Hint: it doesn't.

 

[The General]

have we heard how many games that one ref is suspended for?

the one who blew the ball up to 16 psi

Did he have his little buddies sneak it out of the room then pump it up and slip it back in the bag?

 

[Ducegonads]

Best angle for the Pats fans... Us against the world. Has worked in the past.

I'd love to see them go out and nail down a big trade or FA signing. Spend the cap and go for broke.

Most of us have said screw the league office in the past for one reason or another so I'm on board with the renegades until this commissioner learns how to handle an investigation and deliver facts to the paying customer.

Go for five and throw it in everyone's face.

 

[The General]

I do love how the NFL stays relevant 52 weeks a year

The draft is over and NHL and NBA playoffs are going on, and do us MLB, but tune in next week to see how long Brady gets suspended for

Up next: Brady Appeals...

Was nice of Brady to cheat it up to help keep the NFL as the lead on SportsCenter.

 

[BustedKnuckles]

The Pats are the new Bad boys of the NFL.......i wish my Raiders still held that title :(

 

[Jercules]

Best angle for the Pats fans... Us against the world. Has worked in the past.

I'd love to see them go out and nail down a big trade or FA signing. Spend the cap and go for broke.

Most of us have said screw the league office in the past for one reason or another so I'm on board with the renegades until this commissioner learns how to handle an investigation and deliver facts to the paying customer.

Go for five and throw it in everyone's face.

The Pats are the new Bad boys of the NFL.......i wish my Raiders still held that title :(

Amen

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

NY Daily News reporting Brady will definitely be suspended. League still debating for how long and duration will be announced next week.

Pats might as well go full nuclear if that happens, Belichick has been in the league a long time and certainly knows plenty about how teams are always pushing the envelope. If the NFL wants to hang the Pats for their dirty laundry, let's get all the league's skeletons out of the closet. I'm sure there can be plenty to be shared with the media on headset issues, PED use and concussion discussions the league has had as well as any number of other things the general public doesn't know goes on. Scorched earth time.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Isnt this equivalent to phil neikro or gaylord perry doctorin baseballs?? They got suspended iirc. Suspend brayd and belichek

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

NY Daily News reporting Brady will definitely be suspended. League still debating for how long and duration will be announced next week.

Pats might as well go full nuclear if that happens, Belichick has been in the league a long time and certainly knows plenty about how teams are always pushing the envelope. If the NFL wants to hang the Pats for their dirty laundry, let's get all the league's skeletons out of the closet. I'm sure there can be plenty to be shared with the media on headset issues, PED use and concussion discussions the league has had as well as any number of other things the general public doesn't know goes on. Scorched earth time.

You mean go all five year old. U get busted so tattle on ur brother?? Nice

 

[Franknbeans]

straws have officially been grasped

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

NY Daily News reporting Brady will definitely be suspended. League still debating for how long and duration will be announced next week.

Pats might as well go full nuclear if that happens, Belichick has been in the league a long time and certainly knows plenty about how teams are always pushing the envelope. If the NFL wants to hang the Pats for their dirty laundry, let's get all the league's skeletons out of the closet. I'm sure there can be plenty to be shared with the media on headset issues, PED

use and concussion discussions the league has had as well as any number of other things the general public doesn't know goes on. Scorched earth time.

You mean go all five year old. U get busted so tattle on ur brother?? Nice

Pats have a chance to take the high road here, once the penalties come down and NFL talks about the integrity of the league accept whatever fine. Admit they pushed the envelope far too often but say they have now seen the error of their ways. State that they agree with the NFL that it is high time that the league cleans itself up but the only way that can happen is to be honest with the public about PEDs, concussions and all of the other ways teams look to gain an advantage. The Pats should hire an independent investigation firm to look into all the way teams cheat. State they will fully cooperate with the investigation and provide all details of things they have done. Call on all 31 other teams to do the same. Certainly all of those screaming about integrity now would agree this would lead to a better league.

 

[Anarchy99]

Brady will vigorously appeal. And there would be a court battle beyond that. Michael McCann was on the radio and felt the chances of riding the process out and winning are slim. He DET the Wells report is biased, has more he's than Swiss cheese, and left out any evidence or discussion that the Pats provided. He again pointed out that Beady himself did not manipulate any footballs, so he felt that is part of the rules on tampering with the footballs.

Also, Brady has the deepest pockets of all players in the NFL and a lawsuit against the league with the best lawyers on earth would amount to pocket change for him.

This is just getting started.

 

[Anarchy99]

I also wouldn't rule out the Patriots conducting their own investigation on football handling and the entire pregame process, what other teams do, and disclosure of all the information that was ignored in the Wells report.

 

[rockaction]

Brady will vigorously appeal. And there would be a court battle beyond that. Michael McCann was on the radio and felt the chances of riding the process out and winning are slim. He DET the Wells report is biased, has more he's than Swiss cheese, and left out any evidence or discussion that the Pats provided. He again pointed out that Beady himself did not manipulate any footballs, so he felt that is part of the rules on tampering with the footballs.

Also, Brady has the deepest pockets of all players in the NFL and a lawsuit against the league with the best lawyers on earth would amount to pocket change for him.

This is just getting pathetic on the part of the Patriots and their fans.

FYP

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Robert Kraft isn't going to let Brady burn the franchise down over a pack of lies.

 

[rockaction]

Brady will vigorously appeal. And there would be a court battle beyond that. Michael McCann was on the radio and felt the chances of riding the process out and winning are slim. He DET the Wells report is biased, has more he's than Swiss cheese, and left out any evidence or discussion that the Pats provided. He again pointed out that Beady himself did not manipulate any footballs, so he felt that is part of the rules on tampering with the footballs.

Also, Brady has the deepest pockets of all players in the NFL and a lawsuit against the league with the best lawyers on earth would amount to pocket change for him.

This is just getting started.

A sports law guy from UNH. Yeah, sure he's not biased or looking for work, either. He's the guy who will be offering a class on Deflategate in the fall at UNH.

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

Robert Kraft isn't going to let Brady burn the franchise down over a pack of lies.

Bob only had so many years left so he might just say F it and go out guns blazing, certainly all of his public statements to date show that to be a possibility. I'm pretty sure Bob realizes the franchise will be run into the ground by his snot nosed son Jonathan so he might as well go balls to the wall now.

 

[BroadwayG]

Brady will vigorously appeal. And there would be a court battle beyond that. Michael McCann was on the radio and felt the chances of riding the process out and winning are slim. He DET the Wells report is biased, has more he's than Swiss cheese, and left out any evidence or discussion that the Pats provided. He again pointed out that Beady himself did not manipulate any footballs, so he felt that is part of the rules on tampering with the footballs.

Also, Brady has the deepest pockets of all players in the NFL and a lawsuit against the league with the best lawyers on earth would amount to pocket change for him.

This is just getting started.

I don't think you want Brady, Tweedledum and Tweedledumber under oath on the stand in an actual court of law.

 

[Bayhawks]

Brady will vigorously appeal. And there would be a court battle beyond that. Michael McCann was on the radio and felt the chances of riding the process out and winning are slim. He DET the Wells report is biased, has more he's than Swiss cheese, and left out any evidence or discussion that the Pats provided. He again pointed out that Beady himself did not manipulate any footballs, so he felt that is part of the rules on tampering with the footballs.

Also, Brady has the deepest pockets of all players in the NFL and a lawsuit against the league with the best lawyers on earth would amount to pocket change for him.

This is just getting started.

If I'm not mistaken (and I'm not familiar with MA law), phone records can be subpoenaed in civil cases. So, if that is true in MA, and if Brady were to file suit, his phone records would undoubtedly be subpoenaed. If he was so worried about them being made public that he refused to allow the Wells investigators access to them, he would have to consider that if he were to file a lawsuit.

For that matter, since NFL headquarters are in NY, would a lawsuit be heard in MA or NY?

 

[mbuehner]

Brady will vigorously appeal. And there would be a court battle beyond that. Michael McCann was on the radio and felt the chances of riding the process out and winning are slim. He DET the Wells report is biased, has more he's than Swiss cheese, and left out any evidence or discussion that the Pats provided. He again pointed out that Beady himself did not manipulate any footballs, so he felt that is part of the rules on tampering with the footballs.

Also, Brady has the deepest pockets of all players in the NFL and a lawsuit against the league with the best lawyers on earth would amount to pocket change for him.

This is just getting started.

If I'm not mistaken (and I'm not familiar with MA law), phone records can be subpoenaed in civil cases. So, if that is true in MA, and if Brady were to file suit, his phone records would undoubtedly be subpoenaed. If he was so worried about them being made public that he refused to allow the Wells investigators access to them, he would have to consider that if he were to file a lawsuit.For that matter, since NFL headquarters are in NY, would a lawsuit be heard in MA or NY?

True but this would be a lawsuit in the context of CBA, so discovery rules could differ.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Clearly their cheating has no real effect on any games right Pats fans.....that's why they did it....just to break some rules for no reason. Love it.

I have said this many in times in many threads. I am fairly confident the Patriots straddle, skirt, bend, or break the rules in 100 different ways. They have been caught a few times. They do all of the things they do to get the slightest of advantages. Individually they probably don't mean much, but collectively they likely mean a lot.

Besides the issues they have been punished for, they have been accused of using locker room attendants to eavesdrop in opponent's locker rooms. Some coaches sweat the visiting locker room is bugged. We know they brought out a mini snow plow to clear the field in a blizzard to kick a game winning FG many years ago. They have been accused at intentionally under maintaining or switching turf. They have been accused of stealing radio communications, blocking radio communications, and intentionally supplying faulty radio equipment. I remember people suggesting the clock operator with starting or stopping the clock to their advantage. They have been accused of placing a jumbotron where only their team could see it to decide if they should challenge plays or not. BB has been accused of misreporting injuries or making a mockery of the injury report. We all know that people think he circumvented the rules with his eligible/ineligible receiver shell game from this year. I can't remember if it was NE or one of the other local teams that got accused of cranking up the heat in the opponent's locker room or not supplying hot water in the showers. BB has been questioned by other teams in not abiding by the injured reserve and waiver wire protocols. They have been accused of punching people in piles and hitting guys where it counts. They have been accused of video taping opponents' practices.

The possibilities are endless for what they could try to. Rest assured there are many other things they likely have tried or would try if they could get the opportunity to. Bottom line, they play to win . . . even if that means stretching or breaking the rules. And the takeaway is they don't care if they get caught. They will pay their fines or lose their draft picks, let the league amend the rules and outlaw things, and go about their business. And BB does not care one iota what the rest of the country thinks. Tom Brady is the guy that cheated with your hot girlfriend and wooed her away, and your only defense is calling him names while you are home alone.

Their credo is that they have won 4 titles in the past 14 years and have the best overall record in that time, and 31 other franchises are looking up at them. People will call for their heads and stiff penalties and call them cheaters. And they are right. They cheat. And they cheat all the time. But they are so good at it, they are probably laughing at all the other stuff they do and get away with that people don't know about. And if 98% of the country hates them, they are fine with that.

What gets me is that the rest of the league has not tried to do more to bend the rules (ok, break the rules) like NE does. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. We know a lot of teams and a lot of players have done some things to try to get an advantage (there are no 100% innocent teams out there). It's a bit like being charged with murder. Once you kill one person, why not a few more? New England is dirty as the day is long, and they don't play fair.

I am certainly not suggesting that what NE does is right and proper, because it clearly isn't. It is a terrible example to set and teach kids about fair play. They have very questionable integrity and are the definition of shady, but they are fine with that. They have sold their souls to win football games and they can live with that. People can climb the highest mountain and scream as loud as they can that they are immoral and should be taken to the woodshed and punished severely, but the fact remains the Pats have won 4 SBs and they don't have to give the trophies back.

Like one of the other threads that is out there asks, is winning the SB worth losing some draft picks and a few hundred thousand dollars in fines? That's an easy one to answer for New England.

There you go, honesty.

 

[Donnybrook]

Colin KaepernickVerified account ‏@Kaepernick7 No football in the world is going to help you win by 38! Let it go and let Tom be great! On to the 2015 season

So true. The NFL could end hunger in some third world countries for the amount the they are shelling out for this stupid trivial crap.

 

[Bayhawks]

Brady will vigorously appeal. And there would be a court battle beyond that. Michael McCann was on the radio and felt the chances of riding the process out and winning are slim. He DET the Wells report is biased, has more he's than Swiss cheese, and left out any evidence or discussion that the Pats provided. He again pointed out that Beady himself did not manipulate any footballs, so he felt that is part of the rules on tampering with the footballs.

Also, Brady has the deepest pockets of all players in the NFL and a lawsuit against the league with the best lawyers on earth would amount to pocket change for him.

This is just getting started.

If I'm not mistaken (and I'm not familiar with MA law), phone records can be subpoenaed in civil cases. So, if that is true in MA, and if Brady were to file suit, his phone records would undoubtedly be subpoenaed. If he was so worried about them being made public that he refused to allow the Wells investigators access to them, he would have to consider that if he were to file a lawsuit.For that matter, since NFL headquarters are in NY, would a lawsuit be heard in MA or NY?

True but this would be a lawsuit in the context of CBA, so discovery rules could differ.

I'm not sure what merit that lawsuit would have then. It's been posted several times that the punishment for this type of offense starts, but is not limited to, a fine of $25,000. A suspension would fall under the "but not limited" part. An independant investigation came to the conclusion that Brady meets the NFL's definition of guilt in this matter, and the punishment being speculated upon seems to fit what the CBA allows. Unless some of the information in this thread is incorrect, a lawsuit challenging that the CBA isn't being followed doesn't seem to have much basis.

 

[ratbast]

This is interesting:

http://yourteamcheats.com/

 

[cstu]

This is interesting:

http://yourteamcheats.com/

TEAM: The New England Patriots

SEVERITY: 1 1/2 out of 5

 

[BigSteelThrill]

This is interesting:

http://yourteamcheats.com/

No its not. Was posted earlier in the thread and its pure crap.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Brady will vigorously appeal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOnRHAyXqYY

 

[PhD]

Brady will vigorously appeal. And there would be a court battle beyond that. Michael McCann was on the radio and felt the chances of riding the process out and winning are slim. He DET the Wells report is biased, has more he's than Swiss cheese, and left out any evidence or discussion that the Pats provided. He again pointed out that Beady himself did not manipulate any footballs, so he felt that is part of the rules on tampering with the footballs.

Also, Brady has the deepest pockets of all players in the NFL and a lawsuit against the league with the best lawyers on earth would amount to pocket change for him.

This is just getting started.

Just curious here... has an athlete ever "vigorously" appealed a ruling or judgment supported by an independent investigation and (a) won or (b) saved his legacy? Bonds, ARod and Clemens come to mind first.

 

[Jercules]

This is interesting:

http://yourteamcheats.com/

No its not. Was posted earlier in the thread and its pure crap.

Why is it crap? Seems like a pretty good place for a fair-minded NFL fan to gain a little perspective before they fall for this "Brady is the Anti-Christ" crap being peddled around here.

I always knew those Denver SOBs were rotten to the core!

 

[BigSteelThrill]

This is interesting:

http://yourteamcheats.com/

No its not. Was posted earlier in the thread and its pure crap.

Why is it crap? Seems like a pretty good place for a fair-minded NFL fan to gain a little perspective before they fall for this "Brady is the Anti-Christ" crap being peddled around here.

I always knew those Denver SOBs were rotten to the core!

Because big hits that draw fines aren't "cheating".

 

[espnespn]

Brady will vigorously appeal. And there would be a court battle beyond that. Michael McCann was on the radio and felt the chances of riding the process out and winning are slim. He DET the Wells report is biased, has more he's than Swiss cheese, and left out any evidence or discussion that the Pats provided. He again pointed out that Beady himself did not manipulate any footballs, so he felt that is part of the rules on tampering with the footballs.

Also, Brady has the deepest pockets of all players in the NFL and a lawsuit against the league with the best lawyers on earth would amount to pocket change for him.

This is just getting started.

Just curious here... has an athlete ever "vigorously" appealed a ruling or judgment supported by an independent investigation and (a) won or (b) saved his legacy? Bonds, ARod and Clemens come to mind first.

Um, are you saying that you think Brady will not make the HoF now? That is some seriously wishful thinking.

 

[Bayhawks]

This is interesting:

http://yourteamcheats.com/

No its not. Was posted earlier in the thread and its pure crap.

Why is it crap? Seems like a pretty good place for a fair-minded NFL fan to gain a little perspective before they fall for this "Brady is the Anti-Christ" crap being peddled around here.

I always knew those Denver SOBs were rotten to the core!

Because it is. IF that site had tried to be legitimate, it would have made a better point, but labeling every team a cheater because of "tampergate" (because every NFL team tampers with FA) or as a cheater because of "cheapsgate" if they've had even a single player fined for an illegal hit since 2010 makes it seem like the petty nonsense that a Pat/Brady fan threw up to say, what Brady did is ok because other teams do bad stuff too.

It's like when a 5 year gets in trouble for being bad, he automatically rats out his sister for doing something completely unrelated. It's childish.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

This is interesting:

http://yourteamcheats.com/

No its not. Was posted earlier in the thread and its pure crap.

Why is it crap? Seems like a pretty good place for a fair-minded NFL fan to gain a little perspective before they fall for this "Brady is the Anti-Christ" crap being peddled around here.

I always knew those Denver SOBs were rotten to the core!

Because it is. IF that site had tried to be legitimate, it would have made a better point, but labeling every team a cheater because of "tampergate" (because every NFL team tampers with FA) or as a cheater because of "cheapsgate" if they've had even a single player fined for an illegal hit since 2010 makes it seem like the petty nonsense that a Pat/Brady fan threw up to say, what Brady did is ok because other teams do bad stuff too.

It's like when a 5 year gets in trouble for being bad, he automatically rats out his sister for doing something completely unrelated. It's childish.

Bingo.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Question for Pats fans: do you guys feel that the Pats are the target of unfair witch hunts by the NFL? Not by the media or other NFL fans, but the NFL administration itself.

I ask for a couple of reasons.

I',m a Ravens fan. I don't know if there's another fan base - especially one as small as Baltimore's - that dreams up so many conspiracy theories about how "we are getting ####ed by the league; they just want the Pats & Steelers to win". From the schedule to fines, it's amazing what they come up with (it's also pretty amusing).

I'm also getting a martyr vibe from several posters in this thread, which amuses me even more.

 

[Zdravko]

8 games

 

[knowledge dropper]

After 160 pages, my biggest takeaway is I am renaming one of my teams "Salty Trolls"

 

[espnespn]

This is interesting:

http://yourteamcheats.com/

No its not. Was posted earlier in the thread and its pure crap.

Why is it crap? Seems like a pretty good place for a fair-minded NFL fan to gain a little perspective before they fall for this "Brady is the Anti-Christ" crap being peddled around here.

I always knew those Denver SOBs were rotten to the core!

Because it is. IF that site had tried to be legitimate, it would have made a better point, but labeling every team a cheater because of "tampergate" (because every NFL team tampers with FA) or as a cheater because of "cheapsgate" if they've had even a single player fined for an illegal hit since 2010 makes it seem like the petty nonsense that a Pat/Brady fan threw up to say, what Brady did is ok because other teams do bad stuff too.

It's like when a 5 year gets in trouble for being bad, he automatically rats out his sister for doing something completely unrelated. It's childish.

Bingo.

I like how the entire website is dismissed because you think it nitpicks. This entire thread is based on the premise that "rules are rules!"

This reminds me of "family-value" political candidates who criticize others, but then are caught cheating on their spouses, and then try to claim it is completely unrelated. Everyone can see the hypocrisy, and hypocrites have very little credibility.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

I went through a few teams (none the Pats)... its garbage.

 

[Green and Gold]

8 games

Sounds right. It probably gets reduced to 4 on appeal.

 

[JIslander]

This is really hard to swallow as a Pats fan. They might only win the division by two games this year with Brady missing time.

That's what's so puzzling about them feeling the need to cheat...6 gimme games every year vs Bills, Jets and Dolphins (and last year zero games vs. Steelers and Ravens) pretty much sets them up for playoffs every year. Schedule looks sweet again this year even for SB champ*

 

[IvanKaramazov]

NY Daily News reporting Brady will definitely be suspended. League still debating for how long and duration will be announced next week.

Pats might as well go full nuclear if that happens, Belichick has been in the league a long time and certainly knows plenty about how teams are always pushing the envelope. If the NFL wants to hang the Pats for their dirty laundry, let's get all the league's skeletons out of the closet. I'm sure there can be plenty to be shared with the media on headset issues, PED use and concussion discussions the league has had as well as any number of other things the general public doesn't know goes on. Scorched earth time.

Another worthy nominee.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

8 games

Sounds right. It probably gets reduced to 4 on appeal.

4 games isn't enough IMO. The league handed out a 4 game suspension for texting during a game. In that case, I don't think anybody even alleged that the team had gained a competitive advantage -- it was just about setting a precedent. If you're going to suspend somebody for 4 games over a relative technicality, you have to come down harder on somebody who engaged in deliberate, systematic and material cheating over the course of multiple games (multiple season really).

I honestly think Brady should sit the next season out. That's based on a combination of the cheating, his history of prior cheating, lying about said cheating, and refusing to cooperate with the league's investigation. In other words, it's not solely based on just the deflated footballs.

 

[massraider]

The real danger about condescendingly saying, 'Please! You think everyone doesn't do this? LOL, you people are so naive', is that when NO ONE is ever busted for this again, it kinda makes you wonder.

Didn't we hear about this during SpyGate? Everyone does it! Why has no one else been caught?

No more burned tapes. :( I hear Roger LOVES burning tapes.

We were promised more violations!

 

[massraider]

8 games

Sounds right. It probably gets reduced to 4 on appeal.

4 games isn't enough IMO. The league handed out a 4 game suspension for texting during a game. In that case, I don't think anybody even alleged that the team had gained a competitive advantage -- it was just about setting a precedent. If you're going to suspend somebody for 4 games over a relative technicality, you have to come down harder on somebody who engaged in deliberate, systematic and material cheating over the course of multiple games (multiple season really).

I honestly think Brady should sit the next season out. That's based on a combination of the cheating, his history of prior cheating, lying about said cheating, and refusing to cooperate with the league's investigation. In other words, it's not solely based on just the deflated footballs.

There won't be an appeal. This isn't a violation of the CBA.

This is blatant cheating, and refusal to cooperate.

No appeal.

 

[espnespn]

Question for Pats fans: do you guys feel that the Pats are the target of unfair witch hunts by the NFL? Not by the media or other NFL fans, but the NFL administration itself.

I ask for a couple of reasons.

I',m a Ravens fan. I don't know if there's another fan base - especially one as small as Baltimore's - that dreams up so many conspiracy theories about how "we are getting ####ed by the league; they just want the Pats & Steelers to win". From the schedule to fines, it's amazing what they come up with (it's also pretty amusing).

I'm also getting a martyr vibe from several posters in this thread, which amuses me even more.

Honestly, I don't think the NFL administration (as a whole) is out to get any team. There are individuals in the NFL (like Mike Kensil) who are biased and try to target certain teams like the Patriots, but that happens in any large organization.

The problem is that the media can have double-standards for teams like the Patriots. If you want undisputed proof of this, here you go:

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/02/12/throwback-thursday-nfl-handled-spygate-accusations-very-differently-in-2006/

Once the media runs with these stories long enough, the NFL is forced to investigate. And that's where the media double-standard translates into a NFL selection bias against the Patriots: the more times you are investigated, the more chances you get busted.

Cynics will say: "well, don't cheat at all, and you won't get busted at all." This is true, but very superficial and glib. It's like when the Tampa Police got recently exposed for racially profiling black bike riders (black bikers are about 25% of the population, but get stopped way more often, and get 79% of the bike tickets).

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/how-riding-your-bike-can-land-you-in-trouble-with-the-cops---if-youre-black/2225966

[edited: replaced with source link]

Are black bike riders in Tampa worse law-breakers than white bike riders? It's impossible to tell, with the known selection bias.

Before some people here try to deliberately misinterpret me as saying the Patriots are oppressed like minorities, THAT IS NOT WHAT I AM SAYING. I am saying that selection bias fueled by the media can easily make the Patriots seem like they cheat more than other teams.

 

[JohnnyU]

....then quit cheating, it's that simple.

 

[massraider]

Question for Pats fans: do you guys feel that the Pats are the target of unfair witch hunts by the NFL? Not by the media or other NFL fans, but the NFL administration itself.

I ask for a couple of reasons.

I',m a Ravens fan. I don't know if there's another fan base - especially one as small as Baltimore's - that dreams up so many conspiracy theories about how "we are getting ####ed by the league; they just want the Pats & Steelers to win". From the schedule to fines, it's amazing what they come up with (it's also pretty amusing).

I'm also getting a martyr vibe from several posters in this thread, which amuses me even more.

Honestly, I don't think the NFL administration (as a whole) is out to get any team. There are individuals in the NFL (like Mike Kensil) who are biased and try to target certain teams like the Patriots, but that happens in any large organization.

The problem is that the media can have double-standards for teams like the Patriots. If you want undisputed proof of this, here you go:

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/02/12/throwback-thursday-nfl-handled-spygate-accusations-very-differently-in-2006/

Once the media runs with these stories long enough, the NFL is forced to investigate. And that's where the media double-standard translates into a NFL selection bias against the Patriots: the more times you are investigated, the more chances you get busted.

Cynics will say: "well, don't cheat at all, and you won't get busted at all." This is true, but very superficial and glib. It's like when the Tampa Police got recently exposed for racially profiling black bike riders (black bikers are about 25% of the population, but get stopped way more often, and get 79% of the bike tickets).

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/how-riding-your-bike-can-land-you-in-trouble-with-the-cops---if-youre-black/2225966

[edited: replaced with source link]

Are black bike riders in Tampa worse law-breakers than white bike riders? It's impossible to tell, with the known selection bias.

Before some people here try to deliberately misinterpret me as saying the Patriots are oppressed like minorities, THAT IS NOT WHAT I AM SAYING. I am saying that selection bias fueled by the media can easily make the Patriots seem like they cheat more than other teams.

Would you like me to explain the differences between the Dolphins and Patriots situations? Even though they are listed in the article you posted?

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

I see we've moved through "nothing happened" and "it's no big deal" into the "everybody does it" stage.

I can't really place that on Elizabeth Kubler Ross's spectrum. Are we closer to "grief"and "acceptance"?