Patriots being investigated after Colts game (5 Viewers)

[Hang 10]

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Down to the last few days of the season and maybe Brett Favre's career, the NFL ended a slow-paced investigation of tawdry allegations against the quarterback with a $50,000 fine and a rebuke for not being candid.

The league punished one of its marquee players for failing to cooperate with investigators who were trying to determine if the 41-year-old quarterback sent inappropriate messages and below-the-belt photos to Jenn Sterger in 2008, when both worked for the New York Jets.

times change, I guess........

Good call. These situations are totally the same.

 

[GregR]

How does this infraction incur so much more of a penalty than piping in crowd noise?

Can only assume it was the perceived lack of cooperation by Brady and the team?

That was my thought initially too, comparing it to the crowd noise.

Someone elsewhere compared it to Spygate (1st round pick) and Bountygate (two 2nds) which it is much more in line with.

Which is making me rethink things and I'm undecided. But if I do end up shifting towards it being somewhat appropriate, I think that will also mean the Falcon's punishment was too light.

Was the Falcon's thing a recurring situation or a one-time thing?

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

I would like to commend the NFL here. Honestly. Regardless of how solid or not their evidence may have been, they came to a conclusion he did wrong. They did not back down regardless of this player's stature as a premier player and a face of the league. Everyone was saying cause he's a big time player in the league he'd get off with a slap on the wrist. Good for the NFL on standing their ground.

Commend them on being inconsistent?

4 games for their MVP, $1 Mil and next years 1st?

That is overboard.

Definitely overboard. Will the Patriot haters finally rejoice in this and shut up about it though? If Tom comes back and leads them to another SB, are they going to say this one was tainted too?

Depends. will they be caught cheating again? If so, then yes.

Some people will never let it go... and will put teams/players in lose-lose situations and then blast them when they lose. Be a sports fan and put yourself on the line with a chance to lose something. If they lose, you'll say they can't win without cheating. If they win, and do nothing wrong this year, you'll point back to all the other times they were wrong.

Yeah, it sucks dealing with the repercussions of being caught cheating multiple times. If only there was some way they could have avoided all of this.

 

[JaxBill]

It's obvious they went overboard so there would still be meat on the bone after appeal. Why include 2017 4th rounder? Another bargaining chip.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

haters will see this as awesome because they know its excessive.

reasonable people can do nothing but laugh when other teams do the same type of stuff and get warned.

It's the culture of cheating in New England that probably makes the punishment as harsh as it was. This is like getting Al Capone on tax evasion.

Exactly. If this was just some random team, and that random team fully cooperated with the investigation, you'd figure they get a sternly-worded letter telling them to knock it off, along with a fine. New England has already demonstrated that that sort of sanction isn't enough to change their behavior, so they get clubbed over the head. No problems with that here.

I will say that I'm actually surprised by the first round pick. The suspension is on the light side, but the loss of a first round pick is more than I expected.

 

[The General]

It's not the crime it's the cover up.

But everyone else was doing it!!!

"IT DOESN'T EvEN MAttER!"

To complete the trifecta of delusional Pats Fan complaints.

 

[Franknbeans]

2 interesting takes on Boston sports radio...

Felger and Mazz: Felger points out on page 20 of the report where the Patriots did not make available McNally for the last time. Says that's where they f'd up.

Arnold and crew: Goodell will be out as commissioner soon after this decision.

No he wont

I know. It shows the two extremes. One host said the Patriots should have owned up to this earlier and it would have gone away. But nooooooo

The other host implying that Goodell screwed this up so badly he would be ousted.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

How does this infraction incur so much more of a penalty than piping in crowd noise?

Can only assume it was the perceived lack of cooperation by Brady and the team?

Of course. The league openly said as much.

 

[fruity pebbles]

I'm a Pats fan and I don't see how you could say this is too harsh. The infraction was fairly minor but the lying and cover up after the fact wasn't. Plus this in a 2nd offense penalty. Better tow the line, next time I'm seeing a year off.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

It's obvious they went overboard so there would still be meat on the bone after appeal. Why include 2017 4th rounder? Another bargaining chip.

That part isn't appealable, I don't think. Just the suspension is.

 

[SacramentoBob]

Brady would have been better off murdering someone

And 12punch would be in here saying that the video of Brady walking into a room with a knife occupied by a person he had an argument with earlier that day is not proof of the fact that the other person in that room died of stab wounds by the very knife Brady was carrying.

 

[12punch]

How does this infraction incur so much more of a penalty than piping in crowd noise?

Can only assume it was the perceived lack of cooperation by Brady and the team?

Yes, if Brady had just admitted it, I think there would have been a nominal fine and that's it.

yeah, but that's a pretty ridiculous assumption.

I see a lot of imagination around here that people seem pretty confident in, but maybe that's the nature of fantasy football.

first, you're assuming he did anything to admit to, then you're also assuming this was some kind of legit investigation rather than a witch hunt with a predetermined outcome.

brady gives them his phone and they use some other excuse to drop the hammer is more probable than not.

 

[Gatorman]

I think Brady should show them all and just retire.

(said as a dolphin fan)...

Pats likely go 2-2 without Brady and then the fun begins...

 

[JaxBill]

It's obvious they went overboard so there would still be meat on the bone after appeal. Why include 2017 4th rounder? Another bargaining chip.

That part isn't appealable, I don't think. Just the suspension is.

Didn't the saints draft pick penalty change after appeal?

 

[moleculo]

No one cares about the falcons or browns. IMO, the punishment is harsh simply because of the timing (week before Superbowl), and because of the intense media exposure.

The Cleveland and Atlanta incidents did not tarnish the "shield". This business did.

Double standard? Sure. Don't like to be under the microscope, stay out of championship games.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I see a lot of imagination around here that people seem pretty confident in,

You don't say.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

How does this infraction incur so much more of a penalty than piping in crowd noise?

Can only assume it was the perceived lack of cooperation by Brady and the team?

Yes, if Brady had just admitted it, I think there would have been a nominal fine and that's it.

yeah, but that's a pretty ridiculous assumption.

I see a lot of imagination around here that people seem pretty confident in, but maybe that's the nature of fantasy football.

first, you're assuming he did anything to admit to, then you're also assuming this was some kind of legit investigation rather than a witch hunt with a predetermined outcome.

brady gives them his phone and they use some other excuse to drop the hammer is more probable than not.

I'm not assuming those things. I'm concluding them based on the meticulously stated evidence described in the report.

 

[Run It Up]

Scott Zolak ‏@scottzolak 10m10 minutes ago

The league just opened up a can they can't close . Told response coming soon

I'm okay with the Patriots dragging the shield through the mud.

#### em.

 

[David Dodds]

Everyone assumes Brady will appeal. I actually think he won't. He will state in a Boston press conference (where the hardest questions would never be asked) that he is very disappointed in first the findings and the ruling and that there is a lot of misinformation in the report. He will likely name a few of these things to keep his fan club in high praise.

It will likely go something like this...

- The investigation interviewed me, but they chose to leave out all my words?

- MIT's science department says the science in the report is wrong.

- This report was bungled every step of the way with leaks to the media, etc.

- With all those media leaks, I really was suppose to willingly hand over my phone. I might as well just burn copies for TMZ and DeadSpin right now.

- Lots of envious salty haters out there that hate our success.

This was a witch hunt over balls that by definition will lose pressure in cold/rainy conditions. Everyone would love for me to appeal, but appeal to who? The Commish who leveled the punishment? What's the point? This story has taken up enough of our time. We have a team to prepare and that includes getting Jimmy up to speed for the early part of the year.

 

[SacramentoBob]

League apology update?

 

[fruity pebbles]

Be funny to see a list of the things the Pats have done. You get caught at a small percentage of the things you actually do.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Next step: New England fans "quit" the NFL.

 

[12punch]

I think Brady should show them all and just retire.

(said as a dolphin fan)...

Pats likely go 2-2 without Brady and then the fun begins...

well, I think we started off 2-2 last year, if I remember right, which I wouldn't have called, but I wouldn't be so quick to write them off without brady.

although, wtf their plan is in the secondary I have no idea.

 

[GregR]

It's obvious they went overboard so there would still be meat on the bone after appeal. Why include 2017 4th rounder? Another bargaining chip.

That part isn't appealable, I don't think. Just the suspension is.

Didn't the saints draft pick penalty change after appeal?

I don't recall that... but I'm searching and I did find a CBS article that the Saints appealed their fine and draft pick loss:

Saints spokesman Greg Benselm did confirm that Loomis was appealing his eight-game suspension and, separately, the team would challenge its $500,000 fine and loss of second-round draft picks this year and in 2013.

Still looking.

 

[Franknbeans]

word is that Brady has already appealed

 

[rjv]

How does this infraction incur so much more of a penalty than piping in crowd noise?

Can only assume it was the perceived lack of cooperation by Brady and the team?

Yes, if Brady had just admitted it, I think there would have been a nominal fine and that's it.

Exactly

 

[12punch]

No one cares about the falcons or browns. IMO, the punishment is harsh simply because of the timing (week before Superbowl), and because of the intense media exposure.

The Cleveland and Atlanta incidents did not tarnish the "shield". This business did.

Double standard? Sure. Don't like to be under the microscope, stay out of championship games.

what tarnished the shield was this entire circus

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Why does Belichick get to skate free here, given the Sean Payton "Ignorance is no excuse" precedent?

40 year ban IMO

 

[BigSteelThrill]

No one cares about the falcons or browns. IMO, the punishment is harsh simply because of the timing (week before Superbowl), and because of the intense media exposure.

The Cleveland and Atlanta incidents did not tarnish the "shield". This business did.

Double standard? Sure. Don't like to be under the microscope, stay out of championship games.

what tarnished the shield was this entire circus

X

 

[SacramentoBob]

Next step: New England fans "quit" the NFL.

"I'm moving to Canada and I hope Bob Kraft buys a CFL team I can root for!"

 

[12punch]

Next step: New England fans "quit" the NFL.

oh, that already well underway over on a pats board -- quite a few of them

 

[SacramentoBob]

I feel a new fictitious thread coming on.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Next step: New England fans "quit" the NFL.

oh, that already well underway over on a pats board -- quite a few of them

Not sure if I'll be able to sleep at night knowing this.

 

[rjv]

Its a decision based upon it being a repetitive issue. The Pats have disregarded the integrity of the NFL for the second time. It also shows that there is a huge lack of institutional control within the organization.

To add, hiding from the issue didn't help TB either. Not cooperating with the investigation is a HUGE red flag.

 

[Run It Up]

Why does Belichick get to skate free here, given the Sean Payton "Ignorance is no excuse" precedent?

40 year ban IMO

The Wells report pretty much said that Belichick and Kraft likely had no idea about any of this - for the literally nothing that that is worth.

 

[JIslander]

Next step: New England fans "quit" the NFL.

oh, that already well underway over on a pats board -- quite a few of them

Yeah, just start a Nerf league.

 

[GroveDiesel]

I would like to commend the NFL here. Honestly. Regardless of how solid or not their evidence may have been, they came to a conclusion he did wrong. They did not back down regardless of this player's stature as a premier player and a face of the league. Everyone was saying cause he's a big time player in the league he'd get off with a slap on the wrist. Good for the NFL on standing their ground.

Commend them on being inconsistent?

4 games for their MVP, $1 Mil and next years 1st?

That is overboard.

Definitely overboard. Will the Patriot haters finally rejoice in this and shut up about it though? If Tom comes back and leads them to another SB, are they going to say this one was tainted too?

Depends. will they be caught cheating again? If so, then yes.

Some people will never let it go... and will put teams/players in lose-lose situations and then blast them when they lose. Be a sports fan and put yourself on the line with a chance to lose something. If they lose, you'll say they can't win without cheating. If they win, and do nothing wrong this year, you'll point back to all the other times they were wrong. Otherwise you're just an armchair fan who will blast them even if they do nothing wrong. I'm not even a pats fan and I'd like to see them win again, completely within the rule book, and see what everyone says. People will still find excuses to devalue their talent and greatness. They beat the colts by 35+... wasn't cause of the balls. They won the superbowl with obvious properly inflated balls. You got your fair, if not excessive punishment, be happy and start rooting for your team now.

Hey, there's a first time for everything.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Why does Belichick get to skate free here, given the Sean Payton "Ignorance is no excuse" precedent?

40 year ban IMO

The Wells report pretty much said that Belichick and Kraft likely had no idea about any of this - for the literally nothing that that is worth.

What part of "ignorance is no excuse" precludes that?

 

[12punch]

kraft must've forgotten goodell's birthday, or something

 

[Franknbeans]

Why does Belichick get to skate free here, given the Sean Payton "Ignorance is no excuse" precedent?

40 year ban IMO

Well, he does lose a couple of draft picks but the talk on one station over here is they had more on them. One of those burn the tape episodes where this is ultimately what they came up with. They are saying whatever punishment they give out now will be less than if they had the other information. This is Boston sports radio.

 

[GroveDiesel]

What's incredible is that if the investigation took 1 week instead of 4 months, the Pats would have played the Super Bowl without Brady. There's absolutely no reason that there should not be an asterisk next to their Championship now.

 

[The General]

Why does Belichick get to skate free here, given the Sean Payton "Ignorance is no excuse" precedent?

40 year ban IMO

The Wells report pretty much said that Belichick and Kraft likely had no idea about any of this - for the literally nothing that that is worth.

So that part of the report you are good with.

 

[12punch]

Next step: New England fans "quit" the NFL.

oh, that already well underway over on a pats board -- quite a few of them

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/threads/are-you-done-with-the-nfl-immediate-reaction.1119864/

 

[GregR]

Ok, you (JaxBill) are sort of right, the Saints appealed it, Goodell heard appeal, and the Saints could have got one pick back, but apparently didn't in the long run. ESPN at http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7792405/nfl-upholds-suspension-new-orleans-saints-sean-payton-mickey-loomis-joe-vitt

NFL denies Saints' appealsThe NFL upheld its discipline in the New Orleans Saints bounty case, meaning coach Sean Payton will begin his yearlong suspension April 16.

The league announced the penalties Monday, noting that the bans for general manager Mickey Loomis (eight games) and assistant coach Joe Vitt (six games) stand and will begin after the preseason. Payton's suspension will last through Super Bowl XLVII, which is being held in New Orleans.

The NFL's statement said that commissioner Roger Goodell will review the status of all three individuals after each suspension ends and sources told ESPN that Payton, Loomis and Vitt will have to adhere to league restrictions during their suspensions or put at risk their timely reinstatement, possible reductions of financial penalties, and possible modification of a forfeited 2013 second-round draft pick.

A league official tells ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that means, for example, that Payton is "not allowed to engage in any coaching activities. Roger [Goodell] commented on that at the league meeting press conference, saying he's not naïve enough to think there won't be some contact but [Payton's] not allowed to coach from home ... If a player has a baby, can he call to congratulate him? I don't think we're going to worry about that, or have a wiretap on his phone."

The team was previously fined $500,000 and docked second-round picks this year and next for a three-year pay-for-pain system that rewarded injury-causing hits by Saints defenders. While the Saints cannot salvage their 2012 second-rounder, the league's announcement suggested there could be a modification of the 2013 pick penalty and reduction in the individuals' lost pay, although the fine will not be reduced.

So it sounds like there was a possibility of getting the 2013 second back... but I don't think they did. Looking at the 2013 draft, the Saints did not make a 2nd round pick. So I gather that part of the penalty wasn't revoked.

 

[fruity pebbles]

What's incredible is that if the investigation took 1 week instead of 4 months, the Pats would have played the Super Bowl without Brady. There's absolutely no reason that there should not be an asterisk next to their Championship now.

There was no way he's suspended for the Super Bowl no matter when the report came out

 

[Stealthycat]

I want the NFL to check the game balls at halftime at Lambeau when its -15

I PROMISE the balls will have less air - physics cannot be escaped .... and whomever the Packers are playing, both will be fined and players suspended and draft picks lost.

 

[Run It Up]

Why does Belichick get to skate free here, given the Sean Payton "Ignorance is no excuse" precedent?

40 year ban IMO

The Wells report pretty much said that Belichick and Kraft likely had no idea about any of this - for the literally nothing that that is worth.

So that part of the report you are good with.

I thought I was pretty clear.

 

[The General]

Next step: New England fans "quit" the NFL.

oh, that already well underway over on a pats board -- quite a few of them

NEChowderheads, Bradylvr0089, and Patsordie27 will be missed at the next tailgate in Foxoboro.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Next step: New England fans "quit" the NFL.

oh, that already well underway over on a pats board -- quite a few of them

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/threads/are-you-done-with-the-nfl-immediate-reaction.1119864/

My current state of mind is going down to NY to their headquarters and beating the living hell out of Jetdell! Complete BS! They took away our 1st and 4th rounder? They are purposely trying to destroy us!! SEASON TICKET HOLDERS...BOYCOTT OPENING GAME! DO NOT GO IF KRAFT WILL NOT FIGHT THIS!

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

With the NFL trying to have all first place teams from a year ago play a balanced schedule this four games seems to have the possibility of unbalancing matters. I would prefer that he be suspended the first quarter of every game so that the penalty, and the obvious benefit of playing a Bradyless team is spread out over the schedule equally to make them a Brady deprived team, rather than a Bradyless team.

The monetary fine is meaningless. Yes it is a big number to me, DW six pack, but not to the Patriots. I would have preferred to see it come off of the Patriots salary cap, at least there it impacts the organization.

The draft choice thing may be in line though it is more than I would have done as the commissioner.

I believe Brady would be well served, reputation-wise, to accept the penalty rather than to keep this in the news cycle.

Sorry to see that Brady lost perspective. He is a great quarterback, and seems like a decent guy. The focus needed to be a top athlete seems to blind many. He is not unique in the single-mindedness of his focus driving him down an unfortunate road. If he takes this like a man he can regain some, though not all, of the respect I formally had for him.

Good luck Mr. Brady. I hope your decisions and actions are sound moving forward.