Patriots being investigated after Colts game (6 Viewers)

[Workhorse]

The league is in a MUCH tougher spot than Brady. How in the world are they going to defend any kind of due process when the folks pushing Goodell to uphold the suspension (the Colts and the Ravens) are the very same teams that assisted in this halfassed sting operation, were embarrassed by the Patriots in the playoffs, and also have the most to gain by a Brady-less Pats team in 2015?

 

[renesauz]

If I am the NFL, I call Brady's bluff and make him take them to court, where all of his texts and whatnot will come out, likely showing that he was complicit in some manner.

100% agree, he's bluffing.

But even if that's wrong there's no chance Brady will challenge the findings in court. He'll just challenge the procedure. The last thing Brady wants is to go through disclosure or have to choose between telling the truth or perjuring himself.

IMO most likely outcome is this is wrapped up just in time for the season to start. At some point you have to show your cards or fold.

If I am Brady's defense team, I would argue that "even if Brady knew" or "even if he somehow were found to have participated," it doesn't change that:

- The Wells report has more holes than Swiss cheese. The data for the AFCCG does not conclusively show the footballs were artifically deflated.

- The league has a history of giving people/teams warnings and not suspensions.

- The infraction fell under the auspices of an equipment violation, which historically has met with a minimal fine.

- Other teams have been caught in the act manipulating footballs and nothing happened to them.

- The league never gave a rat's ### about football inflation until the AFCCG.

- Refuing to turn over a cell phone = $50,000 fine, precident already set.

It is in Brady's best interest to drag this out, as it could take forever to play itself through the court system. With an injunction, Brady could continue to play. If he were to get hurt, if NE had already wrapped up a bye, if they hit an easy stretch in their schedule, Brady could snap his fingers and drop his lawsuit and take the penalty (especially if it was trimmed to one or two games). It IS NOT in his (or the team's) best intererst to have to sit at the start of the season. Strategically, there are other games that would not make as big an impact on NE's chances of winning or losing those games. And if he really wanted to, I don't think it would be that hard to get everything stretched out until after the season is over the way courts work.

I also am not fully aware of the rules / guidelines / laws with regard to providing access to a personal cell phone. It doesn't sound like there is a law that requires Brady to hand over his phone. Is there a clause in the CBA that states he MUST hand over his phone?

The bolded statement is ridiculous. There's a HUGE difference between wearing the wrong helmet or wrong colored socks and intentionally deflating footballs, so even if both are "equipment violations" they most certainly shouldn't have the same punishment.

Secondly, showing that footballs could be underinflated because of weather conditions is not the same thing as discovering someone INTENTIONALLY underinflated them. If the pressure in the balls was the only evidence, we'd be in a different situation altogether, but it isn't.

 

[Run It Up]

If I am the NFL, I call Brady's bluff and make him take them to court, where all of his texts and whatnot will come out, likely showing that he was complicit in some manner.

100% agree, he's bluffing.

But even if that's wrong there's no chance Brady will challenge the findings in court. He'll just challenge the procedure. The last thing Brady wants is to go through disclosure or have to choose between telling the truth or perjuring himself.

IMO most likely outcome is this is wrapped up just in time for the season to start. At some point you have to show your cards or fold.

If I am Brady's defense team, I would argue that "even if Brady knew" or "even if he somehow were found to have participated," it doesn't change that:

- The Wells report has more holes than Swiss cheese. The data for the AFCCG does not conclusively show the footballs were artifically deflated.

- The league has a history of giving people/teams warnings and not suspensions.

- The infraction fell under the auspices of an equipment violation, which historically has met with a minimal fine.

- Other teams have been caught in the act manipulating footballs and nothing happened to them.

- The league never gave a rat's ### about football inflation until the AFCCG.

- Refuing to turn over a cell phone = $50,000 fine, precident already set.

It is in Brady's best interest to drag this out, as it could take forever to play itself through the court system. With an injunction, Brady could continue to play. If he were to get hurt, if NE had already wrapped up a bye, if they hit an easy stretch in their schedule, Brady could snap his fingers and drop his lawsuit and take the penalty (especially if it was trimmed to one or two games). It IS NOT in his (or the team's) best intererst to have to sit at the start of the season. Strategically, there are other games that would not make as big an impact on NE's chances of winning or losing those games. And if he really wanted to, I don't think it would be that hard to get everything stretched out until after the season is over the way courts work.

I also am not fully aware of the rules / guidelines / laws with regard to providing access to a personal cell phone. It doesn't sound like there is a law that requires Brady to hand over his phone. Is there a clause in the CBA that states he MUST hand over his phone?

The bolded statement is ridiculous. There's a HUGE difference between wearing the wrong helmet or wrong colored socks and intentionally deflating footballs, so even if both are "equipment violations" they most certainly shouldn't have the same punishment.

Secondly, showing that footballs could be underinflated because of weather conditions is not the same thing as discovering someone INTENTIONALLY underinflated them. If the pressure in the balls was the only evidence, we'd be in a different situation altogether, but it isn't.

I believe he's referring to other teams altering footballs and things like stickum and vaseline.

 

[JIslander]

"embarrassed" the Ravens? That's laughable

 

[Run It Up]

"embarrassed" the Ravens? That's laughable

How do you figure?

 

[HobbesAB]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4782832/espns-sal-paolantonio-shares-deflategate-viewpoint-highlights-how-nfl-in-tough-spot

Sal Pal has some interesting insight on this:

"Your old man used to say what? If you don't know what to do, do nothing. I think behind the scenes they don't know what to do. The bottom line is that the NFL's attorneys have most likely, from what I've been told, gone to the commissioner and said, 'We can't come up with a ruling that is defensible in court.' The NFL, I believe, thinks it's going to lose in court. And if they can't come up with a ruling on this appeal that is defensible in court, then they are going to look awful silly.

 

[Old Smiley]

ProFootballTalk ‏@ProFootballTalk 7h7 hours ago

Owner lobbying undermines Goodell's independence in Brady appeal, creates another issue for the inevitable lawsuit http://wp.me/p14QSB-9OjH

If a truly independent party were handling Brady’s appeal, any effort by an owner to lobby the arbitrator (one way or the other) would be highly irregular — and it would result in the arbitrator informing the parties immediately of an inappropriate attempt to influence the outcome of the independent decision.

Earlier this year, the Missouri Supreme Court found that the Commissioner can’t be independent in arbitration cases involving legal claims filed against individual teams because he works for the people who own those teams. That same dynamic applies in Brady’s case.

Goodell works for the owners, and some of the owners reportedly are trying to influence him. Which should make the extent to which Irsay, Bisciotti, or any other owners have lobbied Goodell to reach a certain decision in the Brady appeal a central issue in the looming litigation challenging the ultimate outcome of Brady’s appeal.

Although the NFLPA has agreed to allow Goodell to resolve these appeals, the union and the players are entitled to a truly independent decision. If one or more owners aren’t letting Goodell make a truly independent decision, the decision becomes vulnerable to being scuttled by a a truly independent person who wears black not as a fashion statement.

 

[JIslander]

"embarrassed" the Ravens? That's laughable

How do you figure?

 

[JIslander]

Forever insufferable. Pat's cheat to get to Superbowl; shouldn't have won, and consider 35-31, winning on last play of game an "embarrassment" of Ravens. Still laughing.

 

[Ghost Rider]

I am pretty sure Run It Up is just trolling with that comment, since you'd have to be an idiot to think that the Ravens were embarrassed in that game.

 

[Run It Up]

Uh the Pats came back from a 14 point deficit twice, first time ever in the post season.

Including a play in which 4 white guys touched the ball in less than 10 seconds when Edelman threw a td to Amendola in which Suggs completely gave up on the play and watched it happen.

Then when it was all over all Harbaww had to say was how the Pats cheated and used intentional deception with their shell game drives.

It doesn't get funnier then that.

 

[Old Smiley]

My Pats defense PTSD flared up the way they were running on us.

Edit: But, McDaniels was brilliant in that game. Both the trick play and the eligible/ineligible stuff. Nothing left in the playbook. No "We do what we do." Just "Let's win this ####er."

 

[Jercules]

Uh the Pats came back from a 14 point deficit twice, first time ever in the post season.

Including a play in which 4 white guys touched the ball in less than 10 seconds when Edelman threw a td to Amendola in which Suggs completely gave up on the play and watched it happen.

Then when it was all over all Harbaww had to say was how the Pats cheated and used intentional deception with their shell game drives.

It doesn't get funnier then that.

I lost a lot of respect for the Ravens after that, Harbaugh in particular (obviously).

They're a tough, solid team, the only one in the NFL that has had the Pats' number in the playoffs (to a degree: it's 2-2).

Harbaugh's not an idiot, he knows there's an opinion about the Patriots out there. He had no problem feeding into that narrative by suggesting there was something nefarious about those formations when in fact they were perfectly legal.

It's a little like that Houston DE from some time back (something Smith), who suggested something dirty happened because the Patriots made good halftime adjustments and beat the Texans.

Jerks like this who can't handle the Pats on the field now have free rein to make insinuations to the media, and build the case for the next equipment violation that Goodell can hang us for.

John Harbaugh was a special teams coach who got the opportunity of a lifetime in Baltimore largely because of a positive reference from Bill Belichick.

POS.

 

[JIslander]

*

 

[Jercules]

*

Lol, probably not the defense of his character John Harbaugh was looking for.

 

[JIslander]

I'm still lol about the embarrassment comment.

You all brought up Harbaugh not me. But now that you brought it up, the truth is in playoff's, Harbugh AND Flacco have out coached and played BB and Brady. Y'all are a Lee Evans drop and Torrey Smith no play away from not moving on. Get a grip on your insufferableness.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I like how the Patriots got caught cheating and yet it's their opponents' characters who need defending because reasons.

 

[Jercules]

I'm still lol about the embarrassment comment.

You all brought up Harbaugh not me. But now that you brought it up, the truth is in playoff's, Harbugh AND Flacco have out coached and played BB and Brady. Y'all are a Lee Evans drop and Torrey Smith no play away from not moving on. Get a grip on your insufferableness.

I said it was 2-2.

Evans didn't drop that pass, Sterling Moore punched it out.

Flacco killed you guys with that late interception.

But again, well done, no one outside of Giants fans can say that much.

I like how the Patriots got caught cheating and yet it's their opponents' characters who need defending because reasons.

I thought I made it pretty clear why Harbaugh is a creep, but if slightly deflated footballs are a bigger deal to you...

 

[DropKick]

Forever insufferable. Pat's cheat to get to Superbowl; shouldn't have won, and consider 35-31, winning on last play of game an "embarrassment" of Ravens. Still laughing.

This is the type of hypocrisy that kills me...

Were you apologizing for a SB win in 2012 after the late game defensive break-down by the Broncos allowed the Ravens to advance? I didn't think so.

 

[The General]

This is the week we get the ruling I think. This thread needs some new info, been in a serious loop where it just repeats itself every few pages for about 100 pages now.

 

[Old Smiley]

Once you're down to the last few games, I think there's a lot of luck involved every which way.

And, yeah. Pulling out that eligible/ineligible stuff was no-tomorrow playcalling. It was brilliant.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Forever insufferable. Pat's cheat to get to Superbowl; shouldn't have won, and consider 35-31, winning on last play of game an "embarrassment" of Ravens. Still laughing.

This is the type of hypocrisy that kills me...

Were you apologizing for a SB win in 2012 after the late game defensive break-down by the Broncos allowed the Ravens to advance? I didn't think so.

I doubt he was dumb enough to say the Ravens embarrassed the Broncos. Losing 45-7 in a playoff game is an embarrassment; losing 35-31 is not.

 

[JIslander]

Forever insufferable. Pat's cheat to get to Superbowl; shouldn't have won, and consider 35-31, winning on last play of game an "embarrassment" of Ravens. Still laughing.

This is the type of hypocrisy that kills me...

Were you apologizing for a SB win in 2012 after the late game defensive break-down by the Broncos allowed the Ravens to advance? I didn't think so.

Lol. Seriously, you want to pick on the Ravens and talk about "hyprocacy" ?? This thread is all about the hyprocacy of YOUR cheating team. Live with it.

 

[Jercules]

Forever insufferable. Pat's cheat to get to Superbowl; shouldn't have won, and consider 35-31, winning on last play of game an "embarrassment" of Ravens. Still laughing.

This is the type of hypocrisy that kills me...

Were you apologizing for a SB win in 2012 after the late game defensive break-down by the Broncos allowed the Ravens to advance? I didn't think so.

Lol. Seriously, you want to pick on the Ravens and talk about "hyprocacy" ?? This thread is all about the hyprocacy of YOUR cheating team. Live with it.

"Hyprocacy"? Am I missing something? This guy isn't really this stupid is he?

 

[IvanKaramazov]

at "hyprocacy." It makes me smile inside to imagine that he goes around pronouncing it that way.

 

[Workhorse]

Forever insufferable. Pat's cheat to get to Superbowl; shouldn't have won, and consider 35-31, winning on last play of game an "embarrassment" of Ravens. Still laughing.

This is the type of hypocrisy that kills me...

Were you apologizing for a SB win in 2012 after the late game defensive break-down by the Broncos allowed the Ravens to advance? I didn't think so.

I doubt he was dumb enough to say the Ravens embarrassed the Broncos. Losing 45-7 in a playoff game is an embarrassment; losing 35-31 is not.

Yeah, nothing embarrassing about this post-game presser from Harbaugh:

"We wanted an opportunity to be able to identify who the eligible players were," Harbaugh explained, "because what they were doing was they would announce the eligible player and Tom (Brady) would take it to the line right away and snap the ball before (we) even figured out who was lined up where. And that was the deception part of it. It was clearly deception.

"The officials told me after that they would give us the opportunity to do that, which they probably should have done during that series but they really didn't understand what was happening. I had to go take the penalty to get their attention so they can understand what was going on."

 

[Old Smiley]

Kevin Seifert ‏@SeifertESPN 1h1 hour ago

#NFL tacitly admits deficiencies in ball inflation policy. Doesn’t that undermine case vs. Tom Brady? Inside Slant: http://es.pn/1LNwO7D

Keeps on giving.

 

[DropKick]

Forever insufferable. Pat's cheat to get to Superbowl; shouldn't have won, and consider 35-31, winning on last play of game an "embarrassment" of Ravens. Still laughing.

This is the type of hypocrisy that kills me...

Were you apologizing for a SB win in 2012 after the late game defensive break-down by the Broncos allowed the Ravens to advance? I didn't think so.

Lol. Seriously, you want to pick on the Ravens and talk about "hyprocacy" ?? This thread is all about the hyprocacy of YOUR cheating team. Live with it.

Dolphin fan since 1971, but you don't hear me whine about the Snowplow Game.

Other than not liking Ray Lewis as a person, I have no issue with the Ravens. Nor do I think they were embarrassed in the play-offs. I was pointing out the hypocrisy of your statement.

What did Parcells say? "You are what your record says you are"

 

[DropKick]

Kevin Seifert ‏@SeifertESPN 1h1 hour ago

#NFL tacitly admits deficiencies in ball inflation policy. Doesn’t that undermine case vs. Tom Brady? Inside Slant: http://es.pn/1LNwO7D

Keeps on giving.

I've tried to introduce the role of the officials into the discussion but no one wants to discuss it objectively. You can't bring anything into this discussion without it being interpreted as some type of defense.

These changes fall into the "how do we stop this from happening again" arena. In other words, its a reaction to deflategate. It's not the cause. Personally, I don't see it benefiting Brady as much as the author suggests.

 

[Burl]

Kevin Seifert ‏@SeifertESPN 1h1 hour ago

#NFL tacitly admits deficiencies in ball inflation policy. Doesn’t that undermine case vs. Tom Brady? Inside Slant: http://es.pn/1LNwO7D

Keeps on giving.

I've tried to introduce the role of the officials into the discussion but no one wants to discuss it objectively. You can't bring anything into this discussion without it being interpreted as some type of defense.

These changes fall into the "how do we stop this from happening again" arena. In other words, its a reaction to deflategate. It's not the cause. Personally, I don't see it benefiting Brady as much as the author suggests.

I don't see how it undermines the case against Brady at all. It just shows that the league was naive to think nobody would actually go to such brazen lengths to alter a football after inspection by the officials. It's no different than McDonalds being forced to put "CAUTION HOT" on the outside of their coffee cups. We don't have all these warning labels and all inclusive company policies for the smart people...

 

[DropKick]

Kevin Seifert ‏@SeifertESPN 1h1 hour ago

#NFL tacitly admits deficiencies in ball inflation policy. Doesn’t that undermine case vs. Tom Brady? Inside Slant: http://es.pn/1LNwO7D

Keeps on giving.

I've tried to introduce the role of the officials into the discussion but no one wants to discuss it objectively. You can't bring anything into this discussion without it being interpreted as some type of defense.

These changes fall into the "how do we stop this from happening again" arena. In other words, its a reaction to deflategate. It's not the cause. Personally, I don't see it benefiting Brady as much as the author suggests.

I don't see how it undermines the case against Brady at all. It just shows that the league was naive to think nobody would actually go to such brazen lengths to alter a football after inspection by the officials. It's no different than McDonalds being forced to put "CAUTION HOT" on the outside of their coffee cups. We don't have all these warning labels and all inclusive company policies for the smart people...

So, we're in agreement?

 

[Burl]

Kevin Seifert ‏@SeifertESPN 1h1 hour ago

#NFL tacitly admits deficiencies in ball inflation policy. Doesn’t that undermine case vs. Tom Brady? Inside Slant: http://es.pn/1LNwO7D

Keeps on giving.

I've tried to introduce the role of the officials into the discussion but no one wants to discuss it objectively. You can't bring anything into this discussion without it being interpreted as some type of defense.

These changes fall into the "how do we stop this from happening again" arena. In other words, its a reaction to deflategate. It's not the cause. Personally, I don't see it benefiting Brady as much as the author suggests.

I don't see how it undermines the case against Brady at all. It just shows that the league was naive to think nobody would actually go to such brazen lengths to alter a football after inspection by the officials. It's no different than McDonalds being forced to put "CAUTION HOT" on the outside of their coffee cups. We don't have all these warning labels and all inclusive company policies for the smart people...

So, we're in agreement?

I'd say so.

 

[DropKick]

Kevin Seifert ‏@SeifertESPN 1h1 hour ago

#NFL tacitly admits deficiencies in ball inflation policy. Doesn’t that undermine case vs. Tom Brady? Inside Slant: http://es.pn/1LNwO7D

Keeps on giving.

I've tried to introduce the role of the officials into the discussion but no one wants to discuss it objectively. You can't bring anything into this discussion without it being interpreted as some type of defense.

These changes fall into the "how do we stop this from happening again" arena. In other words, its a reaction to deflategate. It's not the cause. Personally, I don't see it benefiting Brady as much as the author suggests.

I don't see how it undermines the case against Brady at all. It just shows that the league was naive to think nobody would actually go to such brazen lengths to alter a football after inspection by the officials. It's no different than McDonalds being forced to put "CAUTION HOT" on the outside of their coffee cups. We don't have all these warning labels and all inclusive company policies for the smart people...

So, we're in agreement?

I'd say so.

With the caveat that I've had some McD's coffees that were volcanic.

 

[JIslander]

at "hyprocacy." It makes me smile inside to imagine that he goes around pronouncing it that way.

hey, at least I was consistent (too much wine)

 

[JIslander]

Forever insufferable. Pat's cheat to get to Superbowl; shouldn't have won, and consider 35-31, winning on last play of game an "embarrassment" of Ravens. Still laughing.

This is the type of hypocrisy that kills me...

Were you apologizing for a SB win in 2012 after the late game defensive break-down by the Broncos allowed the Ravens to advance? I didn't think so.

Lol. Seriously, you want to pick on the Ravens and talk about "hyprocacy" ?? This thread is all about the hyprocacy of YOUR cheating team. Live with it.

Dolphin fan since 1971, but you don't hear me whine about the Snowplow Game.

Other than not liking Ray Lewis as a person, I have no issue with the Ravens. Nor do I think they were embarrassed in the play-offs. I was pointing out the hypocrisy of your statement.

What did Parcells say? "You are what your record says you are"

agreed

 

[JIslander]

Forever insufferable. Pat's cheat to get to Superbowl; shouldn't have won, and consider 35-31, winning on last play of game an "embarrassment" of Ravens. Still laughing.

This is the type of hypocrisy that kills me...

Were you apologizing for a SB win in 2012 after the late game defensive break-down by the Broncos allowed the Ravens to advance? I didn't think so.

I doubt he was dumb enough to say the Ravens embarrassed the Broncos. Losing 45-7 in a playoff game is an embarrassment; losing 35-31 is not.

Yeah, nothing embarrassing about this post-game presser from Harbaugh:

"We wanted an opportunity to be able to identify who the eligible players were," Harbaugh explained, "because what they were doing was they would announce the eligible player and Tom (Brady) would take it to the line right away and snap the ball before (we) even figured out who was lined up where. And that was the deception part of it. It was clearly deception.

"The officials told me after that they would give us the opportunity to do that, which they probably should have done during that series but they really didn't understand what was happening. I had to go take the penalty to get their attention so they can understand what was going on."

and now those shenanigans arent allowed.

 

[Ojaays]

This is the week we get the ruling I think. This thread needs some new info, been in a serious loop where it just repeats itself every few pages for about 100 pages now.

No, this is really good the way it's been going, I say let's let it lay for another month.

 

[BroadwayG]

It will be great this winter when the random game balls start measuring 10.5 - 11 psi at halftime. There will be no 1st round of the draft with all the punishment that will be going on. Goodell will be happily cackling himself to sleep with all the billions in fines he'll collect.

 

[apalmer]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4782832/espns-sal-paolantonio-shares-deflategate-viewpoint-highlights-how-nfl-in-tough-spot

Sal Pal has some interesting insight on this:

"Your old man used to say what? If you don't know what to do, do nothing. I think behind the scenes they don't know what to do. The bottom line is that the NFL's attorneys have most likely, from what I've been told, gone to the commissioner and said, 'We can't come up with a ruling that is defensible in court.' The NFL, I believe, thinks it's going to lose in court. And if they can't come up with a ruling on this appeal that is defensible in court, then they are going to look awful silly.

Does that same rationale apply to Le'Veon Bell's appeal? I mean, he and the Steelers have been waiting much longer than Brady and the Pats. So, can we assume that the League also can't come up with a ruling on him that's defensible in court?

 

[Old Smiley]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4782832/espns-sal-paolantonio-shares-deflategate-viewpoint-highlights-how-nfl-in-tough-spot

Sal Pal has some interesting insight on this:

"Your old man used to say what? If you don't know what to do, do nothing. I think behind the scenes they don't know what to do. The bottom line is that the NFL's attorneys have most likely, from what I've been told, gone to the commissioner and said, 'We can't come up with a ruling that is defensible in court.' The NFL, I believe, thinks it's going to lose in court. And if they can't come up with a ruling on this appeal that is defensible in court, then they are going to look awful silly.

Does that same rationale apply to Le'Veon Bell's appeal? I mean, he and the Steelers have been waiting much longer than Brady and the Pats. So, can we assume that the League also can't come up with a ruling on him that's defensible in court?

Are you trying to trick me into saying Bell's NOT getting screwed?

 

[Leaping Lenny Poffo]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4782832/espns-sal-paolantonio-shares-deflategate-viewpoint-highlights-how-nfl-in-tough-spot

Sal Pal has some interesting insight on this:

"Your old man used to say what? If you don't know what to do, do nothing. I think behind the scenes they don't know what to do. The bottom line is that the NFL's attorneys have most likely, from what I've been told, gone to the commissioner and said, 'We can't come up with a ruling that is defensible in court.' The NFL, I believe, thinks it's going to lose in court. And if they can't come up with a ruling on this appeal that is defensible in court, then they are going to look awful silly.

Does that same rationale apply to Le'Veon Bell's appeal? I mean, he and the Steelers have been waiting much longer than Brady and the Pats. So, can we assume that the League also can't come up with a ruling on him that's defensible in court?

I don't think the NFL has even had the appeal hearing for Bell yet.

 

[Godsbrother]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4782832/espns-sal-paolantonio-shares-deflategate-viewpoint-highlights-how-nfl-in-tough-spot

Sal Pal has some interesting insight on this:

"Your old man used to say what? If you don't know what to do, do nothing. I think behind the scenes they don't know what to do. The bottom line is that the NFL's attorneys have most likely, from what I've been told, gone to the commissioner and said, 'We can't come up with a ruling that is defensible in court.' The NFL, I believe, thinks it's going to lose in court. And if they can't come up with a ruling on this appeal that is defensible in court, then they are going to look awful silly.

Does that same rationale apply to Le'Veon Bell's appeal? I mean, he and the Steelers have been waiting much longer than Brady and the Pats. So, can we assume that the League also can't come up with a ruling on him that's defensible in court?

I don't think the NFL has even had the appeal hearing for Bell yet.

They haven't. It makes me wonder how the league office operates. I suppose they are delaying the appeal for as long as possible to see if he can behave himself in the meantime?

Other than that it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to delay it.

 

[DropKick]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4782832/espns-sal-paolantonio-shares-deflategate-viewpoint-highlights-how-nfl-in-tough-spot

Sal Pal has some interesting insight on this:

"Your old man used to say what? If you don't know what to do, do nothing. I think behind the scenes they don't know what to do. The bottom line is that the NFL's attorneys have most likely, from what I've been told, gone to the commissioner and said, 'We can't come up with a ruling that is defensible in court.' The NFL, I believe, thinks it's going to lose in court. And if they can't come up with a ruling on this appeal that is defensible in court, then they are going to look awful silly.

Does that same rationale apply to Le'Veon Bell's appeal? I mean, he and the Steelers have been waiting much longer than Brady and the Pats. So, can we assume that the League also can't come up with a ruling on him that's defensible in court?

I don't think the NFL has even had the appeal hearing for Bell yet.

They haven't. It makes me wonder how the league office operates. I suppose they are delaying the appeal for as long as possible to see if he can behave himself in the meantime?

Other than that it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to delay it.

On a related note, what are hearing about Bell's knee?

 

[BigSteelThrill]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4782832/espns-sal-paolantonio-shares-deflategate-viewpoint-highlights-how-nfl-in-tough-spot

Sal Pal has some interesting insight on this:

"Your old man used to say what? If you don't know what to do, do nothing. I think behind the scenes they don't know what to do. The bottom line is that the NFL's attorneys have most likely, from what I've been told, gone to the commissioner and said, 'We can't come up with a ruling that is defensible in court.' The NFL, I believe, thinks it's going to lose in court. And if they can't come up with a ruling on this appeal that is defensible in court, then they are going to look awful silly.

Does that same rationale apply to Le'Veon Bell's appeal? I mean, he and the Steelers have been waiting much longer than Brady and the Pats. So, can we assume that the League also can't come up with a ruling on him that's defensible in court?

I don't think the NFL has even had the appeal hearing for Bell yet.

They haven't. It makes me wonder how the league office operates. I suppose they are delaying the appeal for as long as possible to see if he can behave himself in the meantime?

Other than that it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to delay it.

On a related note, what are hearing about Bell's knee?

Today...

Le'Veon Bell looked noticeably explosive. He says he's in the best shape of his life, and he's not lying.

Stutter steps. Change-of-pace runs. Straight-line speed. Watching Bell run is like one big tease for the Steelers, who can't play him until Week 4 because of his marijuana suspension.

Bell's right knee injury, which kept him out of a playoff loss to Baltimore, still needs additional pre-practice stretching and isn't completely the same as the left one.

But this is the best Bell has felt in a while, he said. If he had to play today, he could.

 

[Faust]

Inside Football: What's taking so long for a Deflategate decision?

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/25251211/inside-football-whats-taking-so-long-for-a-deflategate-decision

 

[MattFancy]

Stephen A Smith is saying that he heard Brady destroyed his cell phone. I'd say take it with a huge grain of salt, but since it's Stephen A, I'm assuming everyone already is

 

[Workhorse]

Stephen A Smith is saying that he heard Brady destroyed his cell phone. I'd say take it with a huge grain of salt, but since it's Stephen A, I'm assuming everyone already is

His actual quote was "I'm hearing that Brady destroyed his cell phone...but I don't know."

Beyond worthless.

 

[DaveL]

Probably false, but no doubt some ppl will say the NFL is leaking stuff again

 

[MattFancy]

Stephen A Smith is saying that he heard Brady destroyed his cell phone. I'd say take it with a huge grain of salt, but since it's Stephen A, I'm assuming everyone already is

His actual quote was "I'm hearing that Brady destroyed his cell phone...but I don't know."

Beyond worthless.

"Guys, I'm hearing the world could end today...but I don't know"

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Appearing on ESPN, Stephen A. Smith said the NFL will announce Tom Brady's four-game suspension has been upheld within the next 24-48 hours.
Stephen A. is not the kind of media personality we like to cite for breaking news. But Adam Schefter also opined similarly Tuesday morning, saying the NFL doesn't feel "inclined to budge much" and adding he expects the suspension to stay at four games. Making an announcement before the Patriots open training camp Thursday is only fair. Brady and the NFLPA won't go down without a fight though, as they'll likely sue the NFL in court and try to get Brady on the field Week 1. Roger Goodell knew that, giving him zero incentive to look weak and reduce the ban.

Source: Ben Volin on Twitter
Jul 28 - 10:08