the shooting at Tom Brady's wedding (1 Viewer)

[fatness]

I didn't see this posted; apologies if it has been. We do threads on other shooting incidents involving NFL players. Now Brady gets one.

Tom Brady agent says security guards patrolling Gisele Bundchen’s compound claim to know nothing about a shot that barely missed two photographers, but police in Costa Rica yesterday launched a “full investigation” into the wedding-day gunfire. “I have no knowledge of the events being described,” the usually elusive Don Yee told the Associated Press. “Additionally, security personnel have reported they do not have any knowledge of such an event. Given this, I have no other comment.”

But Mario Sanchez of Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency told People that a report was filed on the incident and an investigation is set to begin. Sanchez said authorities will bring charges against the security guards if the evidence is solid. He added that Brady and Bundchen likely would not be held responsible for any actions by their guards. Still, police hope to interview everyone who was present the night of the incident, the magazine said.

As you know, the New England Patriot’s second wedding to the Brazilian glamazon was marred by gunfire Saturday when, the paparazzi say, security guards hired to keep them away fired a bullet through a photographer’s car, barely missing two men inside.

Cameraman Yuri Cortez, the Central American bureau chief of Agence France Presse, told People he was approached by “an American security guard,” when he returned to his car after taking pictures of the wedding. He said the guard demanded his camera and memory card. Cortez, who said he was shooting from a neighbor’s property - with the permission of the owner - refused.

Several other security guards arrived on the scene, Cortez said, at which point, the photographer started walking away. “One of them grabbed my arm and pulled it behind my back,” he said. “He grabbed my backpack too. And he told me that I couldn’t leave.”

The group was then joined by a man who said he was Brady’s “best friend,” Cortez said. Photographer Rolando Aviles, who was with Cortez, told the New York Post that the unidentified man said “Tom Brady just wants to talk to you. It’s OK, nothing’s going to happen.”

The photographers followed the guards back to Gisele’s house where they were swarmed by “three members of the wedding party and five hired goons dressed all in black,” the Post reported. Brady’s best man berated the photographers and wanted to provoke a brawl, Aviles said.

“Take a picture of me now, you (bleep)! (Bleep) you!” said Brady’s unidentified pal.

“He was very angry. It looked like he wanted to attack us,” Aviles told the newspaper.

The photographers managed to talk their way out of the mess, claiming they hadn’t gotten any photos. As they drove away, Aviles said he spotted one of the men pull a pistol. A 38-caliber bullet shattered the back of Cortez’s SUV, bounced off the windshield and landed between the two terrified photographers.

“I didn’t see who had the gun,” Cortez told People. “I’ve been shot at before, but only when I was covering the war in Iraq or when I was in Israel. This is ridiculous!”

Boston Herald

 

[Donnybrook]

The photographers managed to talk their way out of the mess, claiming they hadn’t gotten any photos. As they drove away, Aviles said he spotted one of the men pull a pistol. A 38-caliber bullet shattered the back of Cortez’s SUV, bounced off the windshield and landed between the two terrified photographers.

Boston Herald

Wow. Is that even possible? You would think it would penetrate both panes of glass.

 

[SuperJohn96]

The photographers managed to talk their way out of the mess, claiming they hadn’t gotten any photos. As they drove away, Aviles said he spotted one of the men pull a pistol. A 38-caliber bullet shattered the back of Cortez’s SUV, bounced off the windshield and landed between the two terrified photographers.

Boston Herald

Wow. Is that even possible? You would think it would penetrate both planes of glass.

FWIW, it was the exact bullet used to kill JFK.It can do whatever it wants.

 

[Dexter Manley]

I'm doubt if this will lead to any games missed by Brady. Having said that, however, obviously Goodell needs to have a talk with him.

 

[Art_VanDalay]

I find this situation very interesting from a legal perspective for the NFL. I know many of my football friends have always said that with all the money many of these players receive, why don't they hire people to "keep them in line" and get them out of situations that could escalate into a problem. However, in a case like this, where bodyguards may have allegedly roughed up or worse, fired a shot at photographers on Mr. Brady's behalf, how will the league view this sort of conduct? Goodell has taken an obviously hard line, no nonsense stand with the more obvious situations but here, we are essentially asking if Tom Brady should be held vicariously liable for the actions of people either in his employ or acting on his behalf? The Commissioner's decision may have future ramifications given the slippery slope. If he disciplines Brady, then you have now opened the door for disciplining players for not only their actions but the actions of others acting on their behalf. Assuming he does take some action (most likely no suspension but something punitive) it makes me think that the outcomes in the Ray Lewis or Denver CB (forgot his name) situations may have had different outcomes under Goodell. Of course, if nothing is done and the statement is that Tom Brady had nothing to do with what transpired between the photographers and his bodyguards, it may send a signal to other players to hire bodyguards and have them take care of the incidents they run into at clubs, etc., without facing the consequences from the league office. Maybe I am the only one that sees this as an interesting and difficult situation Goodell may find himself in but I am interested to hear others responses.

 

[Adebisi]

I'm doubt if this will lead to any games missed by Brady. Having said that, however, obviously Goodell needs to have a talk with him.

You're are kidding here... right?

 

[TitusIII]

I'm doubt if this will lead to any games missed by Brady. Having said that, however, obviously Goodell needs to have a talk with him.

You're are kidding here... right?

Why would he be? Brady hired these guys, and they did something stupid.

 

[S.K.A.]

The photographers managed to talk their way out of the mess, claiming they hadn’t gotten any photos. As they drove away, Aviles said he spotted one of the men pull a pistol. A 38-caliber bullet shattered the back of Cortez’s SUV, bounced off the windshield and landed between the two terrified photographers.

Boston Herald

Wow. Is that even possible? You would think it would penetrate both planes of glass.

FWIW, it was the exact bullet used to kill JFK.It can do whatever it wants.

I liked it.

 

[Dexter Manley]

I'm doubt if this will lead to any games missed by Brady. Having said that, however, obviously Goodell needs to have a talk with him.

You're are kidding here... right?

No, I'm dead serious. Have you not been following the NFL the last few years since Goodell took over?

 

[switz]

I'm doubt if this will lead to any games missed by Brady. Having said that, however, obviously Goodell needs to have a talk with him.

You're are kidding here... right?

Is Brady somehow untouchable?I think what Michael Vick did was disgusting, and he deserves every last consequence. But hiring people who shoot at someone is somehow not even something the commissioner should even talk to the player about?

Double standards here at all?

 

[Dexter Manley]

I'm really curious to see how Goodell handles this. I know that I'm on the minority on this board, as I've been staunchly against Goodell suspending any players who haven't actually been convicted of a crime or crimes. One of the major reasons for this is it leads to a very slippery slope, and if Goodell isn't consistent with how he handles different players' incidents, he loses A LOT of credibility. As more facts leak out about the Brady shooting incident it will be very interesting to see what Goodell does.

Ironically, the most comparable incident to this I can think of is the Pacman strip club shooting. Obviously, Brady has many more things going in his favor than Pacman did:

- Brady is squeaky clean and hasn't previously had any trouble with the police.

- The precusor to the Brady shooting was his wedding, while the precursor to the Pacman shooting was an all out brawl in the strip club which Pacman partook in and likely incited.

- Fortunately, no one was actually shot, let alone paralyzed, during the Brady incident. In the Pacman shooting, a bouncer was shot and paralyzed.

The one major thing not in Brady's favor:

- This is a much more high profile shooting than the Pacman thing. Brady is married to Giselle and they are one of the most famous celebrity couples on the planet. Most women know who Tom Brady is, even the ones who don't watch football. No one knew who Pacman was or cared about him other than NFL fans and some college football fans. The only non-football watching women who knew who Pacman was were the strippers at the clubs he frequented.

There are also a couple of wildcard factors here:

- Brady had hired security who was responsible for the shooting, while Pacman had one of his buddies/acquaintances do the shooting. I would think that this would be at least a slight advantage for Brady, but who knows.

- The Brady shooting occurred in another country, while the Pacman shooting occurred in the USA. This may possibly be in Brady's favor.

In conclusion, I think that the end result will be that Brady has to talk to Goodell, and he is only given a 'bad mark' on his personal conduct record, after assuring Goodell that nothing like this will happen again. I would be shocked if Brady is actually suspended for any games over this.

 

[ScottyFargo]

I doubt that Tom Brady told or implied to his body guards that they should shoot at photographers if they manage to take pics (wouldn't put it past Giselle Bundchen though), but they might have been paid well to be pretty vigorous. Or they're simply not the best body guards and one guy went way too far and fired a fun at someone when he had absolutely no right to.

Either way, I imagine that Goodell will speak with Brady, and that he will recieve absolutely no punishment because it was a hired hand who made the bad decision. Unless there's an investigation that shows Tom Brady telling these workers of his to be specifically rough on photographers I don't think anything will come of it.

 

[Adebisi]

I'm doubt if this will lead to any games missed by Brady. Having said that, however, obviously Goodell needs to have a talk with him.

You're are kidding here... right?

Why would he be? Brady hired these guys, and they did something stupid.

Really? Where did you read that Brady hired these guys? This link says that they were Gisele's bodyguards. Have you heard something to the contrary?You guys are really, really reaching here.

 

[Adebisi]

I'm doubt if this will lead to any games missed by Brady. Having said that, however, obviously Goodell needs to have a talk with him.

You're are kidding here... right?

Is Brady somehow untouchable?I think what Michael Vick did was disgusting, and he deserves every last consequence. But hiring people who shoot at someone is somehow not even something the commissioner should even talk to the player about?

Double standards here at all?

No, just a few posters desperately trying to find something to criticize Brady about. His supermodel wife's bodyguards shoot at someone, but this equates to Brady "hiring people who shoot at someone?"Give me a break.

 

[TLEF316]

Is Brady somehow untouchable?

Yes. Unless he actually pulled the trigger on camera, he'd be fine.

 

[Dexter Manley]

I'm doubt if this will lead to any games missed by Brady. Having said that, however, obviously Goodell needs to have a talk with him.

You're are kidding here... right?

Why would he be? Brady hired these guys, and they did something stupid.

Really? Where did you read that Brady hired these guys? This link says that they were Gisele's bodyguards. Have you heard something to the contrary?

Yes I have. It's in the OP. And it also appears Brady's best man is at the center of this thing. I would be extremely surprised, to say the least, if Brady gave these guys the go ahead to fire shots at the photographers. You have to be pretty naive or in complete denial, however, to think that Brady wasn't on board with his hired goons intimidating and threatening the photogs.

But Mario Sanchez of Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency told People that a report was filed on the incident and an investigation is set to begin. Sanchez said authorities will bring charges against the security guards if the evidence is solid. He added that Brady and Bundchen likely would not be held responsible for any actions by their guards. Still, police hope to interview everyone who was present the night of the incident, the magazine said.

As you know, the New England Patriot’s second wedding to the Brazilian glamazon was marred by gunfire Saturday when, the paparazzi say, security guards hired to keep them away fired a bullet through a photographer’s car, barely missing two men inside.

Cameraman Yuri Cortez, the Central American bureau chief of Agence France Presse, told People he was approached by “an American security guard,” when he returned to his car after taking pictures of the wedding. He said the guard demanded his camera and memory card. Cortez, who said he was shooting from a neighbor’s property - with the permission of the owner - refused.

Several other security guards arrived on the scene, Cortez said, at which point, the photographer started walking away. “One of them grabbed my arm and pulled it behind my back,” he said. “He grabbed my backpack too. And he told me that I couldn’t leave.”

The group was then joined by a man who said he was Brady’s “best friend,” Cortez said. Photographer Rolando Aviles, who was with Cortez, told the New York Post that the unidentified man said “Tom Brady just wants to talk to you. It’s OK, nothing’s going to happen.”

The photographers followed the guards back to Gisele’s house where they were swarmed by “three members of the wedding party and five hired goons dressed all in black,” the Post reported. Brady’s best man berated the photographers and wanted to provoke a brawl, Aviles said.

“Take a picture of me now, you (bleep)! (Bleep) you!” said Brady’s unidentified pal.

“He was very angry. It looked like he wanted to attack us,” Aviles told the newspaper.

 

[Adebisi]

Yes I have. It's in the OP. And it also appears Brady's best man is at the center of this thing. I would be extremely surprised, to say the least, if Brady gave these guys the go ahead to fire shots at the photographers. You have to be pretty naive or in complete denial, however, to think that Brady wasn't on board with his hired goons intimidating and threatening the photogs.

Right. Because Tom Brady has a long and storied history of lashing out at the press. ETA: I just realized that the link in the OP is from The Inside Track from The Boston Herald.

 

[Dexter Manley]

Yes I have. It's in the OP. And it also appears Brady's best man is at the center of this thing. I would be extremely surprised, to say the least, if Brady gave these guys the go ahead to fire shots at the photographers. You have to be pretty naive or in complete denial, however, to think that Brady wasn't on board with his hired goons intimidating and threatening the photogs.

Right. Because Tom Brady has a long and storied history of lashing out at the press. ETA: I just realized that the link in the OP is from The Inside Track from The Boston Herald.

Brady's best man being in the center of this thing is a HUGE red flag. I'm guessing someone brought it to Tom and Giselle's attention that there were photographers trying to get pics. Surely, at least Giselle was pretty upset about this, and if Brady is like any guy I know, he definitely wanted to make his wife happy on her wedding day. His best man then did his job, along with the other 4 members of the wedding party, and told them "We'll take care of it." That's my hypothesis, which seems quite reasonable. I seriously doubt Brady told his hired guards to shoot at them.

 

[PitbullTD]

Tom Brady = The new Vito Corleone

 

[Ron_Mexico]

Is Brady somehow untouchable?

Yes. Unless he actually pulled the trigger on camera, he'd be fine.

Was Brady's finger actually pulling the trigger or merely wrapping around the trigger ?Can't judge intent.

 

[Adebisi]

Yes I have. It's in the OP. And it also appears Brady's best man is at the center of this thing.

I would be extremely surprised, to say the least, if Brady gave these guys the go ahead to fire shots at the photographers. You have to be pretty naive or in complete denial, however, to think that Brady wasn't on board with his hired goons intimidating and threatening the photogs.

Right. Because Tom Brady has a long and storied history of lashing out at the press. ETA: I just realized that the link in the OP is from The Inside Track from The Boston Herald.

Brady's best man being in the center of this thing is a HUGE red flag. I'm guessing someone brought it to Tom and Giselle's attention that there were photographers trying to get pics. Surely, at least Giselle was pretty upset about this, and if Brady is like any guy I know, he definitely wanted to make his wife happy on her wedding day. His best man then did his job, along with the other 4 members of the wedding party, and told them "We'll take care of it."

That's my hypothesis, which seems quite reasonable. I seriously doubt Brady told his hired guards to shoot at them.

I'd be willing to bet that Tom & Gisele were expecting photographers to show up (hoping that they wouldn't, but expecting that there would be a really good chance that they would anyway), hired security to keep them away, and didn't really give it much thought afterward.Also, I realize that The Boston Herald is a regional newspaper, so I will warn you that The Inside Track is a shameless gossip column, and it's been known to contain more than the occasional inaccuracy.

 

[Boston]

Next up on Brady's hit list is Bernard Pollard...

 

[fatness]

Several different stories are being circulated. All of them point the focus away from Brady:

Denying any knowledge that it happened.

Saying the guards were hired by his wife.

Saying the guards were affiliated with the estate but that neither Brady or his wife hired them.

I'd imagine anyone doing PR for Brady would want it that way.

According to Mario Sanchez, of the island nation's Judicial Investigation Agency, security guards affiliated with Brady and Bundchen's Caribbean estate opened fire on the two journalists, striking their vehicle and barely missing them.

If the evidence holds up, according to Lopez, charges will be filed against the contractors.

However, justice may be delayed a while. A long while. Brady's agent and security ring are already closing ranks, denying that the incident ever occurred and refusing to speak to Costa Rica's police and press.

Because Brady and Bundchen did not directly employ the security team, under Costa Rican law they will not be charged with any crime connected to the incident.

Link

 

[JamesTheScot]

Security guards shooting at photographers is going to be outside their job description. Absent an explicit order coming from Brady to do exactly that, there's no liability to Brady for this. At the most, Goodell asks him for his version of what happened, which Brady explains away, and the matter is dropped.

Sounds to me like some cowboy in the security detail thought he'd have a little fun making the paparazzi crap their pants. He probably figured he's in central america and attached to rich celebrities and can get a way with it.

The razzi didn't see who had the gun, the security detail know enough and are paid enough to keep their mouths shut and circle the wagons. This all gets forgotten in short order.

A pistol bullet could bounce of a windshield. Penetration through the rear glass bleeds off a lot of the velocity and destabilizes the bullet's rotation which further robs it of velocity. Picture a fast, tight spiral getting deflected at the line of scrimmage. Not only does the collision slow it down, but the wobble also slows it even more. The laminant windshield is actually quite resistant to penetration, not to mention that the bullet is likely striking it at an angle which increases the likelihood of ricochet/deflection.

If you recall from the original Dirty Harry movie, Clint talks about choosing his .44 Magnum because of .38 Specials deflecting off of windshields. Some of that is Hollywood overhype, but there's some basis in truth to that phenomenon.

Saying it was a .38 caliber projectile also seems a little odd since most all of the .38's, 9mm's and .357 variants out there use bullets with diameters ranging from .355 to .365 caliber, not .38 diameter.

 

[Adebisi]

Several different stories are being circulated. All of them point the focus away from Brady: Denying any knowledge that it happened.Saying the guards were hired by his wife.Saying the guards were affiliated with the estate but that neither Brady or his wife hired them.I'd imagine anyone doing PR for Brady would want it that way.

We have absolutely no reason to not give Brady the benefit of the doubt here.

 

[teamramrod]

This whole incident is proof that Bilichek is a no class cheater.

FIRST IN!!!!

Brady would have never married a hot model if he didn't cheat.

The shooting would have never happened if he didn't cheat.

How will this affect Brady's fantasy value????

Peace

 

[switz]

I'm doubt if this will lead to any games missed by Brady. Having said that, however, obviously Goodell needs to have a talk with him.

You're are kidding here... right?

Is Brady somehow untouchable?I think what Michael Vick did was disgusting, and he deserves every last consequence. But hiring people who shoot at someone is somehow not even something the commissioner should even talk to the player about?

Double standards here at all?

No, just a few posters desperately trying to find something to criticize Brady about. His supermodel wife's bodyguards shoot at someone, but this equates to Brady "hiring people who shoot at someone?"Give me a break.

Oh come on... if this was PacMan Jones, you'd be all up about how he should be suspended. Just look at the way Pats fans reacted to the Marvin Harrison case. Hypocrites!If Goodell doesn't even talk to Brady (which is all anyone suggested) then he'll look like the biggest hypocrite and racist.

No one is saying Brady pulled the trigger, or should be suspended, etc. And yet the Patsy's are already defending their golden boy... how pathetic.

 

[Adebisi]

I'm doubt if this will lead to any games missed by Brady. Having said that, however, obviously Goodell needs to have a talk with him.

:(

You're are kidding here... right?

Is Brady somehow untouchable?I think what Michael Vick did was disgusting, and he deserves every last consequence. But hiring people who shoot at someone is somehow not even something the commissioner should even talk to the player about?

Double standards here at all?

No, just a few posters desperately trying to find something to criticize Brady about. His supermodel wife's bodyguards shoot at someone, but this equates to Brady "hiring people who shoot at someone?"Give me a break.

Oh come on... if this was PacMan Jones, you'd be all up about how he should be suspended. Just look at the way Pats fans reacted to the Marvin Harrison case. Hypocrites!If Goodell doesn't even talk to Brady (which is all anyone suggested) then he'll look like the biggest hypocrite and racist.

No one is saying Brady pulled the trigger, or should be suspended, etc. And yet the Patsy's are already defending their golden boy... how pathetic.

You're referring to the Pacman Jones with the lengthy arrest record right? And this is the case where Marvin Harrison himself was accused of shooting at someone... right? Do you not see the difference here? To quote Andy Dufresne, How can you be so obtuse?Of course Pats fans are defending our golden boy. He's won 3 Super Bowls for us and has conducted himself with as much class as any professional athlete of this generation. He's the best quarterback in the league. We love this guy.

Damn right we're defending Tom Brady.

 

[switz]

Of course Pats fans are defending our golden boy. He's won 3 Super Bowls for us and has conducted himself with as much class as any professional athlete of this generation. He's the best quarterback in the league. We love this guy.

Damn right we're defending Tom Brady.

Ok, so I disagree with that... but, if you feel he's so classy, then obviously a classy person would want to meet with the commish, clear the air, and make sure that the truth comes out, and any tarnish to their name gets removed.

It's the all or nothing extremist Pats fans that give Pats fans a bad name. Again, nobody suggested Tom should be suspended, even fined - merely that the commissioner might want to talk to him about the situation. I'm not sure that's something you want to attack people for suggesting.

 

[Dexter Manley]

Of course Pats fans are defending our golden boy. He's won 3 Super Bowls for us and has conducted himself with as much class as any professional athlete of this generation. He's the best quarterback in the league. We love this guy. Damn right we're defending Tom Brady.

Hyperbole much? Look, I'm actually rooting for the same thing you are. I'm hoping Goodell and co. do nothing here. By nothing, I mean I don't want them to even address this incident. I want them to completely ignore it and act like the shooting at Brady's wedding never occurred. If that happens, there will inevitably be an uproar at some point when something similar goes down with another player and the league takes action, and hopefully that will be the flashpoint which will lead to the league having to undo the insane personal conduct policy which was implemented by Goodell.

 

[Adebisi]

Of course Pats fans are defending our golden boy. He's won 3 Super Bowls for us and has conducted himself with as much class as any professional athlete of this generation. He's the best quarterback in the league. We love this guy.

Damn right we're defending Tom Brady.

Ok, so I disagree with that... but, if you feel he's so classy, then obviously a classy person would want to meet with the commish, clear the air, and make sure that the truth comes out, and any tarnish to their name gets removed.

It's the all or nothing extremist Pats fans that give Pats fans a bad name. Again, nobody suggested Tom should be suspended, even fined - merely that the commissioner might want to talk to him about the situation. I'm not sure that's something you want to attack people for suggesting.

So basically, we're all admitting that there is nothing to see here, but we're going to banter on about it anyway. Such is life in the Shark Pool during the offseason, I suppose.

I guess I see this as more or less a non-issue. I don't think I was attacking anyone so much as I was scoffing at this whole thing. What set me off were things like, "We do threads on other shooting incidents involving NFL players. Now Brady gets one," and "Obviously, Goodell needs to have a talk with [brady]." As if this situation is even remotely comparable to past situations involving Pacman, Plaxico, Marvin Harrison, etc.

Whatever. I realize that people flock at the opportunity to shed bad light on the Patriots, and I also realize that this is the offseason and that even the most insignificant of NFL news is going to warrant its own thread.

 

[Adebisi]

Of course Pats fans are defending our golden boy. He's won 3 Super Bowls for us and has conducted himself with as much class as any professional athlete of this generation. He's the best quarterback in the league. We love this guy. Damn right we're defending Tom Brady.

:( Hyperbole much? Look, I'm actually rooting for the same thing you are. I'm hoping Goodell and co. do nothing here. By nothing, I mean I don't want them to even address this incident. I want them to completely ignore it and act like the shooting at Brady's wedding never occurred. If that happens, there will inevitably be an uproar at some point when something similar goes down with another player and the league takes action, and hopefully that will be the flashpoint which will lead to the league having to undo the insane personal conduct policy which was implemented by Goodell.

I guess this is another thing we disagree on - I am all for severe punishment of players who can't conduct themselves properly off the field (or on the field, for that matter).As for "something similar" happening in the future, I am guessing that the odds are against it. It's not like Brady and his crew went out to a bar and shots were fired... it was a private wedding and (I'm guessing) some jackass security guard with a loose trigger finger went nuts.

 

[Dexter Manley]

I guess this is another thing we disagree on - I am all for severe punishment of players who can't conduct themselves properly off the field (or on the field, for that matter).

Let me be clear. I have no problem with Goodell and the league office punishing players for crimes they've been convicted of. If a player hasn't been convicted of anything, however, I think that it should up to the team whether or not they want to punish them. Goodell should stay out of it, as each team is accountable to its own fanbase, and they should be able to use their own discretion in how they want to discipline their own players.

As for "something similar" happening in the future, I am guessing that the odds are against it. It's not like Brady and his crew went out to a bar and shots were fired... it was a private wedding and (I'm guessing) some jackass security guard with a loose trigger finger went nuts.

I going to disagree with you here. Going forward, I think more players are going to hire their own security, rather than arming themselves or relying on their friends to act as bodyguards. IMO, another incident like this is inevitable.

 

[Adebisi]

I guess this is another thing we disagree on - I am all for severe punishment of players who can't conduct themselves properly off the field (or on the field, for that matter).

Let me be clear. I have no problem with Goodell and the league office punishing players for crimes they've been convicted of. If a player hasn't been convicted of anything, however, I think that it should up to the team whether or not they want to punish them. Goodell should stay out of it, as each team is accountable to its own fanbase, and they should be able to use their own discretion in how they want to discipline their own players.

Goodell works for the owners though. They have pretty much handed over the responsibility for disciplinary matters to him, probably so they don't have to deal with it themselves and also to make it uniform across the league.As for disciplining only on convictions, where to you stand on players who make a deal with the prosecution?

As for "something similar" happening in the future, I am guessing that the odds are against it. It's not like Brady and his crew went out to a bar and shots were fired... it was a private wedding and (I'm guessing) some jackass security guard with a loose trigger finger went nuts.

I going to disagree with you here. Going forward, I think more players are going to hire their own security, rather than arming themselves or relying on their friends to act as bodyguards. IMO, another incident like this is inevitable.

You may very well be right.

 

[Dexter Manley]

I guess this is another thing we disagree on - I am all for severe punishment of players who can't conduct themselves properly off the field (or on the field, for that matter).

Let me be clear. I have no problem with Goodell and the league office punishing players for crimes they've been convicted of. If a player hasn't been convicted of anything, however, I think that it should up to the team whether or not they want to punish them. Goodell should stay out of it, as each team is accountable to its own fanbase, and they should be able to use their own discretion in how they want to discipline their own players.

Goodell works for the owners though. They have pretty much handed over the responsibility for disciplinary matters to him, probably so they don't have to deal with it themselves and also to make it uniform across the league.As for disciplining only on convictions, where to you stand on players who make a deal with the prosecution?

As for "something similar" happening in the future, I am guessing that the odds are against it. It's not like Brady and his crew went out to a bar and shots were fired... it was a private wedding and (I'm guessing) some jackass security guard with a loose trigger finger went nuts.

I going to disagree with you here. Going forward, I think more players are going to hire their own security, rather than arming themselves or relying on their friends to act as bodyguards. IMO, another incident like this is inevitable.

You may very well be right.

I'm not sure I understand what you're talking about. If a player makes a deal with the prosecution, they plea to whatever in exchange for a lesser sentence. Once a player pleads guilty or no contest, then they could be punished by Goodell under the plan I favor.

 

[roadkill1292]

Let me be clear. I have no problem with Goodell and the league office punishing players for crimes they've been convicted of. If a player hasn't been convicted of anything, however, I think that it should up to the team whether or not they want to punish them. Goodell should stay out of it, as each team is accountable to its own fanbase, and they should be able to use their own discretion in how they want to discipline their own players.

I'll go one step further -- I think disciplinary action should be up to the individual teams no matter what the circumstances. A team's fan base should be the ultimate determinant.

 

[Bossman]

I hired a limo to drive me to the airport.

On the way, the driver ran a stop sign and hit another car.

... am I, in any way, at fault?

I did hire the guy to drive ...

he did break the law while doing so ...

 

[Adebisi]

I'm not sure I understand what you're talking about. If a player makes a deal with the prosecution, they plea to whatever in exchange for a lesser sentence. Once a player pleads guilty or no contest, then they could be punished by Goodell under the plan I favor.

Not necessarily. A case can be "continued without a finding," and the defendant will have some obligations to fulfill (fines, community service, anger management classes, driver re-education classes, whatever). If the defendant keeps his nose clean and fulfills his obligations, the case is dismissed.I think it's usually understood that the defendant is probably guilty in these cases, but nonetheless, the case is dismissed in the end. How would a situation like that be handled?

 

[The Great Snook]

I'm thinking it was one of the two guards who protected Falco in The Replacements.

 

[Banger]

Guys, this is Costa Rica, even if Brady killed the guy he'd just have to pay the cop $500, case cleared.

Talk about making a mountain out of mole hill. Goddell won't even consider having any kind of meeting about this.

 

[Dexter Manley]

I'm not sure I understand what you're talking about. If a player makes a deal with the prosecution, they plea to whatever in exchange for a lesser sentence. Once a player pleads guilty or no contest, then they could be punished by Goodell under the plan I favor.

Not necessarily. A case can be "continued without a finding," and the defendant will have some obligations to fulfill (fines, community service, anger management classes, driver re-education classes, whatever). If the defendant keeps his nose clean and fulfills his obligations, the case is dismissed.I think it's usually understood that the defendant is probably guilty in these cases, but nonetheless, the case is dismissed in the end. How would a situation like that be handled?

Player would still be subject to league discipline under this scenario.

 

[JamesTheScot]

Has Goodell had Vilma in for questioning yet?

 

[gianmarco]

Was Mangini behind the videotaping? Maybe it was Matt Walsh?

 

[fatness]

So basically, we're all admitting that there is nothing to see here, but we're going to banter on about it anyway.

No, we're not all admitting that. The police investigation isn't concluded so it's tough to have any reasonable conclusion yet. It appears there was gunfire at Brady's wedding, though according to news reports Brady's "camp" won't admit that. It appears the guards who did the shooting were hired by Brady's wife, or by Brady and his wife. No clarity on who hired them at this point. There's no information on what instructions were given to the guards or by whom. There's a report that the guards grabbed someone on private property, brought them in for questioning or threatening, and shot at them when they were leaving. Nothing to see here? You act like Brady's being criticized for throwing a spitball or giving someone a noogie. People were shot at by someone apparently hired by Brady and/or his wife. Of course that's going to be talked about.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

However, in a case like this, where bodyguards may have allegedly roughed up or worse, fired a shot at photographers on Mr. Brady's behalf, how will the league view this sort of conduct? Goodell has taken an obviously hard line, no nonsense stand with the more obvious situations but here, we are essentially asking if Tom Brady should be held vicariously liable for the actions of people either in his employ or acting on his behalf?

Vicarious liability where an agent is acting on behalf of his employer only arises when the employee is acting within the scope of his employment. It would be a real stretch to argue that shooting at unarmed photographers is part of a bodyguard's job responsibilities.

 

[TitusIII]

So basically, we're all admitting that there is nothing to see here, but we're going to banter on about it anyway.

No, we're not all admitting that. The police investigation isn't concluded so it's tough to have any reasonable conclusion yet. It appears there was gunfire at Brady's wedding, though according to news reports Brady's "camp" won't admit that. It appears the guards who did the shooting were hired by Brady's wife, or by Brady and his wife. No clarity on who hired them at this point. There's no information on what instructions were given to the guards or by whom. There's a report that the guards grabbed someone on private property, brought them in for questioning or threatening, and shot at them when they were leaving. Nothing to see here? You act like Brady's being criticized for throwing a spitball or giving someone a noogie. People were shot at by someone apparently hired by Brady and/or his wife. Of course that's going to be talked about.

Agreed. Of course Brady didn't hire these thugs to shoot at photographers, but considering the ridiculous millions these celebs get from selling these "wedding"/"baby" pictures, it shouldn't shock anyone that this type of crap happens. Brady is in a different class from all but a few athletic figures when it comes to "celebrity", and the types that protect these figures are usually shoot first, think later.

 

[Bossman]

However, in a case like this, where bodyguards may have allegedly roughed up or worse, fired a shot at photographers on Mr. Brady's behalf, how will the league view this sort of conduct? Goodell has taken an obviously hard line, no nonsense stand with the more obvious situations but here, we are essentially asking if Tom Brady should be held vicariously liable for the actions of people either in his employ or acting on his behalf?

Vicarious liability where an agent is acting on behalf of his employer only arises when the employee is acting within the scope of his employment. It would be a real stretch to argue that shooting at unarmed photographers is part of a bodyguard's job responsibilities.

 

[Billy Ball Thorton]

I'm doubt if this will lead to any games missed by Brady. Having said that, however, obviously Goodell needs to have a talk with him.

You're are kidding here... right?

Is Brady somehow untouchable?I think what Michael Vick did was disgusting, and he deserves every last consequence. But hiring people who shoot at someone is somehow not even something the commissioner should even talk to the player about?

Double standards here at all?

No, just a few posters desperately trying to find something to criticize Brady about. His supermodel wife's bodyguards shoot at someone, but this equates to Brady "hiring people who shoot at someone?"Give me a break.

My wife hires somone is just the same as I hired them.... This needs to be looked into....BOTTOM LINE

 

[fatness]

Brady is in a different class from all but a few athletic figures when it comes to "celebrity", and the types that protect these figures are usually shoot first, think later.

Is that true? Have other celebrity/athletes had guards shoot at people?

 

[-baller]

brady is straight bone thug gangsta.

but at least he didn't tamper.