NFL 2015: Offseason: DeflateGate

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IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/0elSowK.jpg)

This thread is for continued discussion of the ball-deflation scandal from the 2014 AFC Championship Game, aka "DeflateGate".

* Ted Wells Report
* Top 10 Hidden Highlights of Wells Report

Can we talk about all the other ways the NFL favors the Patriots as well since that's really what Milkman was frustrated about? The tuck rule, SpyGate, etc. The Patriots cheat and get away with it or get REALLY favorable rulings on the regular. At a certain point it's ridiculous. Even for a GM as ridiculous as Goodell. I don't care if they would have won the Super Bowl anyway or if the game was out of hand, anyone who follows sports knows that what you get caught for is the tip of the iceberg, usually.

DSGamer wrote:

Can we talk about all the other ways the NFL favors the Patriots as well since that's really what Milkman was frustrated about? The tuck rule, SpyGate, etc. The Patriots cheat and get away with it or get REALLY favorable rulings on the regular. At a certain point it's ridiculous. Even for a GM as ridiculous as Goodell. I don't care if they would have won the Super Bowl anyway or if the game was out of hand, anyone who follows sports knows that what you get caught for is the tip of the iceberg, usually.

It was? I thought he thought the whole thing was just stupid.

DSGamer wrote:

The tuck rule

I wish people would stop treating the correct application of a rule, which has been applied the exact same way in many other games, as "favoring the Patriots".

Bad rule? Sure, plenty of discussion there. But somehow favoring the Patriots? That's stretching to try and create a narrative.

If it was the Patriots that were playing against the Cowboys in the playoffs last year (after having magically transferred over to the NFC) and the Dez Bryant non-catch call was made, people would be up in arms at "look, the refs are giving it to the Patriots again!"

But since it was the Packers and not the Patriots, it was just a correct application of a questionable rule.

The NFL "favoring" the Patriots is the new 216 bug.

Source: NFL could issue DeflateGate discipline ruling today

Given how long it took for the Wells investigation to wrap, it would make sense for punishment to come sooner rather than later.

SEE: WE TOTALLY NEEDED THIS THREAD. Still on the first page and we're almost done discussing it.

If the purpose of this offseason was to troll Milkman, then shouldn't we continue discussing deflated balls in the main thread?

If the purpose of this offseason was to troll Milkman, then shouldn't we continue discussing deflated balls in the main thread?

Hey you better be careful. After that Blind Guardian sh*t, you just might be next.

garion333 wrote:

SEE: WE TOTALLY NEEDED THIS THREAD. Still on the first page and we're almost done discussing it.

If the purpose of this offseason was to troll Milkman, then shouldn't we continue discussing deflated balls in the main thread? ;)

This really must have been the worst NFL offseason ever for him. Poor guy.

Looks like 538 is revisiting the whole NE Fumble Proof after 2006 rules change thing.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/f...

benm: But the fun part is when you get all Bayesian about it. As I said at the time, the existence of the Patriots’ extremely low fumble rate, as a Bayesian matter, makes it much more likely that the Patriots were intentionally cheating – even though the link between fumble rates and inflation levels is only speculative. That’s the beauty of Bayesianism. But it gets better: Now that it seems likely that the Patriots were violating the rules to gain an advantage, the fact that they also had an extremely low fumble rate makes it more likely that the relationship between inflation levels and fumbling is real – and more likely that the Patriots have materially benefited from their cheating.

N.F.L. Sentences Brady to a Year with the Jets

“I am going to fight this decision with every fibre of my being,” Brady said. “This is America. You can’t force a person to play for the Jets.”

At a sports bar in Manhattan, the reaction to the impending arrival of the Jets’ longtime nemesis was muted. One Jets fan observed, “Look, Brady’s a dick, but even he didn’t deserve this.”

IMAGE(http://files.shandymedia.com/images/body/thefumble/Fumble_JetsFans_03.gif)

Jayhawker wrote:

N.F.L. Sentences Brady to a Year with the Jets

“I am going to fight this decision with every fibre of my being,” Brady said. “This is America. You can’t force a person to play for the Jets.”

At a sports bar in Manhattan, the reaction to the impending arrival of the Jets’ longtime nemesis was muted. One Jets fan observed, “Look, Brady’s a dick, but even he didn’t deserve this.”

The best

Saw that JETS thing a couple days ago on Facebook. Good times.

Apparently Keith Olbermann went on a massive rant about what the league should do with Brady. Can't say I find much to disagree with here:

Keith Olbermann has completed his evolution and is now Lewis Black.

garion333 wrote:
DSGamer wrote:

Can we talk about all the other ways the NFL favors the Patriots as well since that's really what Milkman was frustrated about? The tuck rule, SpyGate, etc. The Patriots cheat and get away with it or get REALLY favorable rulings on the regular. At a certain point it's ridiculous. Even for a GM as ridiculous as Goodell. I don't care if they would have won the Super Bowl anyway or if the game was out of hand, anyone who follows sports knows that what you get caught for is the tip of the iceberg, usually.

It was? I thought he thought the whole thing was just stupid.

Well, it's something to take his mind off the hope-sucking black hole that's Tampa Bay, so... yeah.

Troy Aikman expressed an expectation of sharp punishment, quoted in Peter King's column:

“For the balls to have been deflated—that doesn’t happen unless the quarterback wants that to happen. I can assure you of that. Now the question becomes, Well, did Bill Belichick know about it? This whole comment by Roger Goodell based on the Saints when Sean Payton got suspended for the year, and he said, ‘Hey, ignorance is no excuse.’ That’s gonna come back and haunt [Goodell] again. It haunted him during the whole Ray Rice situation. And now it’s going to haunt Roger Goodell in terms of what the punishment is for the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick. If ignorance is no excuse, and it wasn’t for Sean Payton, and I think it’s going to be severe. Now twice under Bill Belichick—and possibly a third time—they’ve cheated and given themselves an advantage. And to me, the punishment for the Patriots and/or Bill Belichick has to be more severe than what the punishment was for the New Orleans Saints.”

I don't expect severe punishment to be forthcoming, but calling back to Goodell's "ignorance is no excuse" phrase is apt, as following through with that line of thinking would mean punishment for Belichick too. Failing to do so would thus become another example of Goodell's inconsistently applied "justice", and Saints fans might rightly feel like their team was held to a different standard than others.

Now twice under Bill Belichick—and possibly a third time—they’ve cheated

Three?

Breaking: Brady suspended 4 games. Patriots forfeit 2016 first round draft pick and fourth round in 2017, plus fined one million dollars.

Adam Schefter on twittter:

Filed to ESPN: Tom Brady suspended four games, Pats lose 1st round pick in 2016 and a 4th in 2017, and team fined $1 million, per source:

I can't wait for the Pats to win the first 4 games and for there to be NE QB drama. The tears of Bostonians is especially salty.

Two games should have been plenty.

The Patriots are getting dinged more for the way they handled the cover-up and excuses than for the actual offense, I think.

Jayhawker wrote:

Two games should have been plenty.

I imagine that's what it will be after an appeal. The report makes too many assumptions for him not to.

Jayhawker wrote:

The Patriots are getting dinged more for the way they handled the cover-up and excuses than for the actual offense, I think.

Yep, didn't the Chargers only get fined for the stickem towels?

I think the first rounder is the bigger punishment. Even if the Pats lose 4 games there's still a decent chance they make the playoffs with their division.

Ball handlers suspended indefinitely without pay.

That's a lot harsher than I expected. Kind of a punch in the gut to the "NFL favors the Patriots" narrative.

Still interesting, though, that Belichick didn't get singled out under the "ignorance is no excuse" principle.

Wow. I'm honestly shocked.

*Legion* wrote:

Still interesting, though, that Belichick didn't get singled out under the "ignorance is no excuse" principle.

Nonetheless, it remains a fundamental principle that the club is responsible for the actions of club employees. This principle has been applied to many prior cases. Thus, while no discipline should or will be imposed personally on any owner or executive at the Patriots, discipline is appropriately imposed on the club.”

I don't think there was any shred of evidence that Belichick knew what was going on. With the taping he knew and purported to be the one who started it. Payton was shown to have known about the bounties. The Wells report doesn't come close to proving Belichick had any idea this was happening and since it involved so few people from the organization then it makes sense not to fine him personally. The loss of those picks and his QB is a blow, but fining him money without a shred of evidence would likely be something Belichick could have sued over.

garion333 wrote:

I don't think there was any shred of evidence that Belichick knew what was going on.

Yeah, but isn't that the entire idea of "ignorance is no excuse"?

With the taping he knew and purported to be the one who started it. Payton was shown to have known about the bounties.

Right, but my takeaway from the phrase "ignorance is no excuse" is that it was a statement that Payton is responsible even if his denials were true.

Not that I am advocating a penalty for Belichick, mostly commenting on inconsistent Goodell logic.

garion333 wrote:

I don't think there was any shred of evidence that Belichick knew what was going on. With the taping he knew and purported to be the one who started it. Payton was shown to have known about the bounties. The Wells report doesn't come close to proving Belichick had any idea this was happening and since it involved so few people from the organization then it makes sense not to fine him personally. The loss of those picks and his QB is a blow, but fining him money without a shred of evidence would likely be something Belichick could have sued over.

Godell says wrote:

A 2007 amendment to the NFL Constitution and By-Laws obligated coaches and supervisory employees "to communicate openly and candidly with the principal owner and/or his designated representative; to ensure that club ownership is informed on a complete and timely basis of all matters affecting the club's operations; and to avoid actions that undermine or damage the club's reputation or operating success." The obligation to supervise the coaching staff and players is also expressly set forth in the employment agreement signed by Coach Payton.

From http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...

That's broad enough that Belichick could have been hit for it, even if he had no idea of what's happened. Peyton was hit by the 1st clause. Belichick could have been hit by the second.

It's also a really really really stupid thing for any coach to sign, because it means they just have to trust that Godell doesn't screw them over because a bunch of people are attacking the NFL about the current hot button issue of the week.

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