Breaking now at Foxnews.com. The NFL has determined that the deflation of footballs at the Superbowl was probably deliberate, and Tom Brady was “generally aware” that something off-kilter was going on.
Anyone want to speculate as to what fallout might be coming?
Nothing. The report excerpts I’ve seen are chock full of weaselly language - “more probable than not” and “at least generally aware” don’t provide much grounds for punishment, and the report specifically disclaims responsibility by Belichick, Kraft, the head equipment manager, and the organization as a whole.
The only punishment that might be justified by the report is a suspension of Tom Brady, but it’s an awfully weak move (and the NFLPA would have a field day) to suspend a player for being vaguely aware of somebody else breaking the rules.
This isn’t a criminal court, so “more probable than not” isn’t necessarily weaselly language - in fact its the standard in most civil trials. It makes the same thing as “preponderance of the evidence”.
Besides, as Roger Goodell has indicated in his time as Commissioner, he really doesn’t feel the need to reach any particular standard of proof to suspend someone or fine someone.
“The report said all 11 of the Patriots’ game balls, when re-tested at halftime, were below the minimum level specified by NFL rules of 12.5 psi. The four Colts game balls that were re-tested were between 12.5 and 13.5 psi, so they were within the rules.”
“In the weeks and months before the AFC Championship Game, McNally periodically exchanged text messages with the Patriots equipment assistant primarily responsible for the preparation of the Patriots game balls, John Jastremski. In a number of those text messages, McNally and Jastremski discussed the air pressure of Patriots game balls, Tom Brady‟s unhappiness with the inflation level of Patriots game balls, Jastremski‟s plan to provide McNally with a “needle” for use by McNally, and McNally‟s requests for “cash” and sneakers together with the “needle” to be provided by Jastremski. A sports ball inflation needle is a device that can be used to inflate a football (if attached to an air pump) or release air from a football (if inserted alone into a ball).”
I’m loving reading the texts between the Pat’s employees who did it. One certainly doesn’t like Tom Brady all that much. At least he was promised some shoes and autographs to get it done.
It’s particularly telling that one of them calls himself “the deflator” in a text on May 9, 2014. In ansubsequent text he jokingly suggests that he might go to ESPN…
“These text messages were among those we were unable to discuss with McNally due to the refusal of cousel for the Patriots to arrange a follow-up interview of McNally.”
Fucking Cheatriots.
The report was itself written by lawyers, so the weaselly language is to be expected. They don’t want to make a claim that they cannot 100% defend. But it seems pretty clear to a normal person, based on the text messages and happenings described in the report, that Tom Brady was pressuring these two guys to deflate the footballs below the standard and rewarding them for doing so, over a long period of time.
I can’t tell from the report whether they found any evidence that actually suggests Belichick was unaware of this, or simply failed to find any evidence that he was.
Holy shit. Look at all the confirmation in those texts about Brady providing signed gear to the deflator. And yeah, he does think Brady is a big douchebag.
I love his threats about giving Brady a balloon or a rugby ball. “The only thing deflating on Sunday is his passer rating”!
I expect a big apology from Kraft.
Don’t hold your breath.
My fav: “Based on the explanations I have heard and the studies that have been done, I don’t know how the science of atmospheric conditions can be refuted or how conclusions to the contrary can be drawn without some definitive evidence.”
So, despite the nearly 100 page Appendix dealing with the science involved in the issue, he still doesn’t believe it. He’d make a helluva climate change opponent.
Those texts were entertaining but I’m not sure they really prove anything. I expect zero repercussions. And trust me, I’d love to see the Pats get smacked down.
I dunno, according to ESPN:
Insider Adam Schefter told SportsCenter that discipline is coming for the Patriots. “There are 31 other teams that believed the Patriots gained an advantage.”
I heard Brady spanked his wife!
Maybe they can give the Seahawks last year’s Super Bowl?
If there were anything significant coming, it would have happened well before the draft, not right afterward. No picks. A couple of employees will be thrown into the volcano to appease the haters, maybe a fine, but that’s it.
Will read it later.
I’m not sure what you’re looking for. The report provides an extremely detailed analysis of the pressures of the balls and systematic consideration of alternative explanations. The conclusion is that none of the alternative explanations are likely.
In conjunction, you have a whole bunch of texts going back at least a year with a guy who calls himself the deflator and describes getting shoes and gear from Tom, and discussion about Tom’s displeasure with them regarding the inflation levels of the balls.
Apart from a confession from Brady, I can’t imagine what you need.
Emphasis added.
I suspect everyone knows what you mean, but I think you meant “AFC Championship”, not “Superbowl”. The Pats were already under scrutiny in the run-up to the Big Game, so probably didn’t try anything kinky at that time.
looks like hush money needs to be more than shoes and autographs
The “Unfair Acts” rule that provides for the more serious punishments people seem to want says:
Necessary elements include both being “so unfair or outside accepted practices” and “having a major effect on the result.” There’s at least some non-Partriot evidence that people do quite a bit to prep but nobody else has been caught quite so blatantly. That one might apply. The AFC Championship game was still relatively close at halftime when the balls were discovered - 17 to 7. After the balls were inflated to required PSI at halftime the game turned into a rout with second half scoring of 28 to 0. It’s hard to characterize the balls as having a major effect.
Now there is a fine for violating the rule itself - $25k. Ndamukong Suh has been fined more for a single hit.
Patriots fan here. It certainly looks likely, if not 100% proven, that team employees under-inflated footballs to a level that Brady preferred in the AFC Championship.
And… I don’t really care, because it is clear that the under-inflated balls provided no advantage in the ACF Championship. Also, it is pretty clear that there was not some org-wide conspiracy engineered by Belichick to skirt inflation rules. Finally, nobody really cared about football inflation until it involved the Patriots (cf. Aaron Rodgers’ comments about over-inflating).
So pay the fine and don’t do it anymore, Pats. (Also, win another Super Bowl Next year so everyone hates you even more).