# Return of "Deflategate" **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 6, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401 "2015-05-06T17:33:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2015, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/341 "2015-07-29T13:34:08Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Why do we care if he destroyed his phone? He was never going to hand it over, so what difference does it make? People are acting like that’s the only reason the suspension wasn’t reduced. It was cited in the appeal decision as a major reason against modifying the decision. Seems like a solid piece of evidence. Furthermore, destroying evidence is a pretty damning act. It’s one thing to simply refuse to hand material over. Eliminating it entirely makes you look really, really bad. Pretending otherwise is just sticking your head in the sand. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2015, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/342 "2015-07-29T14:13:45Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Furthermore, destroying evidence is a pretty damning act. It’s one thing to simply refuse to hand material over. Eliminating it entirely makes you look really, really bad. When I heard he’d done that of course the first thing it reminded me of was [this](http://abcnews.go.com/US/aaron-hernandez-destroyed-home-security-system-phone-sources/story?id=19445131), Aaron Hernandez destroying his home security camera and cell phone. Why Tom thought doing anything remotely similar was a good idea is beyond me. As mentioned his fight, which I think is just because he’s so mindlessly competitive about _everything_, is really making it much worse for himself. While there are some extremely intelligent, strategic thinkers in that organization, there’s nothing impressive in how they’re going about this one. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2015, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/343 "2015-07-29T14:25:54Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > When I heard he’d done that of course the first thing it reminded me of was [this](http://abcnews.go.com/US/aaron-hernandez-destroyed-home-security-system-phone-sources/story?id=19445131), Aaron Hernandez destroying his home security camera and cell phone. Why Tom thought doing anything remotely similar was a good idea is beyond me. Patriots Rookie Camp drills? ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/344 "2015-07-29T14:43:35Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Why do we care if he destroyed his phone? He was never going to hand it over, so what difference does it make? People are acting like that’s the only reason the suspension wasn’t reduced. Is it so surprising? This whole thing started with recreational outrage about stupid shit, so may as well continue that theme to the end. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2015, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/345 "2015-07-29T15:23:41Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > This whole thing started with recreational outrage about stupid shit Sure did. Unfortunately a commissioner cannot afford to indulge in RO. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2015, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/346 "2015-07-29T15:55:51Z")
Why are hyu-mons interest in sporting games and cheating? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/347 "2015-07-29T16:28:22Z")
[Patriots owner: ‘I was wrong to put my faith in the league’](http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/ct-robert-kraft-tom-brady-20150729-story.html). What a [Complete Tool.](http://newcity.com/2012/10/10/dime-stories-the-tool/) ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/348 "2015-07-29T17:07:43Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > It was cited in the appeal decision as a major reason against modifying the decision. Seems like a solid piece of evidence. > > Furthermore, destroying evidence is a pretty damning act. It’s one thing to simply refuse to hand material over. Eliminating it entirely makes you look really, really bad. Pretending otherwise is just sticking your head in the sand. To be clear, I actually agree with Brady’s suspension (without getting into how it compares to other players’ suspensions for perceivably worse infractions), I just don’t see what difference it makes what he did with the phone. He refused to hand it over, he was never going to hand it over, and frankly I would not have handed it over without a subpoena. And if it goes that far, they have the means to get the information they need without physically having Tom’s phone, right? ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/349 "2015-07-29T21:04:04Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Believe what you want to believe, folks. You will, anyway. And what do you believe, Elvis? Do you believe the balls weren’t tampered with at all by anybody? That Brady didn’t know? That the NFL were out to get the Patriots? I’m curious just how deep your rabbit hole goes. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/350 "2015-07-29T21:42:02Z")
Been over that, haven’t we? Reread the thread if you need to. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/351 "2015-07-29T22:13:17Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Been over that, haven’t we? Reread the thread if you need to. You’ve believed a wide variety of things that were patently wrong. I was wondering what you believe now. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/352 "2015-07-30T00:00:00Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > You’ve believed a wide variety of things that were patently wrong. If that’s what you want to believe, there’s no value in further discussion. 😉 > [@](#): > > I was wondering what you believe now. In honest, sincere good faith and desire for open exploration of the facts, of course. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/353 "2015-07-30T00:15:24Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > If that’s what you want to believe, there’s no value in further discussion. The value comes in watching you dig yourself deeper and deeper in the hole. Your quotes: “The big reveal will be when - okay, if, but you know it’s when - the deflation scandal will be shown in the NFL report to have been a childish frame-up attempt by the Colts.” “Just so you haters know, the Pats might not be the team that comes out of this smelling bad:” “Let’s see what other NFL officials get fired (Mike Kensil, can you come in my office for a moment? Great), what penalties Chuck Pagano and Ryan Grigson and possibly John Harbaugh get from the league, and how abject the apologies get and from whom.” “The draft is just a few weeks away. If the Colts are going to be docked a pick for Deflategate, it has to happen soon.” You’ve been so wrong for so long on so many things, that it is nice that we can actually agree. If I was after “a good faith and desire for open exploration of the facts” with YOU, there would be no value in further discussion. But actually, I’m just trying to give you even more rope to further hang yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/354 "2015-07-30T03:43:20Z")
Well done, **Hamlet**. Thanks for doing the legwork. Not only wrong, but outrageously over-the-top, Trump-like blusteringly wrong each and every time. Hilarious! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/355 "2015-07-30T03:53:46Z")
I have to admit that I’ve changed my mind on this subject. I will no longer consider you-know-who-else-had-a-deflated-ball to be the worst person who ever lived. The mantle has been passed to Tom Brady. You know why? Because he destroyed his cell phone. Dear God in Heaven how can we allow this man to live? Can you imagine the terror and agony that poor cell phone endured? How is it that we can worry about feeding the hungry and clothing the naked when Tom Brady has destroyed his cell phone? Oh, the humanity!! ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/356 "2015-07-30T04:51:43Z")
So is this the thread where I go to post some faux-hysteria in defense of Richard Nixon? No? Yep, it sure looks like they cheated, and if it didn’t, then Goodell wouldn’t have to give Brady the public flogging he probably deserves. Gotta keep those bettors reassured, no matter what. Billions at stake, you know. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/357 "2015-07-30T12:31:34Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > “The big reveal will be when - okay, if, but you know it’s when - the deflation scandal will be shown in the NFL report to have been a childish frame-up attempt by the Colts.” The wrong part is that I expected that in the NFL report itself, not the various debunking analyses. I was wrong to give Goodell too much credit for integrity, I certainly admit that. > [@](#): > > “Just so you haters know, the Pats might not be the team that comes out of this smelling bad:” Same point. Why bring it up separately except to appear to have multiple points? > [@](#): > > “Let’s see what other NFL officials get fired (Mike Kensil, can you come in my office for a moment? Great), what penalties Chuck Pagano and Ryan Grigson and possibly John Harbaugh get from the league, and how abject the apologies get and from whom.” Ibid. > [@](#): > > “The draft is just a few weeks away. If the Colts are going to be docked a pick for Deflategate, it has to happen soon.” Not a statement of fact, but opinion. > [@](#): > > You’ve been so wrong for so long on so many things One thing only, as you have repeated above, and it isn’t in your favor either. Got anything that deserves more of a response than a pat on the head? ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/358 "2015-07-30T13:25:23Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Got anything that deserves more of a response than a pat on the head? If you’re serious, yes. You could tell me, now that I’ve asked for the fifth time, what you think really happened to the balls and the investigation. I went through this thread, and the other thread, on the topic, and I couldn’t find a single post where you actually lay out what you think happened. There was a ton of unsubstantiated conclusions that were eventually proven wrong, substanceless retorts to factual points raised in the investigation, your typical, brainless “haters gonna hate” baloney, and delusional attempts to rewrite the history of the threads to pretend you’ve somehow made an actual point when nearly everyone who has posted in the thread has mocked you for your lack of substance. All of which I can all but guarantee you will continue to do no matter what the facts and conclusions of the investigation show. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/359 "2015-07-30T13:57:34Z")
And here’s your pat on the head. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/360 "2015-07-30T15:40:57Z")
If this were a court of law, Pats fans would be taking an Alford Plea. But since it isn’t, the responses tend to be a bit less dignified. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401.md?page=19)