# 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:** 21
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/401 "2015-08-01T01:03:29Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > Apropos of nothing in particular, Chris Mortensen refuses to show up for an interview related to his initial tweet that 11 of 12 Patriot balls were deflated by 2 lbs based on NFL Sources: Notwithstanding that Dennis and Callahan are about the most putrid individuals ever to appear on air and that appearing with them is rarely a good idea, there’s this excuse note you could have quoted: > [@Chris Mortensen](#): > > I will not allow WEEI, [Patriots owner Robert] Kraft or anybody to make me the centerpiece of a story that has been misreported far beyond anything I did in the first 48 hours. Maybe when the lawsuit is settled, in Brady’s favor, I hope, we can revisit. Don’t call. Now there’s a profile in courage. Interesting little nugget he tossed in there, though - didja see? Also from that link > [@Mike Florio](#): > > As Adam Schefter of ESPN said on WEEI on Thursday, Mortensen is a pioneer in this business. But his false report should be the centerpiece of the story. Because without that false report there is no story. More specifically, without that false report, there is no finding of cheating … It made another Ted Wells investigation logical, it put the Patriots on the defensive, and it kept the Patriots from responding to the accurate PSI readings by pointing out that, on one of the two air-pressure gauges used, they fall squarely within the range expected by the Ideal Gas Law.” The haters’ desperation for vindication is becoming palpable in this thread, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/402 "2015-08-01T02:50:16Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The haters’ desperation for vindication is becoming palpable in this thread, isn’t it? Not willing to go that far. I’m not at all convinced that Brady didn’t know what was going on and have my suspicions that he had a hand in it. That aside, the NFL has mishandled this thing from the git-go. Why Goodell still has a job is beyond me. He’s a terrible steward of the game. > [@Leaper](#): > > I will note that even if the league acted rashly, recklessly, and/or capriciously, that doesn’t automatically mean Brady is innocent. I think he did SOMETHING at least shady, rules wise. Whether that’s worthy of the punishment, or how poorly the league acted in trying to ferret it out, has nothing to do with that portion of my opinion. QFT. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/403 "2015-08-01T12:05:01Z")
The Patriots’ release of their e-mail chain, and Mortensen’s clamming up, have led to [some interesting revelations.](http://www.inquisitr.com/2298520/new-england-patriots-rumors-nfl-deflategate/) > [@](#): > > Also on Friday, the source of the single most important leak — the leak that many experts agree is more responsible for the ongoing scandal than any other piece of information — was reportedly unmasked as NFL official Mike Kensil, a longtime top executive with the Patriots’ arch-rival, the New York Jets. In fact, not only was Kensil the Jets Director of Operations for two decades, his father was president of the franchise for 11 years as well. > > … The New England Patriots on Friday released a series of emails from February of this year which show the team pleading with the NFL to stop a series of leaks to the ESPN network — leaks that contained blatantly false information apparently designed to portray the Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady as villains in the Deflategate scandal. > > But the league simply stonewalled the Patriots’ requests for the leaks to be corrected. The email exchanges can be viewed at this link. > > … That story turned out to be false, disproven by the NFL’s own investigation carried out by attorney Ted Wells. But Wells used ball pressure figures that had been available to the NFL since the January 18 game. > > In other words, the NFL knew at the time Mortensen’s story was published that it contained false information. But that false information was the basis for what quickly became the national front-page “Deflategate” story. The NFL refused to correct the “11 out of 12 balls” story, and Mortensen never retracted it. > > … According to reports that surfaced in May, Kensil was on the sidelines during the AFC Championship Game, when he approached a Patriots equipment manager and triumphantly declared, “We weighed the balls. You are in big f\*\*\*\*\*g trouble!” > > … > Finally, separate reports have suggested that the source for this week’s leak to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, revealing that Brady “destroyed his cell phone,” was in fact another top NFL official, Troy Vincent. > > The pattern of false or otherwise damaging leaks reportedly originating from the NFL office together with NFL’s refusal to issue any corrections to those leaks, or do anything about them at all, present a pattern that, to many observers, suggest that the Deflategate scandal originated not with any actions taken by Brady or the New England Patriots, but from inside the NFL office itself. Kensil has come up before in this thread, ftr. TLDR version: “J! E! T! S!” ---
**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:** [August 1, 2015, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/404 "2015-08-01T14:25:46Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > Not willing to go that far. I’m not at all convinced that Brady didn’t know what was going on and have my suspicions that he had a hand in it. But that doesn’t matter. The measured pressure of the balls, the texts between equipment handlers, the lack of cooperation and destruction of the phone, the video of the equipment guy, all the rest of it doesn’t matter. Don’t concern yourself with that actual stuff. What is important is Goodell sucks!! Everyone else does it!!! Haters gonna hate!!! The flaws in the investigation, the leaks to the press, and the tyranny of Goodell is what needs to be paid attention to. You certainly shouldn’t worry about the evidence of the rule breaking. Can’t be bothered to pay attention to that. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/405 "2015-08-01T17:52:49Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > But that doesn’t matter. The measured pressure of the balls, the texts between equipment handlers, the lack of cooperation and destruction of the phone, the video of the equipment guy, all the rest of it doesn’t matter. Don’t concern yourself with that actual stuff. What is important is Goodell sucks!! Everyone else does it!!! Haters gonna hate!!! The flaws in the investigation, the leaks to the press, and the tyranny of Goodell is what needs to be paid attention to. You certainly shouldn’t worry about the evidence of the rule breaking. Can’t be bothered to pay attention to that. Jeez, man, chill the fuck out. Would you? I never said that. What I AM saying is that this investigation (and much of the evidence) is now tainted beyond recovery. Remember Jon Bene Ramsey? The local police so badly mishandled the first few days of that case that there was essentially no way to get beyond reasonable doubt after that. While I strongly suspect that Brady is, in fact, guilty of (at a minimum) collusion in the tampering with game balls, I think it’s pretty easy to show reasonable doubt about that. Who’s fault is that? Brady’s? Is he that much of an evil mastermind? Somehow I doubt it. It’s the NFL’s fault this thing got fucked beyond repair. They had a rule that they were, by most reports, barely worried about enforcing. It just didn’t seem important. Then they got “suspicious” about it and rather than doing the reasonable thing (warning the teams that it would be watched, prepping the refs in the AFC Championship game, and then instituting PROPER controls on game ball prep), they decided to lay a trap. Then they blew it - pure and simple. They fucking blew it. And then they tried to cover for blowing it by trying the case in the media (and inaccurately at that). ---
**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:** [August 1, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/406 "2015-08-01T18:21:02Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > Jeez, man, chill the fuck out. Would you? I never said that. I wasn’t trying to say you were. I was using your rational statement about Brady’s role in the deflation, to highlight the irrationality of much of the Patriots’ fans reactions to the investigation. I didn’t mean YOU believed that, and I’m sorry if you took such deep offense from my post as to require a “chilling out”. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/407 "2015-08-01T19:10:22Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Here’s the thing. The deflation of the balls was never a very big thing. I don’t think it influenced the outcome of the game, and the testing procedures weren’t amazingly stringent as some Patriots’ fans would have liked (not that it would have any influence whatsoever on their view of the evidence even if it had been). It was just another example of how the Patriots are willing to take advantage of any opportunity to break the rules if they think it will help them win and not get caught. Had Brady and the Pats said “yep, we’re not sure, but they could have been deflated, and we accept that the equipment manager fucked up”, it likely would have been over in a week with a fine and maybe a low round draft pick lost. > > But they didn’t. The Patriots and Tom Brady, decided to fight it tooth and nail, to hide evidence, to come up with implausible explanations that only the most rabid of idiot fans would accept (deflator meant weight loss? Really?), and to drag it on and on with hearings, casting aspersions on anyone who disagrees with their fantastical allegations, and now lawsuits. What was a molehill became a mountain, not because the NFL is out to ruin one of their flagship franchises and current champion, but because the Patriots are a bunch of pricks who think they should be allowed to game the system, and if they’re caught, it’s the system’s fault for making it possible to cheat in the first place. > > Anyone who posits that that a 4 game suspension and loss of a draft pick is “an injustice” needs a serious redefinition of that word. See, this is what baffles me about you. Everything that points to Brady being a cheater comes from the NFL. The NFL has been shown to be sloppy at best; outright liars at worst. You indict Brady for “fight[ing] tooth and nail.” I would expect someone innocent to fight tooth and nail, wouldn’t you? The NFL was fine with false reporting about 11 of 12 balls being 2 pounds under regulations. They did nothing to stop that incorrect information from forming the basis of the ire against the Patriots (yours included). Their credibility simply isn’t there. ---
**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:** [August 1, 2015, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/408 "2015-08-01T21:31:37Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > See, this is what baffles me about you. Everything that points to Brady being a cheater comes from the NFL. The NFL has been shown to be sloppy at best; outright liars at worst. You indict Brady for “fight[ing] tooth and nail.” I would expect someone innocent to fight tooth and nail, wouldn’t you? Sure. I would also expect someone innocent to turn over his phone records, not destroy his cell phone to further hide evidence, and to not be a subject of numerous texts between equipment handlers discussing deflating the balls. But that’s just me. Do you think Walt Anderson was lying about the testing of the balls? How about the texts? Do you think the NFL wanted this controversy as a way to get back at the Patriots? Do you posit that Goodell really wanted to fuck over the owner who got him a tens of millions of dollars a year raise? That’s what astounds me about you. Yes, the investigation was sloppy. Because they’re not the fucking police out to catch a murderer, they’re looking into a relatively minor violation of the rules. The idea that the NFL would create this entire thing to degrade one particular team and risk shooting themselves in the foot is, to my mind, just silly. > [@sachertorte](#): > > The NFL was fine with false reporting about 11 of 12 balls being 2 pounds under regulations. They did nothing to stop that incorrect information from forming the basis of the ire against the Patriots (yours included). Their credibility simply isn’t there. So, to your mind, one mistake not being corrected publically while the investigation was ongoing means everything that follows, all the texts, all the different people involved in the investigation, the referee, and Brady’s refusals to cooperate, and all the other evidence just simply falls apart? Oh, its the NFL, so it’s all a lie, despite it being piss poor for their championship team and a PR nightmare? That’s right up there with “Well, Fuhrman said the n word, so OJ didn’t kill anyone” mode of thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/409 "2015-08-02T01:27:49Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Sure. I would also expect someone innocent to turn over his phone records, not destroy his cell phone to further hide evidence, and to not be a subject of numerous texts between equipment handlers discussing deflating the balls. But that’s just me. So, you think the guy with the supermodel wife (who’s apparently not entirely averse to posing whilst scantily-clad) should just hand his phone over to an organization infamous for its leaks and poor handling of sensitive information (see the Ray Rice video that got “lost”)? As I understand it, the NFL has admitted that it ended up getting all of the texts it wanted from the Patriots’ employees’ phones. > [@](#): > > Do you think Walt Anderson was lying about the testing of the balls? Do you think it’s possible that Walt Anderson is covering his ass for sloppy pre-game procedures? How do you know? The records don’t exist, do they? > [@](#): > > Do you think the NFL wanted this controversy as a way to get back at the Patriots? Do you posit that Goodell really wanted to fuck over the owner who got him a tens of millions of dollars a year raise? I really have no idea why the NFL decided to turn this into the clusterfuck it’s become. As I said above, normal procedure when you suddenly decide to change the focus/enforcement level on a rule you’ve basically been ignoring for years is to announce that fact. Instead they decided to run a sting - and did so with almost epic levels of incompetence. Look, I’ve already stated that I think the Pats and Brady probably cheated. However, a multi-BILLION dollar organization (even one that’s not “the fucking police out to catch a murderer”) that has the ability to level career-level penalties should be expected to be able to run (or hire someone to run) a professional investigation and should have a structured and transparent discipline process. I would also think an organization composed solely of the 32 member franchises (and all of whose employees owe their livelihoods to the money generated by those franchises) shouldn’t be running half-ass sting operations against one of the franchises based on the suspicions of another franchise. The NFL being comically inept doesn’t mean that Brady, et al didn’t cheat. It does however, make it damned difficult to evaluate this situation with any level of certainty necessary to suspend a guy for one quarter of the season. The next round of CBA negotiations is going to be fascinating. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2015, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/410 "2015-08-02T12:34:36Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > So, you think the guy with the supermodel wife (who’s apparently not entirely averse to posing whilst scantily-clad) should just hand his phone over to an organization infamous for its leaks and poor handling of sensitive information (see the Ray Rice video that got “lost”)? As I understand it, the NFL has admitted that it ended up getting all of the texts it wanted from the Patriots’ employees’ phones. I don’t know the basis for your understanding, but: " There is no question that Mr. Brady declined to make available to investigators electronic information, including text messages and emails, related to the subject of the investigation. He did so despite repeated requests for such information and notwithstanding the investigators’ offer to allow his counsel to select the responsive communications so that privacy of his personal communications could be maintained." and "Mr. Maryman was not given access to the cellphone that Mr. Brady had used between November 6, 2014 and March 5 or 6, 2015, the period that included the AFC Championship Game, its immediate aftermath, and the first six weeks of the investigation. As a result, the substance of relevant text messages on that cellphone was not, and could not be, reviewed. All we know is that Mr. Brady exchanged nearly 10,000 text messages with many individuals over this period of approximately four months.” > [@Zakalwe](#): > > Do you think it’s possible that Walt Anderson is covering his ass for sloppy pre-game procedures? How do you know? The records don’t exist, do they? What records do you expect? Anderson testified as to what he did. Do you want video evidence? DNA testing? He testified he tested the balls before the game and had to inflate two to get them to the proper levels. Do you have anything, other than idle speculation, to counter that? > [@Zakalwe](#): > > I really have no idea why the NFL decided to turn this into the clusterfuck it’s become. Because the Patriots deflated balls. If you ever wonder why the NFL investigated this, that’s why. Because the Patriots knowingly broke a rule. And rather than quickly resolve it, the Pats dug in their heels, trusted the gullibility of their fans, and turned a simple rule violation into a mess of over-lawyering and stupidity. > [@Zakalwe](#): > > Look, I’ve already stated that I think the Pats and Brady probably cheated. And I’ve agreed that the NFL isn’t very good at catching and disciplining rule breakers. We can all relax now. ---
**Author:** ![Monocracy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monocracy/32/4493_2.png) [@Monocracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monocracy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/411 "2015-08-02T14:26:57Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > But look, here’s the thing. Take these observations: > > 1. The Patriots balls were deflated (and at a differential rate from the Colts). > 2. The Patriots equipment guys had many discussions over a long period about deflating balls. > 3. One called himself the deflator. > 4. They discussed Brady’s dissatisfation with the ball pressure. > 5. They discussed the effects of the pressure on Brady’s performance. > 6. They discussed a connection between their actions and Brady’s performance. > 7. Gifts were given to these guys. > 8. Assertions about balls being deflated by the Patriots were made by others prior to this game. > 9. A video shows the balls being taken by one of the equipment guys into a bathroom. > 10. The equipment guy was not authorized to have them at that time. > 11. Tom Brady destroyed his cell phone on the day he was to meet with the investigators. > 12. The Patriots fumble rate changed dramatically when new rules were introduced regarding ball preparation. > 13. Tom Brady was instrumental in pushing for that change. > 14. The Patriots refused to present the equipment guys at the appeals hearing. I can take a crack at a few of these (I skipped two of them). 1. The measurements were taken in such an unscientific manner that they have very little value. a) The initial measurements were never even recorded. b) No measurements have ever been taken before at halftime, so no one knows what the measurements should look like. c) Different gauges gave different measurements. d) It is disputed which gauge was used at one point. e) Not all the Colts footballs were measured and they were measured at a different time than the Pats’ footballs (after being taken inside). Also, The Colts’ and Pats’ footballs experienced different conditions on the field and were prepped in a different way, so there is no way to say if the PSI would decrease similarly. 2. He used the word deflator once, during the offseason. Being an equipment guy for a professional football team, this could refer to numerous things involving his job. 3. So? Everyone knows Brady likes his footballs on the low side compared to other QBs. 4. So? 5. They’re equipment guys. Their performance will have an effect on Brady’s and the team’s performance. 6. My boss gave me a $25 gift certificate for Christmas, and I didn’t deflate a single ball for anyone. 7. Assertions don’t equal guilt. 8. Someone had to pee. 9. He did it in full view of referees and NFL officials. When the referee met the equipment guy on the field, he was not chastised or reprimanded. It was normal. 10. Hillary destroyed her emails. 11. A team that won 78% of its games is going to have a helluva good fumble rate. 12. I don’t understand why this is signifigant in any way. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/412 "2015-08-02T14:34:10Z")
> [@Monocracy](#): > > I can take a crack at a few of these (I skipped two of them). Great! Thanks for proving the point. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/413 "2015-08-02T14:54:12Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Do you think Walt Anderson was lying about the testing of the balls? Wells thought so. Or, rather, he had to pretend so in order to get the results he needed. Maybe that’s hard for you to swallow, but that’s the entire basis for your dudgeon, amusing as it is. > [@](#): > > Do you think the NFL wanted this controversy as a way to get back at the Patriots? Do you posit that Goodell really wanted to fuck over the owner who got him a tens of millions of dollars a year raise? Do you see any evidence of thought in anything Goodell does, especially in disciplinary matters? There’s no nefarious plot here, just bumbling by a small man desperate to regain whatever rep he might have had left after the Ray Rice matter and all the other issues the courts have slapped him down on. > [@](#): > > That’s what astounds me about you. Yes, the investigation was sloppy. But you’ll deny sloppiness, even while saying that’s all it is, whenever it produces an answer that lets you yell “Cheatriots!”. That does _not_ astound me about _you_. > [@](#): > > So, to your mind, one mistake not being corrected publically while the investigation was ongoing means everything that follows, all the texts, all the different people involved in the investigation, the referee, and Brady’s refusals to cooperate, and all the other evidence just simply falls apart? If the only evidence that points to a violation even having occurred is not valid, whether from simple sloppiness or actual framing, then none of the rest of that fucking matters, does it, Counselor? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/414 "2015-08-03T03:33:18Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > … just bumbling by a small man desperate to regain whatever rep he might have had … And THIS would sum up every post you’ve made in this thread. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/415 "2015-08-03T10:45:18Z")
It still hasn’t all sunk in yet, I see. It’s okay, take your time. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/416 "2015-08-05T22:30:42Z")
And now the Ravens are [denying they sent the e-mails they sent](http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13380713/baltimore-ravens-deny-tipping-indianapolis-colts-new-england-patriots-deflated-footballs) to the Colts, even though they’re in the NFLPA court filings. Seems to me we’ve discussed that before here, haven’t we, **Hamlet**? :dubious: ---
**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:** [August 6, 2015, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/417 "2015-08-06T00:00:32Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Seems to me we’ve discussed that before here, haven’t we, **Hamlet**? :dubious: You trying, and failing miserably, to blame another team for the investigation? You trying to divert attention from the actual facts of the deflation, just as Harbaugh emphasized in the article you linked to when he said: "“It seems like somebody is trying to distract from the real issue here, which is deflated footballs, I guess, and take the attention off somebody else.” Yeah, those sound really familiar. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/418 "2015-08-06T00:26:33Z")
As far as I’ve been able to find, the only emails that have anything to do with the Ravens were a couple of emails sent by Colts coaches that claim that the Ravens alerted them to a problem with the kicking balls. The communication is question was “Make sure the refs rotate the kicking balls cause last week they wouldn’t let our ball in the game. Their ball was done so poorly that it was nearly impossible to kick off deep…It was hard and not worked in well at all…Let Tom [McMahon, Colts special-teams coordinator] know he can call me at any time.” I haven’t seen any mention of actual emails from the Ravens, nor of anything regarding the Ravens concern over inflation levels. Can you provide a cite? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/419 "2015-08-06T01:37:25Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > But that doesn’t matter. The measured pressure of the balls, the texts between equipment handlers, the lack of cooperation and destruction of the phone, the video of the equipment guy, all the rest of it doesn’t matter. Don’t concern yourself with that actual stuff. What is important is Goodell sucks!! Everyone else does it!!! Haters gonna hate!!! The flaws in the investigation, the leaks to the press, and the tyranny of Goodell is what needs to be paid attention to. You certainly shouldn’t worry about the evidence of the rule breaking. Can’t be bothered to pay attention to that. No, you see it’s because “haters” or something. Even a completely casual fan like me pretty much takes it as a given that Brady cheated and the Patriots are repeated cheaters, but we are haters and so are the other teams so none of that matters. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401/420 "2015-08-06T01:53:42Z")
OK, so here’s a question: What do Patriots fans think a judge can do here? What does Tom Brady think a judge can do here? This has become a straight labor law case, the judge isn’t going to be revisiting the investigation. At most he can tell Goodell that the suspension is too long, which is a longshot since the CBA grants him wide latitude in that respect. If the judge does say that, what do you think Goodell is going to do? Just shrug his shoulders over it? No, he’ll say “OK, four games is too many… three sounds good”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-deflategate/719401.md?page=22)