Please indulge me as I read all your posts, and my apologies for my long rant, but I had to get this off my chest: Admittingly, I am no fan of Roger Goddell, however after reading through Goodell's 20 page ruling in the Brady Appeal twice so far, Goodell got this one right and so did the Well's Report. Brady has been his own worst enemy! If you wish to prove your innocence you do not destroy the very evidence that could potentially prove your point unless you know it doesn't. You would have to have the IQ of a gnat not to realize that destroying evidence in an investigation would only lead reasonable people to question your integrity, not to mention the attempt at non cooperation with the investigation and an attempt to tamper with evidence in an investigation. More importantly and more damning is the timing of the destruction of the cell phone, which was on or about March 5th or 6th, which was the day he was interviewed by Ted Wells. Brady admitted in testimony in his appeal that he was aware prior to March 6th that the investigators had requested information from the cell phone, yet he instructed his assistant to have the cell phone destroyed KNOWING that it was at the forefront of the investigation, and had been requested for further investigation. Unbelievable!!! Still bewildering is the fact that his legal team said that Brady had a firm policy of destroying his cell phones on a regular basis, yet Brady actually denied this in his testimony, and more importantly if that was the case, why was his prior (before Nov.) cell phone and the one used after the investigation (post the Nov. cell) still in existence if this was a regular policy of his...so only the phone in question during the investigation was the one destroyed??? It is laughable! The point is further amplified as to the reasoning behind the destruction of that particular cell phone in question is that during Brady's appeal hearing there was no request to bring forth testimony from Jastremeski and McNally from the Brady legal camp, even though Goddell offered to hold the investigation open to permit them to be interviewed to evaluate their credibility before a decision was to be made on the appeal. However Brady and the NFLPA disclaimed any need for them to be interviewed. That is especially curious since in his appeal Brady referred to Jastremeski as a "friend" that would have had first hand knowledge of the situation that could have presumably backed Brady's claims of having no knowledge of an intent by him to deflate the footballs. Yet Brady, the NFLPA and his legal team didn't want them to be interviewed as part of his appeal. (Wonder why that was, especially since Brady earlier in interviews with NFL investigators had prior claimed not to know him at all) lol. The fact that the Patriots denied further interviews of Jastremeskie / McNally by the NLF Investigators prior to the Well's Report AND to the Well's investigators themselves is obvious of a cover up. The fact that Goddell offered Brady an attempt yet AGAIN for an interview on record in his appeal for first hand knowledge by these two equipment handlers of information to possibly credit Brady's claim of no knowledge of the deflation claims shows Goddell willingness to give Brady every opportunity to clear his name. Yet Brady and his camp refused this opportunity. That is suspicious. As for a question of Brady's innocence, one would assume that in an effort to clear ones name and reputation you would want to be transparent with all information out in the open, however now the Brady camp is requesting that the report from the appeal ruling be sealed. Unfortunately for him it makes a further case that a cover up is and has been underway. By sealing the appeal ruling it shows an attempt to control public opinion about Brady to possibly help with a further appeal. At this point I don't know who is more of an idiot, Brady or his legal team or both. lol But what is most apparent to me is that the "Patriot Way"...this bending of the rules, stretching the boundaries of what is legal within the rulebook, and decades of suspected and proven instances of cheating has led to a systematic ideology of arrogance, conceit, self-importance, and egotism that doesn't allow them to see their short comings and errors in an effort to overcome them. This ARROGANCE that has ensued for decades by trying to defend the indefensible is no more apparent than from the statement from the Patriot Organization today released in defense of Brady: “We are extremely disappointed in today’s ruling by Commissioner Goodell.” “We cannot comprehend the league’s position in this matter. Most would agree that the penalties levied originally were excessive and unprecedented, especially in light of the fact that the league has no hard evidence of wrongdoing. We continue to unequivocally believe in and support Tom Brady. We also believe that the laws of science continue to underscore the folly of this entire ordeal." “Given all of this, it is incomprehensible as to why the league is attempting to destroy the reputation of one of its greatest players and representatives.” That says it all! "...cannot comprehend, unprecedented, no evidence of wrongdoing, folly, incomprehensible..." That is arrogance at it finest! That hubris, pomposity, and haughtiness is why a majority of people find the Patriots and what they stand for reprehensible. Brady has now gotten his own britches caught on his own pitchfork. If Brady is so concerned for his legacy...well, perhaps he should have thought about that before his egotism got in his way on the field. Brady has no one to blame for this but himself, imho. Brady's righteous indignation is staggering, along with the Patriots' sense of entitlement!!! This is what you eventually get after decades of a culture of cheating.
