Grapple Raven

@TXRavensFan  Absolutely agree. I read all of Dan's articles today and he is spot on. 

Particularly when he referenced the Patriot's formidable media cartel which I remarked on in an earlier post to Jo-75 (see earlier post).  That propaganda machine is real.  Especially when you consider as part of the "Kraft Group" which is the name of Robert Kraft's business conglomerate, he controls several NBC affiliates. (and PFT is under NBC too, in which Pats fans have an unusual presence on in the commentary section)

This is one of the best articles I've read today:  http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/05/11/patriots-are-suffering-for-their-lack-humility/Gd0B1FXDKf0qvtL5bcofsI/story.html?p1=Article_Trending_Most_Viewed#

You know what, maybe I'm angsty over this because the leading story on Huffington Post right now is about Deflategate. I bet CNN and NBC reported it too. This isn't news. This is a simple broken rule in a game. This has no impact on real life and people are exploding over it. It's not worth the hooplah it's getting. There are more important things than the PSI in a damn football and some people are acting like this is the worst thing that ever happened.

 

For Pete's sake it's a damn ball.

While I can see and understand your point of view, I would like to offer a thought for consideration that this possibly became a major news story due to the fact that it addresses the "culture of cheating" that swirls around this one NFL team in particular. 

This team was accused and caught for cheating in 2007. The fallout from that cheating incident would probably have been dead in the water at that point if that was the only incident and they cleaned up their act post haste with no other apparent issues.  But that has not been the case with this particular team. 

They also have been connected to other nefarious dealings (ie. snow plow gate, the tuck rule, headset irregularities, tampering with opposing teams communications, the 2006 rule that relates to this case), and so many other rule changes that would at the outset appear to have been done for their benefit alone that attack the integrity of the game, the spirit of competition and fair play and the concept of a level playing field in professional sports.

This is the case in point that this team has been allowed to bend, twist, stretch and break the rules of the NFL for so long that they no longer appear to believe that they are bound by the same rules as the other teams in the NFL.  This attitude of arrogance and self-perceived superiority has rubbed many in the NFL the wrong way for decades, as GM's, Head Coaches, teams and players, have all eluded to in this latest deflategate incident.   Combine that with the fact that this teams QB is heralded as being one of the best to ever play the game and now has a preponderance of evidence to support that he cheated after being held in the public's eye as the MVP of the latest Super Bowl victory and you have the proverbial can of worms opened for mass speculation. 

Is this just an issue with one team, or is it only a problem within the NFL, or is this an issue with sports in general?   Or could this be that this is representational of a much larger societal issue?   The moral, ethical components, the role model components, the "how do I explain this to my kids" component?, etc. and so many more.  That is what makes this compelling to so many, and why it is news.  Make no mistake about it, rightly or wrongly this "culture of cheating" has real life implications for a lot of people and it is about so much more than one broken rule in a game.   If this was just an issue of a broken rule in a game why has Brady's father has been defending his son in public so vehemently?  Because it is about more than that.  It is about the doctrines of trust, integrity, fairness, good faith, impartiality, decency, and honor...all the things we strive to live by.  How is Tom Brady going to explain this to his own children?    You may agree or disagree,  and that is fine, but the ramifications of this is about much more than just a football, but that is just my take on it.

Willie McGinest on the phone for NFLN, sniffling combined with muffled sobs. He's bemoaning the Patriots' penalties, forgetting about Spygate. Says Br*dy should have confronted the issue rather than playing dumb. Doesn't believe he intentionally cheated. Said the punishment would have been different had it been Cutler or Dalton - maybe so but then again they may have cooperated with the investigation and, oh yeah, their organizations don't have a history of it.

They also read Kraft's statements, just heard that for the first time. They're still on it with the pseudo-science that's been disproved a number of times? Oh goodness...

 Unbelievable isn't it?   They are so ticked off they got caught...that is what all the media posturing is about. lol  Their little "golden boy", Tom Terrific isn't so terrific after all!

What about Kraft's demanding an impology?

Lmbo, I swear this literally made me laugh out loud!  I was wondering if anyone else caught that!

ESPN has a poll asking if the suspension was Too Much, Just Right or Not Enough. 52% say that it's too much, while 23% say it's just right and 25% say it's not enough. 

 

Interestingly enough, they have a state by state breakdown and majority of people in MD are voting it was Too Much!!!! Hey get out of Ravens Country you band wagon Patriot fans! Interestingly enough, Pennsylvania says that it wasn't enough and Louisiana says it wasn't enough(though considering the penalty the Saints got for BountyGate, I see why lol).

 

Hilarious some of the comments by other players trying to now compare it to a PED suspension and even defending him. Hell, even the all time greatest receiver Jerry Rice tweeted out a tweet that defended the Patriots. Even an all time great doesn't care about the integrity of the game, then again Jerry admitted to using stickum on his gloves so I can see why he would defend hurting the integrity of the game.

Jo, I got news for you, that survey is a complete joke.  The New England Patriots fan base has a quite effective little media "propaganda" force within their fan base that goes to every social site and comments on them detailing the "Patriot Way" that combats any and all speculation against the Patriots.  It has been in operation for quite a while.  Usually they are most active in the comments section on PFT, but since the Wells Report they have been most active on Facebook because they know it reaches more viewers.  It has even been referred to on their own websites, telling their fans where to go and what to say. They scan all social media and find any slight crack of daylight that would point toward their agenda and plaster it all over social media in the hopes that something will stick so the local and national media will pick it up and hopefully run with it!  They influence (rig) a lot of polls as well.

Why do you think you haven't seen any of their fans on here lately? They are too busy on the major social sites try to pass off what they see as cracks in the Wells Report, hoping the media will pick up on those.     It is the absolute truth, sadly!  Their propaganda machine is no joke.

LeGarrette BlountVerified account ‏@LG_Blount 3h3 hours ago

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!! SMH #PATSNATION STAND UP!!!!!

There ya go!  Patriot propaganda machine in full force. Classic example.  Hundreds more like it. Just click on the #PATSNATION hashtag above and you'll see it in full force. (beware of the language though, lol)

This makes me sick!  Brady's agents explanation

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/05/11/agentstatement/MWXBbTLkKdAOLmZCSn9S9L/story.html?p1=Article_Trending_Most_Viewed

Excerpt: " The report also presents significant evidence the NFL participated with the Colts in some type of pre-AFC Championship Game planning regarding the footballs. This fact may raise serious questions about the integrity of the games we view on Sundays."   

That comment is truly laughable!!!

Excerpt: "Sadly, today’s decision diminishes the NFL as it tells its fans, players and coaches that the games on the field don’t count as much as the games played on Park Avenue."

No, Yee it says the exact opposite!!!  The only thing diminished is your client's legacy.  Perhaps if Tom Brady was so concerned with his legacy, he should have thought about it before he made the deliberate decision in which he CHOSE to cheat.

" *the extent to which the club and relevant individuals co-operated with the investigation

                 1) the refusal by the club's attorneys to make Mr. McNally available for an additional interview

                  2) failure of Tom Brady to produce any electronic evidence (emails, texts, etc.)

                  3) significant that key witnesses —Brady, Jastremski, McNally — were not fully candid during the investigation."

 

So the NFL by using they're rationale of "More probable than not" expect teams to incriminate themselves during investigations. I find this hilarious. The NFL has handled every incident this season in the poorest way.

 

So without proving guilt "Beyond a reasonable doubt" they've suspended and potentially tarnished the reputation of one of the games greatest QB's.

TDubbs, the NFL is a private corporation, and as such is not required to be held to the same criminal standard as one would be in an American criminal court of law, that you alluded to above in your comment.

"The NFL will apply a low standard of proof to the Deflategate investigation, which means that the NFL doesn’t necessarily need an air-tight case to conclude that the Patriots broke the rules." 

When applied to American Law, the NFL Rulebook standard compares to that of a civil case which is "preponderance of evidence" meaning that it is a lower standard of proof as defined as "more likely than not" that something occurred, as compared to a criminal case which holds to a much higher standard of proof by "beyond a reasonable doubt" which connotes that evidence establishes a particular point (to a moral certainty) that it is beyond dispute that any reasonable alternative is possible.

This is from the actual NFL Rulebook as explained by PFT as to the difference in the standard of proof that would be applied by the NFL in its investigation cases:  :http://profootballta...to-deflategate/

This is what a lot of folks are missing when discussing this case, this case isn't being tried in an American court of law, therefore the criminal case standard of proof of "beyond a reasonable doubt" DOES NOT apply to deflategate.  But rather since the NFL is a private corporation with its own rules for operation, it goes by the civil case standard of "preponderance of evidence" which equals to a lower standard of proof which means it is more likely than not that something occurred based on the evidence discovered.

Brady's slap on the wrist from his letter from the NFL outlining his punishment:

"Your actions as set forth in the report clearly constitute conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the game of professional football. The integrity of the game is of paramount importance to everyone in our league, and requires unshakable commitment to fairness and compliance with the playing rules. Each player, no matter how accomplished and otherwise respected, has an obligation to comply with the rules and must be held accountable for his actions when those rules are violated and the public's confidence in the game is called into question."

Perhaps his daddy should have told him this earlier, lol.

NFL's rationale for the punishment in a nutshell:

*"...Patriots have violated the NFL's Policy on Integrity of the Game and Enforcement of Competitive Rules, as well as the Official Playing Rules and the established guidelines for the preparation of game footballs set forth in the NFL's Game Operations Policy Manual for Member Clubs."

From the NFL letter:  "...several factors that merit strong consideration in assessing discipline."

*club's prior record

*the extent to which the club and relevant individuals co-operated with the investigation

                 1) the refusal by the club's attorneys to make Mr. McNally available for an additional interview

                  2) failure of Tom Brady to produce any electronic evidence (emails, texts, etc.)

                  3) significant that key witnesses —Brady, Jastremski, McNally — were not fully candid during the investigation.

Source: http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/excerpts-from-nfls-letters-to-patriots-brady/ar-BBjD9HB?ocid=U142DHP

This link has excerpts of the NFL letters to Brady and the Patriots organization that explain the rationale for the punishment they received from the league, which basically covers the Wells Report findings to a tee.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/excerpts-from-nfls-letters-to-patriots-brady/ar-BBjD9HB?ocid=U142DHP

I personally feel that Brady should have been suspended for the entire season, at a minimum of six games at the very least.

I wouldn't count Cam Worthy out just yet!  Sorry, you know I gotta pull for my guy! lol  Seeing a lot of #81 catching in rookie camp.

Besides Brady refusing to cooperate, the Patriots did not allow Wells permission to meet with McNally again later in the investigation. Wells said they would meet with McNally whenever or where ever he wanted to meet, but it is believed that the patriots didn't even tell McNally that Wells wanted to meet again. Another offense of conduct detrimental to the league, this after the Pats agreed to fully cooperate. Anyone with any common sense knows that this is a cover up and the Pats would rather not cooperate and take the punishment than let everyone know what was really going on. Who knows how else they have been cheating over the years.

You are correct. NFL security officials met with McNally several times before the NFL commissioned an outside investigation by the Wells Report. As seen in the comments below from the Wells Report, the investigators from the Well Report had interviewed McNally it appears once and requested a reinterview, but were denied by the Patriots legal team.

"3 We made written requests to counsel for the Patriots on February 28, March 2, 3, 9 and 17 for a follow-up

interview with McNally. Counsel for the Patriots repeatedly refused to make McNally available for a reinterview

claiming, among other things, that McNally lived more than an hour away and already had missed

work at his full-time job to attend earlier interviews. In addition, counsel for the Patriots asked that we provide

in advance the subjects we proposed to cover, submit written interrogatories, and stated that “you have given

me very little incentive or basis to try to get him back once more.” As noted above, we offered to meet with

McNally at any time and any location that was convenient and explained that it would not be appropriate from

an investigative standpoint to disclose in advance the specific subjects we intended to cover. We cautioned

counsel for the Patriots in writing that: the “refusal to make Mr. McNally available for a brief follow-up

interview raises serious concerns and is inconsistent with the obligations of the Patriots under the League Rules

to provide „full support and cooperation‟ in the investigation. We also believe it is inconsistent with the public

expressions of cooperation by the Patriots.” Counsel for the Patriots continued to refuse to make McNally

available as requested."  ~Pages 27, 28, 29 of Wells Report.

FYI:  In the Wells Report, the summary and evidence is only 139 pages long, but it is double spaced so it really isn't quite as long as it seems, lol.  The remainder of the report contains all the addendums relating to the scientific date regarding footballs, PSI, testing data, weather conditions, theory, etc.  

It is an easy read, and parts are quite entertaining (relating to the text messages).

Lol, Steve Smith literally stealing bases. He is such a character, lol. Looks like all the fellows and everyone had a great time.

Lmbo!!! No matter what you think of Olberman this is down right hilarious!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/08/keith-olbermann-tom-brady_n_7242736.html

What was he saying? Brady didn't do anything wrong and we're all haters (well he's right about us being haters, but you get the point)?

Lol, I do. Bruski was saying that he "knows" Tom Brady and he "knows" Tom Brady would NEVER do anything to compromise the game, yada yada yada! Basically taking the exact same stance as Brady's agent.  Bruski was just so angry it was almost comical.  I am never amazed at the lengths Patriots and ex-Patriots go to defend that organization.  Belicheck's brainwashing to "the Patriot Way" is amazing isn't it? lol  "Hear no evil. see no evil, speak no evil" is alive and well in NE. lol

Nice idea - but first, Brady might not even be arount the next time the patriots play the Ravens (next season that is), and also, the report does not indicate there's any kind of evidence aboput them using illegall balls against us. They might have - but there's no evidence. The only game where it is proven that there were fishy balls was the Colts game.

 

(Not as if that alone wasn't bad enough...)

Given the pattern of exchanging gear from Brady to Jastremski and McNally, the Well Report even alludes that they did that in our game with them, as it appears they were paid off in gear to tamper with the footballs.

"Jastremski believes that he gave McNally the requested gear—a hooded sweatshirt and

a pair of sneakers—sometime around January 7, 2015, shortly before the divisional playoff game

between the Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens." ~ Page 83 of Wells Report

Omg, listening to Ted Bruski on ESPN, what a homer trying to defend the Patriots...he must have had his bell rung tooooooo many times! I think he is going to have an apoplectic fit, lol. He looks like he is going to cry he is so mad.

Wow, Brady and his agent are just digging another hole!

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/07/don-yee-explains-bradys-refusal-to-provide-texts-and-email/

Read the entire Wells report last night. Brady was far more directly involved than I thought the NFL would ever end up concluding...or maybe admitting. Wells exposed Brady as a liar as well as a cheater. Kudos to the Wells investigation for being fair and impartial. Now I want the NFL to bring down the hammer on the Golden Boy with the same force others have gotten for a lot less.

Well stated Salamander! Couldn't agree more.

I don't understand how people can conclude it's no big deal when it's possible they've been doing it for years and there's data that suggests that they are outliers in fumbles per play. It's not crazy to think that stat might be a result of tampering.

Absolutely agree with your statement DraiNBamagE.  The Wells Report even alludes that they did that in our game with them, as it appears they were paid off in gear to tamper with the footballs.

"Jastremski believes that he gave McNally the requested gear—a hooded sweatshirt and

a pair of sneakers—sometime around January 7, 2015, shortly before the divisional playoff game

between the Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens." ~ Page 83 of Wells Report

I absolutely love this quote from the statement by Brady's agent today:     "One item alone taints this entire report," the statement said. "What does it say about the league office's protocols and ethics when it allows one team to tip it off to an issue prior to a championship game, and no league officials or game officials notified the Patriots of the same issue prior to the game?"
 

If I was the agent for Brady, I don't think I would be bring ethics up in a conversation, lol    So in other words they were essentially saying: when the NFL found out we were cheating again for God knows how long, the least they could have done was to inform us ahead of time so we could have covered it up. We are questioning the league's ethics because they didn't inform us that they knew we were going to cheat so we could have changed things up on them and not gotten caught.  How dare they?

If that doesn't represent a sense of entitlement, I don't know what does. I swear ya'll , you can't make this stuff up, lol  The Patriot's arrogance is unbelievable!!!

I can't wait to see Reed back home where he belongs tomorrow at his retirement press conference. Welcome home Ed!!!

I'd like to know when Kraft's apology is coming out to the fans of football. (sarcasm)

Can you imagine what it was like being around the facilities of that stadium today after the release of the Wells Report?  Brady with all his assertions that he did nothing wrong...he made his owner look like a senile octogenarian, he flat out lied to his head coach and had Belicheck in the bowels of the stadium concocting some weird atmospheric theory to explain away Brady's lies. You can't make this stuff up, lol.  If it wasn't such an affront to the integrity and spirit of fair competition it would be amusing.

It is time to get out the duckbills, because fans are tired of getting tinkled on and told it is raining! Goodell and Vincent it is time for accountability for the Patriots.

Wow!  Hmm, I think Tom put the cloud over himself Mr. Brady.  After reading this I can definitely see where the sense of entitlement comes from! Geesh Louise!!!

http://nesn.com/2015/05/tom-brady-sr-league-had-to-cover-themselves-this-was-framegate/