[News] Sal Paolantonio Clarifies Comments On Steve Bisciotti

[BR News]

The ESPN reporter said ‘I was wrong to say what I said’ about Bisciotti’s thoughts on ‘Deflategate.’

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[HayintheBarn]

It would be nice to get paid to just make stuff up.

[salamander]

Sal Pal was irresponsible to have made inflammatory and blatantly untrue comments without first verifying the accuracy of his intended statements. However, I must admit that it is refreshing to see that he at least stepped up to take responsibility rather than slither away in silence, staunchly defend himself or try to spin/downplay that he was in the wrong. In other words, since Sal "manned up", I'm not as irritated as I would be otherwise. I would be a whole lot less pissed off at Tom Brady had he "manned up" about DeflateGate right away. Controversy wouldn't still be going round and round 8 months later.

Edited July 27, 2015 by salamander

[The Greek]

at least he owned up to his wrong doing unlike that cheating bozo up north that wears #12

[Rich McG]

Another lying reporter. Glad Mr. Bisciotti cleared the air.

[ravenisthebest7]

Didn't Sal basically just admit guilt for defamation?

[bioLarzen]

And just how lucky this guy is that our owner isn't the suing kind of person...

[hen826957]

Patriots fans needs to apologize to Bisciotti of what there saying yesterday about our owner but they won't. Bisciotti is a pure class act.

[Bandit666]

I stated yesterday that Paolantonio reports hear say as the truth and is wrong 99% of the time. He should be the next ESPN reporter fired for making damaging remarks. I also read about NE fans blasting Mr. Bisciotti. I agree, the Patriots fans and the team itself should apologize. The Pats and their fans are a bunch of stuck up, cheating cry babies.

[Nick04263]

So what we learned is we can't trust any comments by reporters? This isn't really news. I myself make speculatory comments and pass them off as fact all the time. Difference is no one listens to me anyway and I am not a reporter.

[ellicottraven]

So this chump Sal Paolantonio is a punk reporter from ESPN as well. I really thought this guy was actually a reporter. It turns out he is a classic speculator as well! To think these punks make stuff up and just say it like it is Gospel should make their employers queasy enough to fire them!

[Nick04263]

Pats fans hear and believe what they want. A retraction means nothing to them now. Damage is done in their case. We need Tom Brady's mom to come out and state how much of a cheater her son is and always has been. That or better yet his grandmother. Like the skit by Dave Chappelle about R Kelly.

[Nick04263]

Sal is not liked by the local reporters one bit here in Baltimore. Just ask the Lantern (aka. Jerry Coleman).

[January J]

Backpedalin like a mug.

[Grapple Raven]

Would like to know who took ole' Sal to the woodshed for his "speculation" because somebody surely called him on the carpet as he did some major backpedaling today!    I wonder how he will be received when he visits Training Camp later next month, lol.

[20306cab]

If I never hear about "deflategate" again, it'll be too soon.

[MissRay27]

Another ESPN case of misreporting facts. Sal how could you besmirch Bisciotti's good name?

[Swagger]

Free Sal...he was just sucking up to Patriot fans, giving them what they want to hear.

[RavenManiac#7]

From what he is Now saying, he should have predicated his remarks on the interview as being what he is Now claiming, his statement was his opinion and his own speculation, NOT a fact. Just how does he expect people to know that? A man in his profession and position should know that. Sorry, Sal, too little and too late. Besides, it sounds a bit unplausable anyway. When a professional is being interviewed he knows, or Should know, proper protocol. He has to know that most people were going to accept what he said on its face value. One must be more careful so that one does not look like a fool, huh, Sal?

[RavenManiac#7]

Not me, 20306cab. I want to hear that Brady's suspension is upheld by Goodell and, if necessary, by the Federal Courts.

[757RavensFan]

My hate for the Patriots has eclipsed my hate of the Steelers and that says a lot.

[jravens13]

Billacheat. If I were the NFL, I would say enough with this nonsense. Take away every draft pick in 2016 and see what they try to get away with after that. There is no room in sports for cheating. Fan's invest too much of their time, money, and emotions into the game to be conned. Players earn a living off of the success of their team, its how they take care of their families, and they have a very limited time to play. Drop the hammer not the toothpick.

[Drew P]

Anything to pound down a small market team into the ground.

[Edgar]

Now that he has been fully "exonerated"he should demand that the league issue an impology.

Edited July 28, 2015 by Edgar

[samilbourne]

Here's my take: While I'm glad Sal Paolantonio issued a statement saying that he lied about the facts in a story (this must be an epidemic - first Brian WIlliams, now this guy), I would, in fact, like Steve Biscotti and the other owners to rise up and demand that the penalty be upheld. Brady should be suspended for not cooperating with the investigation. Playing in the NFL is not a right; it's a privilege, and Brady should be told that you either take your punishment of four games or never play again. Period. I'm tired of all of the "rights" of players. It's not a right to play in the NFL, or else we all would demand our time in the league. If most of us defied our employers and refused to cooperate with an investigation in our workplace, we would be fired. The same should apply here. Let Brady sit his four games.

[cobrajet]

I am glad he apologized and I hope he will be more careful with his words in the future.

[rmcjacket23]

Here's my take: While I'm glad Sal Paolantonio issued a statement saying that he lied about the facts in a story (this must be an epidemic - first Brian WIlliams, now this guy), I would, in fact, like Steve Biscotti and the other owners to rise up and demand that the penalty be upheld. Brady should be suspended for not cooperating with the investigation. Playing in the NFL is not a right; it's a privilege, and Brady should be told that you either take your punishment of four games or never play again. Period. I'm tired of all of the "rights" of players. It's not a right to play in the NFL, or else we all would demand our time in the league. If most of us defied our employers and refused to cooperate with an investigation in our workplace, we would be fired. The same should apply here. Let Brady sit his four games.

Not quite, because there's a couple things you're ignoring...

 

1. They have a Union. When you have a Union, the "rights of the players" matters significantly, and I'd argue its one of the single most important aspects of the NFL's continued existence. If you yourself were employed in a profession or industry where you had a Union to represent you, I can guarantee you wouldn't even remotely be fired for failing to cooperate with an investigation like this.

 

2. You don't just accept penalties without at least questioning their validity and the basis for which they were arrived at. If you do, you're not doing yourself or anybody else any good, regardless of whether its a privilege or a right. Tom wants to know why his transgressions warrant a four game suspension, and logically, he's looking at what previous people have done in this instance and determined that his punishment just doesn't make that much sense.

 

Comparing our own personal places of business to the NFL is always a bad idea, because there's practically zero organizations that have the same rules and processes that the NFL or other sports organizations do. Microsoft doesn't even remotely operate the way the NFL does, and neither does any other company for that matter.

[January J]

Well whether or not "pressure " was being put on Goodell from other owners, (bc it definitely wasn't in the footballs) the 4 game suspension was upheld. Good riddance. Obviously Goodell was feeling the heat.

Edited July 28, 2015 by January J

[rmcjacket23]

Well whether or not "pressure " was being put on Goodell from other owners, (bc it definitely wasn't in the footballs) the 4 game suspension was upheld. Good riddance. Obviously Goodell was feeling the heat.

And now the legal battle begins...

 

For the record, I expect two things to happen:

 

1. Brady to start Week 1 against Pittsburgh

2. His ban to get reduced in some form or fashion, likely via arbitration.

[The Mom Gene]

And now the legal battle begins...

 

For the record, I expect two things to happen:

 

1. Brady to start Week 1 against Pittsburgh

2. His ban to get reduced in some form or fashion, likely via arbitration.

This is going to reduce his legacy big time....  if he destroyed evidence????  He's got no shot at winning the appeal.