But you're continually deflecting. PSI? Colts did it too? Come on. Your guy did it, lied about it and that's that. And that, my friend, is the Patriot way. Wouldn't you be a bit prouder of your team if there wasn't this cloud of impropriety looming over them, all the time? Just line up and do it without skirting the rules and there's never this discussion. Perhaps defense was the wrong word to use. Apologist might be better. I'd love to say that I respect the Pats from top to bottom but I don't. And for me as an NFL fan, that's a shame.

But for you to not respect the Pats for skirting the rules, then it would be tough to respect any NFL team. No I don't think the Pats should get a pass because I think all teams bend the rules. They got caught and I think there should be fine and probably a loss of a draft pick. But I'm not going to think any less of the organization just because they got caught.

But for you to not respect the Pats for skirting the rules, then it would be tough to respect any NFL team. No I don't think the Pats should get a pass because I think all teams bend the rules. They got caught and I think there should be fine and probably a loss of a draft pick. But I'm not going to think any less of the organization just because they got caught.

It's a pattern of behavior.

I'm still not seeing proof that they purposely cheated. I'm not a Patriots fan or apologist. Just waiting for the smoking gun is all.

I'm still not seeing proof that they purposely cheated. I'm not a Patriots fan or apologist. Just waiting for the smoking gun is all.

Like I said before. Don't need it in this league and the history of punishment.

Like I said before. Don't need it in this league and the history of punishment.

 

No argument there. I expect Goodell to do something. Just saying I don't agree with anything he may do because of lack of proof.

I don't think there's any chance Brady is suspended. None.

I don't think there's any chance Brady is suspended. None.

 

Nothing would surprise me.

I don't think there's any chance Brady is suspended. None.

 

I would be surprised also. They will levy a few hundred thousand fine, maybe lose a late round pick and change the protocol.

No argument there. I expect Goodell to do something. Just saying I don't agree with anything he may do because of lack of proof.

 

I think at this point the most they should do is fine and possible loss of draft pick. They in fact used under inflated balls so they did break the rules. However what ever they give to the Pats they will have to do to the Colts if their balls were under inflated as well.

It's a pattern of behavior.

 

Of not being sneaky enough, I agree.

If the balls were altered after they were inspected by the officials wouldn't that in itself be enough to be a breach of the rules? Regardless of the PSI before or after, once the balls are reviewed by the officials they should not be tampered with in any way. They seem to clearly have been. They amount of the PSI really doesn't matter after you get past the above fact.

 

The fact that the one guy is called the "Deflator" and emails going back for months before would seem to make it clear this was an ongoing issue and not a one time event.

 

Many on ESPN have said that there is no hard proof or no "Smoking Gun", there was never a gun found in the Aaron Hernandez case either. Sometimes it's the totality of the evidence not one video, photo or "gotcha moment" that determines a case.

 

Was Brady in the know as to what was going on with the balls, I think he was. He may not have known the exact process or how and when it was done, but I think he was aware. I think Tom's attitude about the balls were one of "Don't tell me about the labor pains, just show me the baby." He didn't care how it happened he just wanted the balls the way he wanted them.

 

I've said all along I don't think Brady or the Patriots will get much more than a slap on the wrist.

I believe the biggest problem that could lead to suspension and fines for both the Patriots and Brady is how they handled the investigation.

 

Here is Tom Brady's defensible argument IMO:

 

I like the football at 12.5 and have made that clear to the ball boys. There is nothing against the rules if the balls are at 12.5. I had no control or knowledge of anything done beyond that

This is directly from the report...where does it say the Colts balls were under inflated...

As a result, at halftime, members of the officiating crew assigned to the game, overseen by a

senior officiating supervisor from the National Football League (the “NFL” or the “League”),

tested the air pressure of footballs being used by each of the Patriots and the Colts. All eleven of

the Patriots game balls tested measured below the minimum pressure level of 12.5 pounds per

square inch (“psi”) allowed by Rule 2 of the Official Playing Rules of the National Football

League (the “Playing Rules”) on both of two air pressure gauges used to test the balls. The four

Colts balls tested each measured within the 12.5 to 13.5 psi range permitted under the Playing

Rules on at least one of the gauges used for the tests.

 

Each official used a separate air pressure gauge provided by

referee Anderson that Anderson had brought with him to the game, one of which

also had been used by Anderson for his pre-game inspection. Each of the eleven

Patriots balls tested at halftime measured below the minimum 12.5 psi level

established by the Playing Rules on both gauges. Each of the four Colts balls

tested measured within the permissible 12.5 to 13.5 psi range on at least one of

the gauges. The measurements were recorded in writing by Richard Farley, an

NFL security official who has been assigned to the Patriots and Gillette Stadium

for approximately twelve years. Only four Colts balls were tested because the

officials were running out of time before the start of the second half.

Balls were only considered under inflated if they failed on two of two gauges. The Colts balls all passed on at least one gauge and the Pats 11 balls all failed on both gauges.

IMO let teams decide how much air they want in footballs, dumb rule. If you want a good outcome, let teams fix it the way they want.

 

Just like NASCAR, if a team can figure out to add 5mph because of something, let them do it. Its the other teams fault for not figuring it out first.