Lionbackers.com

Forfeit a game for a deflated ball. You're joking.

Simply force the teams to have an independent group provide the game balls or have all checked by a league official and put the balls in the officials hands.

There was an in game remedy and it should have been taken even if they stopped the game. How freaking long to check the air in the game balls?
Or fix 1 or 2 and deal with it at the half.

Tempest in a tea pot.

I don't see why it is a problem. There should be no rules about this. If every team had the right to inflate their balls to whatever they want, then the playing field would be level. Does the cfl have such asinine rule?

In a 457-page transcript released on Tuesday, Brady maintained his innocence in the NFL scandal known as "Deflategate." He denied discussing air level with the ballboys or even thinking about how inflated the footballs were when he selected them. He also said he's never asked anyone from the Patriots to tamper with footballs.

Although Wells asked repeatedly for Brady's cellphone, the investigator also testified: "I did not tell Mr. Brady at any time that he would be subject to punishment for not giving -- not turning over the documents. I did not say anything like that."

Read more: http://www.canada.com/business/Deflateg ... z3hxWDVjBa

WestCoastJoe wrote:

In a 457-page transcript released on Tuesday, Brady maintained his innocence in the NFL scandal known as "Deflategate." He denied discussing air level with the ballboys or even thinking about how inflated the footballs were when he selected them. He also said he's never asked anyone from the Patriots to tamper with footballs.

Although Wells asked repeatedly for Brady's cellphone, the investigator also testified: "I did not tell Mr. Brady at any time that he would be subject to punishment for not giving -- not turning over the documents. I did not say anything like that."

Read more: http://www.canada.com/business/Deflateg ... z3hxWDVjBa

What right does the NFL have to his private phone? A guy could be hiding personal messages with his wife, sexting with his gf (not accusing Brady but speaking generally about all players)>

What personal protection does Brady and other players have that their phones and personal messages aren't subject to scrutiny by their employer or the NFL?

We'd not want our PERSONAL phones to be turned over to our employers.

I'm curious.

Noteworthy two are two things:

1. the Brady suspension is worse than if the guy were to be a criminal.

2. there was an in game remedy available - collect the balls and inflate them to standard during the game. Make them play with one okay ball while someone pumps the others.

Points well made, Toppy.

Some other issues ...

* The NFL has had guys accused of murder. No doubt rape. Drugs. Crime. Guns. Gambling. And here is Brady, seemingly squeaky clean. And the NFL treats him, as you say, like a criminal.

* Over what? A small difference in the air pressure in footballs?

* As noted, back in the day of Red Grange, the footballs were all scuffed up, misshaped from abuse, and of greatly varied air pressure.

* I agree about the cell phone.

* No one has said Brady did the inflating.

* Is there any proof, he asked an equipment guy to do it? Any proof he even talked to them about lowering it? No doubt he has expressed his preference. There is some leeway there.

* The upshot -- The NFL, filled with scandal, is trying to crucify one of its good guys, over what should be a minor matter. Get better security for the footballs, if it is deemed to be so important. And the level of difference, as in this case, is not important, IMO.

It seems as though — almost as if to compensate for the underinflation of those footballs — the "scandal" surrounding them has become overinflated.

sj-roc wrote:It seems as though — almost as if to compensate for the underinflation of those footballs — the "scandal" surrounding them has become overinflated.

It's become huge and instead of making the NFL look like - wow, did we clean up a scandal - instead they look like they've gone overboard and can't get out of it. Two conferences in front of the judge in Aug should fix it up as the judge could threaten both parties to fix it or you both might not like what I will say or do next.

But the Brady brand tarnishing and questions will always be there and they aren't calling it Ballghazi for just plain fun. They want that kind of questioning (and smear) of Hilary Clinton to fit NE and Brady.

Btw they have Deflator's side of the text messages - so not sure how it isn't all in on what Brady was texting.

This is not the end but only the beginning.

http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/08/19/deflat ... ard-berman

Brady's lawyers seem to be making a case of it.

The Judge in what he is saying is not seeing the deflated ball issue as a parallel to drugs and has some issues with the NFL's process - Wow, Brady might go for the win versus a tie here.

But Judges especially in a process like this can ask questions like at the Supreme Court of Canada (only to rule another way) BUT this story reads another way.

Basically a Judge like this might not see a lot of merit in the NFL making a big deal of this and in the process not giving fairness to Brady. Goodell could be a loser here.

Brady wins big.. Breaking news

I think Goodell is making a very big mistake by being trigger happy on the appeal. This is ONE decision he should step back from and review their position before deciding to appeal. He could render himself totally out of a job with more losses.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/judge-rules ... 1441290243

Tom Brady Wins, NFL Loses ‘Deflategate’ Case
Judge erases 4-game suspension, maligns league for its handling of the scandal; NFL will appeal decision

Judge Richard Berman, in a New York court, seemed underwhelmed by the NFL’s arguments. Berman repeatedly pointed out during settlement conferences that the NFL had little direct evidence tying Brady to the deflated footballs.

“Based upon the foregoing and applicable legal authorities, the Court hereby denies the Management Council’s motion to confirm the Award and grants the Players Association’s motion to vacate the Award, thereby vacating the four-game suspension of Tom Brady, effective immediately,” Berman wrote in the decision.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Goodell said that the league respectfully disagreed with the nullification of the suspension. “We will appeal today’s ruling in order to uphold the collectively bargained responsibility to protect the integrity of the game,” said Goodell.

The way Goodell went after Brady seemed over the top.

Drugs, steroids, rape, violence against women, murder. These issues seemed to get less punishment than very slightly deflated footballs.

Nobody wins this one and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the League decides to take control over the game balls again. None of this would have happened at all if they hadn't caved to Brady and Manning to control game balls in the first instance. It was and is a dumb notion and one that begs for some to try and fiddle. Most of the fans of the NFL may think that the punishment was over the top but that is not the same as thinking that Brady didn't know about it. At this point, he will be the QB who got away with one. His legacy will never be the same. The NFL league reputation has been rather dim for quite some time in their handling of a number of issues regarding players and conduct so nothing new there.

Aside from the legal aspects, which are many ...

In the old days, footballs were beaten up during a game. And the game went on. Any difference in the outcome of the game? Not in the view of this fan.

It seems that Goodell has been trying to make this a statement case of how he is the proud custodian of the image of NFL football. And this despite all the legal issues with players. Wrong case, IMO.

Slightly deflated footballs? Pshawww, as the comic books say.

As Sir P notes, just let the league control the footballs, and their levels of inflation.

It's not over yet. The league has appealed the judge's decision. Stay tuned.......

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/23/sport ... .html?_r=0

Excerpt from a very long article.

N.F.L. Ignores Deflategate Science at Patriots’ Expense
...

The Patriots point to the now solid scientific consensus on Deflategate and question why the N.F.L. won’t back down, or apologize, or ... something. As for Kraft and Goodell, although they speak regularly, it is all business. Their friendship is basically over.

On Sunday, when the Patriots play the Broncos in Denver, the temperature is expected to be in the mid-40s, a little lower than the temperature in Foxborough, Mass., for last year’s A.F.C. championship game. There is likely to be some precipitation, just as there was last year, which also will affect the balls.

At the start of the game, the Patriots’ footballs will be set at lowest allowable p.s.i., just the way Brady likes them. At halftime, they will be lower, probably significantly lower.

After all, that’s what science predicts. And you can’t ignore the laws of science, unless, of course, you’re the N.F.L.