Something has to change. I have loved NFL football all of my life and tonight is the first game of the season. One of my favorite days of the year and I can't force myself to watch. The Patriots are cheaters and Goodell had no choice but to let them get away relatively unscathed after Spygate "for the good of the league". The opposite has happened. You've ruined the game for me. I suspect I'm not alone.
1
Unbelievable. We used to admire winners; now we just whine that they must be cheaters and turn the channel because our team isn't winning.
Spygate resulted in unprecedented punishment for a practice that was widespread (ask Jimmy Johnson) just the year before, and was still permitted if you did it from the designated places in the stadium. Never mind that coaches assume that the other team is trying to steal their signals to this very day, and never mind that 70,000 fans in the stadium could bring in cameras to film whatever they want, including the coach's signals.
Everything else is paranoid delusions and excuses of frustrated losers, including Deflategate. If the NFL understood the Ideal Gas Law, they never would have thought for one second that the balls were tampered with, because science explains the drop in air pressure.
You're missing out on enjoying the virtuosity of the greatest quarterback of all time. What he accomplishes on the field is undeniable and amazing.
You're missing out on enjoying the brilliance of the greatest coach of all time. The strategies he employs in getting wins for his team are incredible.
Spygate resulted in unprecedented punishment for a practice that was widespread (ask Jimmy Johnson) just the year before, and was still permitted if you did it from the designated places in the stadium. Never mind that coaches assume that the other team is trying to steal their signals to this very day, and never mind that 70,000 fans in the stadium could bring in cameras to film whatever they want, including the coach's signals.
Everything else is paranoid delusions and excuses of frustrated losers, including Deflategate. If the NFL understood the Ideal Gas Law, they never would have thought for one second that the balls were tampered with, because science explains the drop in air pressure.
You're missing out on enjoying the virtuosity of the greatest quarterback of all time. What he accomplishes on the field is undeniable and amazing.
You're missing out on enjoying the brilliance of the greatest coach of all time. The strategies he employs in getting wins for his team are incredible.
2
Typical of Goodell, the NFL and ESPN, change your story, leak false information. Time will show and eventually reveal their propaganda, corrupt behaviors and usa of money to steer stories.
2
Of course any Patriots fan is going to shun the findings of ESPN's "Outside the Lines" report, as the team itself attempted to do in a terse statement that urged readers to focus on the team's accomplishments. I found it fascinating and damning, and, not surprisingly, shows the lengths the Patriots were willing to go at least bend the rules to their advantage. The comments from the Rams and Panthers former coaches or players about their Super Bowl losses were particularly insightful. It's possible all four of the Patriots titles could be tainted.
As for Deflategate, Goodell pointed out on "Mike & Mike" that it's not over, and the NFL has had better luck in the appeals process. While cameras were not allowed in the courtroom, listening to Sal Paolantonio and Adam Schefter describe Judge Berman made it sound like he grandstanding (a la Judge Ito?) throughout the case. An appeals court may be more concerned with whether the collective bargaining was followed, rather than whether Tom Brady was "wronged." For now, at least, Brady destroys potentially crucial evidence (that, Patriots fans, could have exonerated him, right?!), and gets away with it.
As for Goodell, he is never going to give up the league's ultimate say in the discipline process... but for most cases, he needs to delegate the decision-making to someone else. By this point, he's lost credibility with everyone except the NFL owners.
As for Deflategate, Goodell pointed out on "Mike & Mike" that it's not over, and the NFL has had better luck in the appeals process. While cameras were not allowed in the courtroom, listening to Sal Paolantonio and Adam Schefter describe Judge Berman made it sound like he grandstanding (a la Judge Ito?) throughout the case. An appeals court may be more concerned with whether the collective bargaining was followed, rather than whether Tom Brady was "wronged." For now, at least, Brady destroys potentially crucial evidence (that, Patriots fans, could have exonerated him, right?!), and gets away with it.
As for Goodell, he is never going to give up the league's ultimate say in the discipline process... but for most cases, he needs to delegate the decision-making to someone else. By this point, he's lost credibility with everyone except the NFL owners.
1
Who would want to change a system that allows him to be prosecutor, judge and jury?
1
The ESPN report should be regarded for what it is...sensationalizing of a story and pandering to the suspicions of non-Patriots fans for the purpose of grabbing the eyes of readers /viewers, not impartial sports journalism. Sort of like relying on Fox news to get the facts on Democrats.
4
Roger Goodell has not actually said there will be changed. Roger and the team owners are all about 'smoke and mirrors'. This suggested change in player discipline is only a different version of the old process. The NFL selects a designee, and Roger selects the person to hear the appeal. Nothing new there.
What is needed is an independent arbitration and appeals process. I suspect that the NFLPA is not going to accept anything less.
Roger Goodell is not the only problem, it appears that the team owners are hiding behind Goodell. They used 8 year old resentments of teams in the League to attempt to railroad Brady in Deflategate. The team owners are backing Goodell and their PR campaign is working over time trying to do their usual job of selling illusions.
What is needed is an independent arbitration and appeals process. I suspect that the NFLPA is not going to accept anything less.
Roger Goodell is not the only problem, it appears that the team owners are hiding behind Goodell. They used 8 year old resentments of teams in the League to attempt to railroad Brady in Deflategate. The team owners are backing Goodell and their PR campaign is working over time trying to do their usual job of selling illusions.
4
"The standards of the NFL are important to uphold." This is absolutely laughable. The league and its commissioner have had blinders on for years, learn nothing from experience, and continue going about as if they are untouchable. And we, the fans? We keep going to the games and feeding their arrogance.
8
Hopefully, the owners are saying there will be imminent changes within the NFL Commissioner's office, starting with the eviction of Roger Goodell.
5
The ESPN Outside The Lines report is interesting and explains a lot, most notably the harshness of the Brady punishment.
Bob Ley and his colleagues at OTL have an excellent reputation for fact checking and getting it right. If they are, it's no zero sum game for Goodell and the three-headed Patriot monster (Kraft/Belichek/Brady). They'll all go down - hard - and in infamy.
Bob Ley and his colleagues at OTL have an excellent reputation for fact checking and getting it right. If they are, it's no zero sum game for Goodell and the three-headed Patriot monster (Kraft/Belichek/Brady). They'll all go down - hard - and in infamy.
1
The ESPN article - fact checking? Try 90 people who were interviewed and only two were willing to go on the record.
4
An excellent scientific analysis written by Stephen McIntyre, "Deflating Deflategate" can be read at Twitter.com/ClimateAudit or the following www.climateaudit.org/tag/brady
"ESPN" has never been considered a reliable source for any sports information - rather it is considered a 'gossip-spreader' - trying to create 'buzz' for their show.
"ESPN" has never been considered a reliable source for any sports information - rather it is considered a 'gossip-spreader' - trying to create 'buzz' for their show.
4
Arbitration is an alternative dispute resolution procedure. It allows for a neutral, independent and fair process outside the courts to resolve factual disputes. What the NFL is trying to do, is claim that they are allowed to have an arbitration process that is NOT neutral, NOT independent and results in arbitrary and capricious factual findings and discipline based solely on the Commissioner's say-so.
Sorry, but that is not lawful. In the United States of America, that violates the Federal Arbitration Act. As long as the NFL insists on having an unfair process, the results of that process will be rejected by federal courts.
As Bob Costas said in his essay, the NFL Commissioner is the one 'tarnishing the shield' by insisting on his authority to impose unfair, arbitrary and capricious discipline.