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Patriots Probably Deflated Footballs on Purpose, Report Says
New York Times ^ | 5-6-15 | Ken Belson

Posted on 05/06/2015 10:54:02 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic

An N.F.L. investigation has found that “it is more probable than not” that New England Patriots personnel intentionally deflated footballs to gain an advantage in the A.F.C. championship game last season, and that Tom Brady, the Super Bowl most valuable player, was probably aware of it.

No penalties have been announced.

The long-awaited report into so-called deflategate, released on Wednesday, concluded that it was probable that Patriots personnel were “involved in a deliberate effort to circumvent the rules.”

The report said that Jim McNally, a locker room attendant, and John Jastremski, an equipment assistant, released air from the footballs. It said that besides those two and Brady, no other Patriots personnel, including Coach Bill Belichick, were aware of the wrongdoing. The report separately determined that the Patriots had not deliberately tried to introduce an improper football for kicking and cleared kicker Stephen Gostkowski of any wrongdoing.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Sports; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: footballs; goodell; inflated; nfl; patriots; superbowl
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To: V_TWIN
...maybe in the future the teams should have to turn their balls over pregame for inspection and then be kept/monitored by the nfl throughout the game.

When this story first broke, I was surprised to find out that was not already in the rule book.

...as long as you're talking about FOOTballs, that is...

41 posted on 05/06/2015 11:37:09 AM PDT by WayneS (Barack Obama makes Neville Chamberlin look like George Patton.)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Can’t stand cheaters.


42 posted on 05/06/2015 11:37:52 AM PDT by RIghtwardHo
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To: Tallguy; WayneS

Hmmm, well I understood it. Guess that must make me a redneck........which I will wear as a badge of honor.


43 posted on 05/06/2015 11:39:52 AM PDT by V_TWIN
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To: WayneS

Yeah, maybe I shoulda made that a little clearer. lol


44 posted on 05/06/2015 11:42:29 AM PDT by V_TWIN
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To: yuleeyahoo

No, it means they can’t prove it 100 percent. They can prove it in a civil case, but not in a criminal case. Some civil cases require “clear and convincing evidence” which is a higher standard than “preponderance of the evidence”, and this report probably means that the higher standard can’t be met. But there is no standard of proof for NFL investigations, and I am sure some people have been disciplined on evidence which was not 100 percent. What matters is whether the NFL would lose in court if it disciplined these people, and if it did get taken to court, the NFL would probably be subject to proof at the lowest standard, i.e., more likely than not.


45 posted on 05/06/2015 11:43:40 AM PDT by Defiant (Making Stephy a news anchor is like making an arsonist the fire chief.)
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To: afraidfortherepublic
They should have referees in these games. Bet they could tell if somebody's balls were deflated or not. More likely than not.


46 posted on 05/06/2015 11:45:42 AM PDT by McGruff (What did Hillary know and when did she know it?)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

new england cheating..............again. Shocking!


47 posted on 05/06/2015 11:46:07 AM PDT by morphing libertarian (defund Obama care and amnesty. Impeach for Benghazi and IRS and fast and furious.)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

“We’re not sure, but they’re probably guilty.” Now where’s my lawyer fees?

Hillary not turning over emails = good
Tom Brady not turning over emails = bad

everyone got that?


48 posted on 05/06/2015 11:47:49 AM PDT by strider44
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To: McGruff
So the Colts can sue the Patriots, the crybabies. Incidentally the Patriots won, 45-7. Wahhh!

Where on earth do you get this notion from anything I said? I said that "more likely than not" is the standard used for civil cases in the United States of America. Whether the Colts have a lawsuit against the Patriots is determined by many other factors, and most likely, league rules would prohibit direct suit for a rules violation. Stick to being a Crime Dog.

49 posted on 05/06/2015 11:48:08 AM PDT by Defiant (Making Stephy a news anchor is like making an arsonist the fire chief.)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

“once a cheater, always a cheater...”


50 posted on 05/06/2015 11:48:36 AM PDT by latina4dubya (when i have money i buy books... if i have anything left i buy 6-inch heels and a bottle of wine...)
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To: latina4dubya

Exactly so. The Colts had sent a letter off prior to the game and indicated that is was known that Brady had the air released from the footballs ... seemingly often.

I think the league said probable because Brady is a ‘star’ player. But to me ... just like w/ Lance Armstrong ... if you cheat a little bit ... you’re still cheating and taking unfair advantage.

But probably not a thing will happen to Brady. Not a dang thing.


51 posted on 05/06/2015 11:57:35 AM PDT by conservaKate
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To: V_TWIN
Seattle passing with 26 seconds to play didn’t help either.

Worst play call in the history of the game at any level, including in the back yard between 8 year old boys.

52 posted on 05/06/2015 12:04:06 PM PDT by Tenacious 1 (POPOF. President Of Pants On Fire.)
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To: timestax

Worst. Photoshop. EVER.


53 posted on 05/06/2015 12:04:41 PM PDT by mkleesma (`Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.')
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra
Ha! They don’t to much anymore. In the old days?

AJ Foyt used to run extra gasoline in his role bars.

54 posted on 05/06/2015 12:05:13 PM PDT by Tenacious 1 (POPOF. President Of Pants On Fire.)
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To: McGruff
So the Colts can sue the Patriots, the crybabies. Incidentally the Patriots won, 45-7. Wahhh!

Yes the score was lopsided, but perhaps because once behind you tend to take more drastic measures that often leads to you falling further behind in the end. Everyone knows that a couple of well placed dropped passes could easily affect a game. Time of possession and other factors change game outcomes quickly. Certain people act like there is no cause and effect that would of changed outcomes. I disagree, there is no way to determine how a level playing field would change a game that has a unround ball. Games are won on tips and bounces as well as completed passes.

55 posted on 05/06/2015 12:07:11 PM PDT by LowOiL ("Abomination" sure sounds like "ObamaNation" to me.)
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To: afraidfortherepublic
Since Brady refused to meet with the good for nothing muzzie usurper in chief, even if he is guilty, he gets a pass from me.

Besides, to quote a loud, obnoxious, ugly, lying, treasonous politician: “What difference, at this point, does it make?”

56 posted on 05/06/2015 12:11:47 PM PDT by The Sons of Liberty (0bama may not be THE antiCHRIST, but he's definitely ANTI - CHRIST!)
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To: LowOiL

I certainly do not minimize cheating, but then again neither do I hold out mediocrity as fact and cling to it in matters of guilty or not guilty. The report was a huge let down for me. I have a dog in the fight...I AM a Pats fan, but I will GLADLY hold them fully accountable...I just wish the NFL would have had the guts to stand on something instead of just make “probably” accusations. I can make any number of “probable” assumptions. In 90 seconds it IS probable that you could deflate 13 footballs...its also probable that you could not. They used just enough nebulous wording to muddle the whole thing but let the haters walk around proclaiming adjudicated guilt.

As I understand, 3 of 4 measured from the colts were also below the min...When oh when will they investigate? They wont, they lost that game.

To me it was a bad report leaving nothing fully affirmed.


57 posted on 05/06/2015 12:13:41 PM PDT by ICE-FLYER (God bless and keep the United States of America)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

*

asterisk.


58 posted on 05/06/2015 12:24:23 PM PDT by BeadCounter
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To: BeadCounter

True dat!


59 posted on 05/06/2015 12:27:20 PM PDT by FamiliarFace
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To: afraidfortherepublic

60 posted on 05/06/2015 12:48:57 PM PDT by twister881
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