Posted on 05/11/2015 5:55:09 PM PDT by Steelfish
May 11, 2015 NFL Suspends Tom Brady, Punishes Patriots For "Deflategate"
The NFL announced Monday that it was suspending New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for his role in a scheme to deflate footballs used in last season's AFC championship game, a controversy that came to be known as "Deflategate."
In a statement released Monday afternoon, the league said the Super Bowl MVP "will be suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2015 regular season for conduct detrimental to the integrity of the NFL."
The league also fined the Patriots $1 million and took away two draft picks, including next years' first-round choice, "for the violation of the playing rules and the failure to cooperate in the subsequent investigation."
In addition, the NFL indefinitely suspended the two Patriots equipment staffers who carried out the plan, including one who called himself "The Deflator."
The punishment was imposed five days after a 243-page report prepared by league-appointed investigator Ted Wells said Brady "was at least generally aware" of plans by the team employees to prepare the balls to his liking, below the league-mandated minimum of 12.5 pounds per square inch.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
A suspension and fine because he “probably” knew the balls were deflated. How can this hold water in the courts?? I hope he fights it.
I gotta know....what is he guilty of? I haven’t read all the info so please don’t flame me.....ok flame suit on.
Guess he should have showed up at the White hut.
Funny (as in strange..) how all Obama's detractors find themselves in trouble for not bowing to Herr Obama.
Yes, the snub was the real transgression. I’ll bet that toad Goodell got an earful from Jarrett.
The NFL has a set penalty for tampering with footballs and its a $25,000 fine.
But there is a bit of a loophole that allows the Commissioner to impose "other penalties" if he sees fit.
Like a 4-game suspension.
Loss of a 1st round draft pick.
Loss of a 4th round draft pick.
And a million dollar fine.
The commissioner had discretion -- and he used it.
The same way all civil cases where one party wins and one party loses hold water. Facts in a civil case are proven by a preponderance of the evidence. That is defined to the jury as "more probable than not". The NFL uses the same standard of proof in its investigations. Microsoft was subject to an antitrust judgment of billions using this standard of proof. Joe Nobody who gets sued for a fender bender also pays money if it's proved he's liable by a preponderance of the evidence. That's just how all of our cases work. Except in criminal matters, where the standard is "beyond a reasonable doubt". You seem to be applying that standard to what will be a much lower burden of proof for the NFL.
He can appeal it with the NFL thru his union. That's the way it works in the NFL. He'll appeal it for appearance sake and it will be denied. He'll accept it knowing he was damn lucky not to get a full season suspension.
He works under a collective bargaining agreement. Arbitration is the next stop. He'll probably have his scurvy cheating ass penalty reduced.
I like some of the posts on a Boston website -
If you suspend one, then you suspend all. Win as a team, lose as a team.
Don’t even take the field during the Brady suspension games - If Robert Kraft has the stones, refund the home game suspensions, and concede the victory to the other team.
Patriots will then go 12-4.
What court do you imagine would take the case?
Did you capture that conversation on your cell phone camera?
No one has ever mentioned “The Officials” in this entire investigation. No one can tell me that the game official whose responsibility is to retrieve the ball and place it at the appropriate yard line, did not notice that the game ball was less than adequately inflated. NFL Officials need to be held accountable for this mess as well.
Boy, does the NFL know how to blunder. Great job.
There, see, add 'probably' in there and BANG you have a case!
Roger Goodell cannot get any dumber!
Give him a raise!
Lawyer speak in the report for, “We think he did it, but cannot prove it.” And the whole thing pushed by the guy now in the league office who pushed Spygate from the Jets’ staff. As with Bountygate, the actions against Brady will not survive arbitration, unless he too is a Patriot hater.
He apparently has discretion to decide guilt out of whole cloth as well.
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