All things off season 2015.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/tom-brady-merchandise-sales-instantly-164330925.html


Sales merchandised doubled. Yeah....Bob Kraft isn't hurting too much out of all this. He's made millions off this whole fiasco.


Integrity?

Couldn't help but chuckle a little.

We're talking about the league that facilitates prescription drug proliferation and addiction?

The league that went to the ends of the earth to cover up concussion related information until they couldn't?

The league whose officials were caught on the Dallas Cowboy party bus with a bunch of future Hooters' waitresses?

The league who didn't realize knocking a woman out cold was really bad until the news media told them it was after they botched the punishment?

The league who knows Jerry Jones is talking to other teams' running backs and determines the tampering rules don't apply to the Cowboys?

The league who creates a "Commissioner's exempt list" out of thin air?

The league who penalized the Redskins 30+ million dollars for violating cap rules that didn't exist?

This league does whatever it wants with no consistency.

Every team breaks rules and most of those violations end exactly like the post above says, with a phone call that says we know what you're doing, quit.

Brady's punishment is a farce. Zero impact on the competitiveness of that game.

Intentionally roughing the passer has more of an impact on the outcomes of games than deflating a ball 1.2 psi. Suspend those guys. They are intentionally breaking a rule that impacts the competitiveness of the game.

I think you are confusing examples of "integrity of the game" with morality aspects. The NFL could care less if some 50 year old NFL vet offs himself due to lasting brain damage. It doesn't affect the game. Them not giving a shit is definitely a humanitarian/morality issue. Them not caring about domestic abuse doesn't affect the integrity of the game, it affects their image, which in turns affects their sponsors. Social issues don't affect the game, only their image.

When we talk about affecting the "integrity of the game", what we really mean is affecting the "outcome of the game". This is the point to which Joe/Schneed are talking about. What can affect the integrity(outcome) of the game is cheating. Video taping defensive hand signals, using stickem on their hands, pumping in fake crowd noise, deflating balls. This doesn't mean any of these actions WILL affect the outcome (integrity), just that it could. Even allowing the potential of these game changers could affect the public's perception (and value) of the game. That means more than anything in the grand scheme of it.

Also, I personally don't believe the Patriots (and Brady) were hammered the way they were merely over deflating balls or the integrity of the game. This was a cumulative punishment that took into the account their previous cheating history, the lying and refusal to cooperate, and lastly the actual act of deflating the balls. The bigger factors were their lying/cover up and past history.

Here's an interesting article comparing the current 49er GM (Baalke) vs the previous (McCloughan) and their draft picks and FA moves in 5 years for each of them. McCloughan is currently retired (fairly young guy).

Kawakami: And now the spotlight shifts to 49ers GM Trent Baalke: A look at his Pro Bowl count vs. Scot McCloughan's acquisitions (http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2014/12/29/baalke-vs-mccloughan-pro-bowl-count/)

I kind of like this one myself from 12/29/2014 page #6.

@NEPD_Loyko

Brady has hired Jeffery Kessler according to @AdamSchefter .. he is a pain in the ass. Was the biggest hurdle in the way of NBA/NFL CBAs



@Mike_Dyer13

Schefter on Sportscenter just said he got a text from a source today: "Brady's (legal) team is unreal. My prediction..he won't miss a game"





I think Brady's suspension will probably drop to 1-2 games.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/tom-brady-merchandise-sales-instantly-164330925.html


Sales merchandised doubled. Yeah....Bob Kraft isn't hurting too much out of all this. He's made millions off this whole fiasco.




I think you are confusing examples of "integrity of the game" with morality aspects. The NFL could care less if some 50 year old NFL vet offs himself due to lasting brain damage. It doesn't affect the game. Them not giving a shit is definitely a humanitarian/morality issue. Them not caring about domestic abuse doesn't affect the integrity of the game, it affects their image, which in turns affects their sponsors. Social issues don't affect the game, only their image.

When we talk about affecting the "integrity of the game", what we really mean is affecting the "outcome of the game". This is the point to which Joe/Schneed are talking about. What can affect the integrity(outcome) of the game is cheating. Video taping defensive hand signals, using stickem on their hands, pumping in fake crowd noise, deflating balls. This doesn't mean any of these actions WILL affect the outcome (integrity), just that it could. Even allowing the potential of these game changers could affect the public's perception (and value) of the game. That means more than anything in the grand scheme of it.

Also, I personally don't believe the Patriots (and Brady) were hammered the way they were merely over deflating balls or the integrity of the game. This was a cumulative punishment that took into the account their previous cheating history, the lying and refusal to cooperate, and lastly the actual act of deflating the balls. The bigger factors were their lying/cover up and past history.

You left out all the other instances that do affect the actual integrity of the game I mentioned in the post.

I bet Detroit fans would agree that referees partying with the Cowboys is probably a bad thing.

They treated Tom Brady differently because they wanted to.

What was Tom Brady's cheating history? Should they suspend Aaron Rodgers? Should they suspend the people from Minnesota?

Should they suspend any player who intentionally violates a rule that affects the integrity of the game or just this one?

If a safety comes across the middle and kills the other teams number 1 with a head shot on the first drive, does that affect the offensive teams competitiveness the rest of the game? Hell yea it does. Was it against the rules? Hell yea it is. It is an intentional violation of the rule that will detrimentally affect the offensive team's ability to use their number 1 receiver.

A headshot violates a rule just like deflating balls 1.2 psi. Is the post game interview a cover up when the safety says with a grin it was a football play I didn't intentionally rivet his ear hole with the crown of my helmet.

What makes this rule different than any other rule?

There are so many rules violations every week that affect the competitiveness of games. Blandino holds Minnesota's hand but they suspend Brady 4 games for the same violation.

Has the league asked to see Rodgers' phone yet?

Has the league called Tim Hasselbeck in to see which of his teams were feeding him the defensive plays through his headset since he announced it on national television? There is a darn good chance those individuals are still in the league.

Integrity and consistency mean nothing to that overpaid buffoon of a commissioner.

They treated Tom Brady differently because they wanted to.

What was Tom Brady's cheating history? Should they suspend Aaron Rodgers? Should they suspend the people from Minnesota?


No they didn't. Tom fucked himself by lying and refusing to cooperate. THAT is what got Tom his 4 game suspension, not the deflating balls. Had he told the truth and cooperated, at the least he's looking at a small fine and at the absolute worst it may have been a 1 game suspension.

Should they suspend any player who intentionally violates a rule that affects the integrity of the game or just this one?

They normally do if the situation calls for it. Breaking a rule within the game is one thing, manipulating situations to favor you during games is something completely different.


If a safety comes across the middle and kills the other teams number 1 with a head shot on the first drive, does that affect the offensive teams competitiveness the rest of the game? Hell yea it does. Was it against the rules? Hell yea it is. It is an intentional violation of the rule that will detrimentally affect the offensive team's ability to use their number 1 receiver.


So you consider manipulating air pressure in balls (not a normal game act and outside the game) to a hard hit (within the game) the same? It's not the same. Breaking a rule during the game is one thing and they are punished according. Those same guys that continue to hit hard also see fines increase and finally see suspensions. Did you not see many of the suspensions last year due to continued pattern of illegal hits? I believe our safety was one of them.


What makes this rule different than any other rule?

One is during the course of the game and is penalized via flags/yards and possible ejection depending on the action. The other is manipulating events or situations outside of the course of the game that could possibly affect a future game. They are totally different and not sure why I even need to explain that.


There are so many rules violations every week that affect the competitiveness of games. Blandino holds Minnesota's hand but they suspend Brady 4 games for the same violation.

It wasn't the same situation and I dont' recall Minnesota outright lying to the commissioner or refusing to cooperate.

Has the league asked to see Rodgers' phone yet?

When somebody turns in the Packers for deflating balls, I imagine he will be under investigation. I think Rodgers was just saying it was a common thing, which is why I believe the original punishment would have been a simple fine and slap on the wrist. However, Tom and the Patriots decided to play the "fuck you and your investigation" card and they paid dearly for it.




You are going off on a wild tangent to say the least and somehow you think the league has it out for Brady. If anything, the league has done nothing BUT protect Brady. Tuck rule ring a bell? The mere fact they changed the rules about defenders lunging at knees after Brady gets an ACL tear, yet didn't do shit when it happened to Carson Palmer? Puhhhhlease.....stop making Brady out to be some god damn victim.

One more thing to note since everybody is blaming Goodell.


TwitLonger — When you talk too much for Twitter (http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sm5lnq)



An NFL owner said in an interview with Bleacher Report that he supports the decision by Roger Goodell to hit quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots hard over Deflategate.
"The main thing (Troy Vincent) said is true," explained the owner, who asked not to be identified, "we need to make sure everyone is following the rules. All of us. I think Roger made the right decision and my guess is the rest of the owners agree."


Newsflash: THE REST OF THE NFL OWNERS AGREE WITH ROGER GOODELL.



Also, even after the evidence, you still have the Patriots owner denying the balls were tampered with. Really? GTFO!!!

You left out all the other instances that do affect the actual integrity of the game I mentioned in the post.

I bet Detroit fans would agree that referees partying with the Cowboys is probably a bad thing.

They treated Tom Brady differently because they wanted to.

What was Tom Brady's cheating history? Should they suspend Aaron Rodgers? Should they suspend the people from Minnesota?

Should they suspend any player who intentionally violates a rule that affects the integrity of the game or just this one?

If a safety comes across the middle and kills the other teams number 1 with a head shot on the first drive, does that affect the offensive teams competitiveness the rest of the game? Hell yea it does. Was it against the rules? Hell yea it is. It is an intentional violation of the rule that will detrimentally affect the offensive team's ability to use their number 1 receiver.

A headshot violates a rule just like deflating balls 1.2 psi. Is the post game interview a cover up when the safety says with a grin it was a football play I didn't intentionally rivet his ear hole with the crown of my helmet.

What makes this rule different than any other rule?

There are so many rules violations every week that affect the competitiveness of games. Blandino holds Minnesota's hand but they suspend Brady 4 games for the same violation.

Has the league asked to see Rodgers' phone yet?

Has the league called Tim Hasselbeck in to see which of his teams were feeding him the defensive plays through his headset since he announced it on national television? There is a darn good chance those individuals are still in the league.

Integrity and consistency mean nothing to that overpaid buffoon of a commissioner.

What did aaron rodgers do?

*oops* brain malfunction

What did aaron rodgers do?

My guess is it has something to do with this. He's under the assumption that Rodgers likes to deflate his footballs, but he actually likes them inflated

Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay Packers upset referees take air out of footballs (http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2014/story/_/id/12201369/aaron-rodgers-green-bay-packers-upset-referees-take-air-footballs)

"The majority of quarterbacks, I would say more than half, are maybe on the other end of the spectrum and like it on the flatter side," he said on his show. "My belief is that there should be a minimum air-pressure requirement but not a maximum. There's no advantage, in my opinion -- we're not kicking the football -- there's no advantage in having a pumped-up football.

"There is, if you don't have strong grip pressure or smaller hands, an advantage to having a flat football, though, because that is easier to throw. So I think that is something they need to look at. There should be a minimum on the air pressure but not a maximum. Every game they're taking air out of the footballs I'm throwing, and I think that's a disadvantage for the way that I like them prepped."


Short answer is nothing.

Brady isn't a victim. He broke a rule. He should be punished. 4 games is crazy. I just disagree with the harshness of the punishment.

Vontaze Burfict fined for twisting ankles of Cam Newton, Greg Olsen - SBNation.com (http://www.sbnation.com/2014/10/15/6982041/nfl-fined-bengals-vontaze-burfict-twisting-ankles-panthers-cam-newton-greg-olsen)

This is a much worse rules violations that actually affects the competitiveness of the games it occurred in. Trying to break a guy's ankle after the play occurred on the field so it isn't as important a rule as deflating balls 1.2 psi off the field.

I'm not saying you're a bad person for getting up in arms about deflating balls 1.2psi. I just don't think it is a big deal.

Why would someone have to turn Rodgers in since he admitted breaking the same rule?