Tom Brady suspended for four games

[TwentyOne]

Adam Schefter
Filed to ESPN: Tom Brady suspended four games, Pats lose 1st round pick in 2016 and a 4th in 2017, and team fined $1 million, per source:

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Patriots' Tom Brady suspended 4 games

By Gregg Rosenthal Around The NFL Editor Published: May 11, 2015 at 05:38 p.m.

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The Patriots will begin their Super Bowl title defense without the services of the franchise's greatest all-time player.

The NFL announced Monday that Tom Brady has been suspended without pay for four games for violating the NFL policy on the integrity of the game. The team will also be fined $1 million and will forfeit a 2016 first-rounder and 2017 fourth-round selection in the NFL Draft. (You can read the full NFL statement here.)

The massive punishment comes less than a week after independent investigator Ted Wells found that it was "more probable than not" that Brady was "at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities" regarding the deflation of Patriots game balls used in the AFC Championship Game against the Colts.

Commissioner Roger Goodell authorized the discipline that was imposed by NFL Executive President Troy Vincent, who made it clear that Brady's lack of cooperation with the league's investigation was a factor in the punishment.

"With respect to your particular involvement, the report established that there is substantial and credible evidence to conclude you were at least generally aware of the actions of the Patriots' employees involved in the deflation of the footballs and that it was unlikely that their actions were done without your knowledge," Vincent wrote in a letter to Brady. "Moreover, the report documents your failure to cooperate fully and candidly with the investigation, including by refusing to produce any relevant electronic evidence (emails, texts, etc.), despite being offered extraordinary safeguards by the investigators to protect unrelated personal information, and by providing testimony that the report concludes was not plausible and contradicted by other evidence."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000492185/article/patriots-tom-brady-suspended-4-games

Let's see: 4 game equals 4 rings. Seems like somebody in the NFL loves to make jokes. And rubbing it in our face how corrupt the NFL FO is.

To me that all is a joke like the last so called punishement for New England was. Why do i even read the stories IDK. I've started to ignore New England as a team and a franchsie long time ago. And i hope alot of others do too. The only way to hit those teams and the NFL is by not reading/watching (eg paying) the content.

Anyways.... I'd take 4 rings in exchange for a 4 games suspension anytime. And cheat on!

 

[Scotman]

One game less than Wade Wilson got for taking something against league policy for erectile dysfunction due to diabetes.

Seems fair.

 

[USMarineVet]

One game less than Wade Wilson got for taking something against league policy for erectile dysfunction due to diabetes.

Seems fair.

Oh no.. You didn't... Please thread... Don't go off on a tangent.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I wonder if Kraft is waiting for his apology.

 

[theogt]

Tell that to Greg Hardy. he 1 charge against him since he has been in the NFL. and he will not be allowed to play for 27 games. that is unheard of. Roger Goodell should be fired. he is out of control with power.

Hardy's suspension will almost certainly be reduced by the courts which have already ruled on the issue multiple times.

 

[burmafrd]

I do not see the appeal being effective because the NFL pretty much said they hit him hard because he was uncooperative. There is no give on that; and there is precedent for suspension of players for such acts. The loss of a 1st rd pick is the real kicker; and if the pats only go say 2-2 in those four games and then end up losing home field advantage by say a game- then have to do to like Denver or Pittsburgh and then lose.....

I would have loved more but this is actually more than I expected; a 4 game suspension is pretty much a standard thing for any act bigger than a DUI - the loss of a 1st surprises me. Expected the fine to be double what Spygate was due to second instance.

 

[AsthmaField]

Funny you should ask because I considered this myself after hearing the news.

Sadly, my first thought was Romo would have been pounded if he were in Brady's shoes. Of course this is just my opinion due to the fact we got hit so hard on the Hardy ruling. It's hard to be objective in today's NFL when you clearly see patterns of favoritism.

There are so many Cowboy haters in this world, and the outcry would have been so loud that Tony might have gotten a lifetime ban... or execution.

 

[ragman]

It makes me happy he won't play against the Cowboys.

Does anyone here find it ironic that his first game back is against the Colts?

 

[Dave_in-NC]

I would rather play every team at their best. Beat them no excuses.

 

[burmafrd]

Hardy's suspension will almost certainly be reduced by the courts which have already ruled on the issue multiple times.

as much noise and sturm und drang as there has been about Domestic Violence since Ray Rice video, the NFL is going to go nuts on anything that even smells of it.

Now on this case there has been so much talk about it that once again the NFL had to go somewhat heavy in order to not look soft.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I am not Pats or Tom Brady fan. but Roger Goodell is out of control. once again he went to far with his power. 4 games.

There is more to the story than just that. Brady's refusal to cooperate, and lying about it is probably a bigger factor in the 4 games. This has nothing to do with Goodell. All that is because of one person - Tom Brady.

 

[ConstantReboot]

Hardy's suspension will almost certainly be reduced by the courts which have already ruled on the issue multiple times.

It will probably will be ruled. However, Hardy had the same charges as Brady "actions detrimental to the game." If thats the case Hardy's punishment should be much less severe and Brady should have been much worst than what he got. It just doesn't add up.

 

[Fritsch_the_cat]

Saw this tweet made by someone on ESPN.

"Having more free time to spend with Gisele is not a punishment."

 

[big dog cowboy]

Brady got off easy. Should have been an 8 game suspension.

I agree with this. Listening to Keyshawn Johnson he wanted a full year.

 

[USMarineVet]

It makes me happy he won't play against the Cowboys.

Does anyone here find it ironic that his first game back is against the Colts?

I think it's fair to say that Luck and the Colts will be coming after the Pats with a vengeance.

 

[ConstantReboot]

as much noise and sturm und drang as there has been about Domestic Violence since Ray Rice video, the NFL is going to go nuts on anything that even smells of it.

Now on this case there has been so much talk about it that once again the NFL had to go somewhat heavy in order to not look soft.

Randle's case was thrown out also just like Hardy's. When then does Hardy have to serve a 27 game suspension covering two teams?

 

[burmafrd]

those claiming Kraft can get this reduced are forgetting the other 30 owners or so that actually can FIRE goodell if they want to. This is a case where Mara and Kraft are actually rather powerless

 

[CowboyChris]

personally i think the fine is too light.

 

[GroundZero1970]

Yea but i woukd think that cheating ON the field is more detrimental to the league than what someone does off field (Hardy), Brady should have gltten 10 games like Hardy period. Goodell is an incompetent fool #FireGoodell. Rant over

 

[USMarineVet]

Saw this tweet made by someone on ESPN.

"Having more free time to spend with Gisele is not a punishment."

I'm sure that Gisele is not at all pleased by this decision. That's dipping into her shoe money.