Tom Brady suspension nullified

[khiladi]

But he is wrong. His own actions, as mentioned in the filing, hurt him. He's handled past equipment violations with minor penalties. Precedent has been set. You can't then just decide to throw the book at the Pats now. So essentially, what he's doing is just making stuff up as he goes along. The judge said he can't do that. And the judge is right.

The judge isn't saying he doesn't have authority. He's saying that he can't overstep his authority and when questioned, they have to follow the procedures set forth in the CBA. There's a difference.

But he has been doing that, and the Patriots never complained until it came to Brady.

 

[Sydla]

The Panthers heated footballs in open view, during the actual game and were warned and stopped. The other team also did it on the sidelines. Brady did things in secret and behind closed doors, against league rules that he knew. And he further covered it up even after this incident. They are not in any way alike.

But by the rules, they are. In all cases, balls were tampered with. If you want to have differing levels of equipment crimes, then that has to be stated in the rules with clear punishments for those varying levels. The judge essentially rejected the NFL's argument that those other ball tampering issues were different.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

But he is wrong. His own actions, as mentioned in the filing, hurt him. He's handled past equipment violations with minor penalties. Precedent has been set. You can't then just decide to throw the book at the Pats now. So essentially, what he's doing is just making stuff up as he goes along. The judge said he can't do that. And the judge is right.

The judge isn't saying he doesn't have authority. He's saying that he can't overstep his authority and when questioned, they have to follow the procedures set forth in the CBA. There's a difference.

There has never been a case like this in the NFL. Nobody has ever destroyed evidence the way Brady did with his phone. The reason the NFL lost this was because they put a poor case together outlining why this was under the direct authority of the Commissioner. That, IMO, is whey the Judge fell back on the ruling of what you get for a simple equipment violation. This was more then that and it should have been handled as such but they screwed the pouch and as a result, we have what we have today.

 

[khiladi]

But by the rules, they are. In all cases, balls were tampered with. If you want to have differing levels of equipment crimes, then that has to be stated in the rules with clear punishments for those varying levels. The judge essentially rejected the NFL's argument that those other ball tampering issues were different.

Destroying evidence is not what the Panthers did. Goodell ruled AFTER the investigation, which included the cover-up, including destroying the phone. It also includes the Patriots defining whether one can talk to the ball-boys or not.

Which is my point... There is NO PRECEDENT like this... The whole analogy is absolutely flawed.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

And Sean Payton got suspended for a whole year as opposed to Bellichek.

Yup.

For something that they had no real proof on to the point where they did not even have evidence of opposing players actually getting injured or attempted to be injured by Saints defenders.

When the SpyGate 'penalty' was first announced, I said that it was going to haunt the league.

Unfortunately, I think this is only the beginning.




YR

 

[tyke1doe]

You basically have to get caught with the bloody glove on your hand now days or, in this case, with your lips on the ball sucking the air out.

 

[Nightman]

See I don't see it at all. The commissioner should not be able to deal with transgressions as he sees fit. He has to handle them in the manner and with the procedures set forth in the CBA. He can't just wake up in the morning and just pull crap out of his butt as to what this guy deserves and what that guy deserves. If you have an equipment rule, then punishments for violating that rule have to be consistent. You can't find out that the Panthers are heating cold balls to make them easier to grip and kick and just issue them a warning then turn around and throw the book at the Patriots for their manipulating the balls. How anyone can't see the inconsistency there and think that's a good thing is puzzling.

And the courts agree. The NFL owners/commissioner agreed to the CBA, so they have to live with the procedures and policies put in place. They can't haphazardly go about handling various issues of player/team discipline.

In fact, one could argue it's bad for football if Goodell is allowed to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants.

What if something isn't covered by the CBA?

This judge is saying there can't be any punishment because there was no notice and no precedence.

The Panther issue isn't the same at all. The CAR ball boy was on the MINN sideline in plain view warming up a football. He was told that wasn't legal and he stopped, handed over the ball and it wasn't put back in play.

 

[tyke1doe]

This is why people hate lawyers and the law. You have to specify every minute detail and address every possible scenario and outcome in order to get a conviction.

Anyone with any ounce of common sense knows Brady was instrumental in ordering those balls be deflated.

The only justice we'll get out of this is if he get sacked really, really hard.

 

[Sydla]

Destroying evidence is not what the Panthers did. Goodell ruled AFTER the investigation, which included the cover-up, including destroying the phone. It also includes the Patriots defining whether one can talk to the ball-boys or not.

Which is my point... There is NO PRECEDENT like this... The whole analogy is absolutely flawed.

But the underlying crime is ball tampering. And the judge pretty much states that here. He doesn't challenge the findings of the investigation. It's not his job largely because they are immaterial to the actual case before him. And in his ruling, it's clear that he's saying the NFL, regardless of whatever other silly things (obstruction or whatever) they want to try to justify here, the NFL handed out a punishment that essentially doesn't fit the crime and have in the past, handed out far lighter punishments.

Essentially the cover up of a crime that warrants a minimal punishment isn't really justification to do what the NFL did.

 

[BringBackThatOleTimeBoys]

This is why people hate lawyers and the law. You have to specify every minute detail and address every possible scenario and outcome in order to get a conviction.

Anyone with any ounce of common sense knows Brady was instrumental in ordering those balls be deflated.

The only justice we'll get out of this is if he get sacked really, really hard.

You should have proofread your post before clicking.

Comes off as you despise DeflateGate, but OK with what players did during BountyGate.

Just saying.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

What if something isn't covered by the CBA?

This judge is saying there can't be any punishment because there was no notice and no precedence.

The Panther issue isn't the same at all. The CAR ball boy was on the MINN sideline in plain view warming up a football. He was told that wasn't legal and he stopped, handed over the ball and it wasn't put back in play.

think of the precedent you would set if that were the case. player bad mouths Goodell, conduct detrimental to the league, suspended 8 games.

 

[Nightman]

You should have proofread your post before clicking.

Comes off as you despise DeflateGate, but OK with what players did during BountyGate.

Just saying.

Where is Bernard Pollard when we need him?

 

[BringBackThatOleTimeBoys]

Confession.

Some of you have spent tens and quite possibly hundreds of hours the past eight months hating, getting personal, demonizing. The "proof" that the Patriots have a couple of dozen schemes in addition to deflated balls is nothing more than: "#@#%^ - they did it!!!" The NFL avoided the pro-NFLPA judge from Minnesota to hear the case and they EPIC FAIL anyway.

A year ago I would have laughed if some twisted fans here would push me to celebrating essentially a second SB victory in the same year. That's my confession - many of you have made an other wise "so what?" day very enjoyable.

 

[Rogah]

I didn't say whatever he wants, whenever he wants. I said it's bad for the game to overturn what the CBA says he has authority over.

I disagree that forcing the CBA to conform to Federal Law is bad for the game.

Any clause in any contract that violates federal law will not be enforced, even if both parties signed the contract.

 

[Kevinicus]

Umm, that's exactly the point. In order to make such a charge, you need to have proof that it actually does affect fumble numbers.

If you can't then you are just flat out guessing.

It's physics that a ball with less pressure is easier to hold onto. THE POTENTIAL is all that matters.

 

[Rogah]

There has never been a case like this in the NFL. Nobody has ever destroyed evidence the way Brady did with his phone.

Brett Favre refused to turn his phone over when he was being investigated for inappropriate texts. He got a $50,000 fine.

 

[Rogah]

Destroying evidence is not what the Panthers did. Goodell ruled AFTER the investigation, which included the cover-up, including destroying the phone. It also includes the Patriots defining whether one can talk to the ball-boys or not.

Which is my point... There is NO PRECEDENT like this... The whole analogy is absolutely flawed.

You're mistaken. There is precedent. The Jets' equipment manager illegally prepared k-balls 6 years ago. He was suspended, but absolutely no players were investigated or punished.

Jay Feely testified (in chambers) about this incident and the judge cited it in his ruling. You have 2 identical crimes. In one case, the league did nothing to the player involved. In the other case, they initiated a multi-million dollar investigation, 4 game suspension, etc, etc.

 

[khiladi]

I honestly think the NFL just did

But the underlying crime is ball tampering. And the judge pretty much states that here. He doesn't challenge the findings of the investigation. It's not his job largely because they are immaterial to the actual case before him. And in his ruling, it's clear that he's saying the NFL, regardless of whatever other silly things (obstruction or whatever) they want to try to justify here, the NFL handed out a punishment that essentially doesn't fit the crime and have in the past, handed out far lighter punishments.

Essentially the cover up of a crime that warrants a minimal punishment isn't really justification to do what the NFL did.

So as long as your cheating is 'outside the rules', you get away with it...

 

[Rogah]

I honestly think the NFL just did


So as long as your cheating is 'outside the rules', you get away with it...

No, it's a matter of not giving a guy a 20 year sentence at Supermax for going 70 in a 65 MPH zone.

 

[cajuncocoa]

Was out all day and was wondering how this was playing out here...14 pages huh? What did I miss? LOL