Tom Brady suspension nullified

[YosemiteSam]

But that's not right. People convicted on circumstantial evidence probably shouldn't have been. The judge was right in his ruling. You can't assume he cheated just because he destroyed a phone. Further, as noted earlier, the judge also pointed out that the league didn't follow on precedent in matters like this. The league warned the Vikes and Panthers when they were tampering with balls during a game last year. You can't then turn around and throw this punishment at the Pats and Brady and expect it would hold up.

There are people wrongfully convicted. That is not the intent of ruling based on circumstantial evidence. There are times when the circumstantial evidence is strong enough that it's "beyond a reasonable doubt". The dude destroyed his cell phone when the NFL asked to see it. That's pretty freaking hard to dispute.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

But that's not right. People convicted on circumstantial evidence probably shouldn't have been. The judge was right in his ruling. You can't assume he cheated just because he destroyed a phone. Further, as noted earlier, the judge also pointed out that the league didn't follow on precedent in matters like this. The league warned the Vikes and Panthers when they were tampering with balls during a game last year. You can't then turn around and throw this punishment at the Pats and Brady and expect it would hold up.

I can see where you're coming from here. Without question. Good point.

But quite frankly if there are honestly people out there who don't understand how a QB absolutely knows, without question, when the footballs he's throwing are being deflated, tampered with, are one of two things.

Incredibly naïve....Or completely stupid.

 

[SultanOfSix]

LOL. A league run arbitration. You know, the organization who wanted him suspended to begin with. That's the other part of the problem here. You can't have the league be the prosecutor, investigator, punisher and then arbitrator. They continue to act like that and they'll keep getting slapped down in court.

LOL. You do know what an arbitration is, don't you? It's an independent party that is hired to assess the evidence and come to a conclusion. The commissioner is hired by the 32 teams in the league - who all have a stake in the fair play and success of the league.

 

[Sydla]

They cared enough to complain about it in the first place.

Who complained about it? I missed the large number of players who were outraged over this.

 

[casmith07]

Cheating just became legalized?

No. I've read the analysis portion of the ruling. I'll explain more later when I'm not mobile.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Recall Goodell didn't have evidence to prove his case but he was demanding a confession from Brady during the appeal. When dealing with a "more likely than not" standard, the possibility that the person is innocent is part of the equation, and Goodell failed to acknowledge it. It wasn't really an arbitration, it was an inquisition - implement the penalty and demand a confession to stop the pain.

I don't need a document or video evidence or phone records to know, without question, that Brady KNEW that the were cheating.

He's the QB and he knows what they were doing.

 

[erod]

It'll be a week of elation for New England, then the Steelers are going in there and throttling them next Thursday.

In fact, I see a 9-7ish season headed there way.

Of course, the Steeler defense looks as bad as New England's, so who knows?

 

[casmith07]

LOL. A league run arbitration. You know, the organization who wanted him suspended to begin with. That's the other part of the problem here. You can't have the league be the prosecutor, investigator, punisher and then arbitrator. They continue to act like that and they'll keep getting slapped down in court.

You're incorrect, and I'll explain why later.

 

[Sydla]

LOL. You do know what an arbitration is, don't you? It's an independent party that is hired to assess the evidence and come to a conclusion. The commissioner is hired by the 32 teams in the league - who all have a stake in the fair play and success of the league.

An arbitrator isn't "independent" when he's the one who issued the initial ruling.

 

[erod]

Who complained about it? I missed the large number of players who were outraged over this.

Baltimore and Indianapolis players have been on this for some time.

And remember, Peyton Manning has said he thought the locker rooms there were bugged. There's the spygate residue. All sorts of cap manipulation complaints. Etc.

 

[BringBackThatOleTimeBoys]

Just saw this also. This news will dominate all NFL news for a few days.

I guess now we have to wonder if the 32 NFL team owners start to question Goodell's judgements and actions.

Exactly 800 years ago, King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta so he could not do whatever he wanted.

Today, Roger Goodell is essentially being told the same thing.

Now the Cowboys and the rest of the NFL does not have to fear gross overkill in punishments without a due process.

And, yes I hope the owners verbally say they miss Paul Tagibue.

 

[SultanOfSix]

LOL.

And apparently the US Court system says you are completely wrong in your assessment. Anyone who tries to argue that the commissioner is an independent party is hilarious. An arbitrator isn't "independent" when he's the one who issued the initial ruling.

Are you this clueless? Goodell issued the ruling based on the evidence provided by the arbitrator. Stop being so obtuse.

 

[LandryFan]

I guess it's a case of a lone deflator acting on his own without guidance from the prime beneficiary of the deflated balls.

The judgment did not address the guilt or innocence of Brady, only the fairness of the appeals process. If I'm Goodell, I'm doing anything I can to dump my power to be judge/jury/appeals judge...it has made him/the league look really bad. But, Goodell being Goodell, he won't.

 

[WoodysGirl]

 

[erod]

Exactly 800 years ago, King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta so he could not do whatever he wanted.

Today, Roger Goodell is essentially being told the same thing.

Now the Cowboys and the rest of the NFL does not have to fear gross overkill in punishments without a due process.

And, yes I hope the owners verbally say they miss Paul Tagibue.

Geez.

The owners TOLD Goodell to do this. Everything he does is by their instruction. He works and reports directly to them.

 

[LandryFan]

lol....right.

Brady cheats, gets punished to harshly I guess for the cheaters of the world, but Goodell is the one who needs real integrity and a true sense of fair play.

Very good point that will get lost in all of this. Kind of like the cops get hung for not reading a murderer his rights and the murderer goes free...everyone forgets about the murderer and focuses on how screwed up the cops are. A bit of over dramatization there, but the principle is the same.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Goodall should have settled with Brady, he clearly just allowed the flood gates to open

 

[LandryFan]

And has a Super Bowl ring to show for it.........

If your not cheating...your not trying!!! Open season on cheating has now been declared....Anyway...anyhow to get the prize is now acceptable....as long as you don't get caught.

Maybe even if you do get caught.

 

[casmith07]

This is the crux of the outcome. It doesn't have anything to do with guilt or innocence -- in fact, the Judge declined to rule or even reach Brady's other claims with regard to the public perception part of the case.

The ruling was solely on the procedure of the arbitration and the lack of proper notice.

For that reason, I strongly believe Greg Hardy's suspension would be reduced to a maximum of 2 games if he were to take his to court. I think there is a chance that a judge could vacate his suspension entirely if the NFLPA makes an argument for constructive suspension for him missing the previous year as well.

 

[Deep_South]

I don't need a document or video evidence or phone records to know, without question, that Brady KNEW that the were cheating.

He's the QB and he knows what they were doing.

Let me just say with your stated standard it isn't too difficult to "know" something.

It sounds more like you believe it than you know it, which is fine.