Merged all things Brady, cheating, bellicheat, etc.

[Skooby]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...d-deflategate/

[better days]

I thought I read somewhere that there already exists a penalty for tampering with the ball and it's 25K. If he is going to be suspended I hope it's at least 2 games.

25K per game so about $6.5 Mill for Brady.

[snow1989]

Sigh.

"Probably" or "more probable than not" refers to a specific burden of proof. In these types of matters, the NFL uses a "preponderance of evidence" standard of proof. It is the same standard used in civil trials throughout the US.

preponderance of the evidence = "probably", "more probably than not"

For example, Federal Pattern Jury Instructions, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (Federal)

(this is how the judge instructs the jury on the law)

1.3 BURDEN OF PROOF—PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE

[I]When a party has the burden of proof on any claim [or affirmative defense] by a preponderance of the evidence, it means you must be persuaded by the evidence that the claim [or affirmative defense] is more probably true than not true.

There is a reason it is stated repeatedly in the report.

I understand, but that was also a bit of my point. The league can suspend him, fine him, but Brady would likely go to the players union and tie it all up.
If they have the texts between all parties, as it sounds like they do....I should think the report would have just erased all doubt and said he knew.

[BuffaloRedleg]

The NFL is a joke, but we've all known that for years now.

As much as I hate the Patriots and think they deserve to get smashed, the NFL deserves a large amount of blame for never correctly policing this stuff.

BB and the Patriots have always pushed the "grey area" of the rules to their advantage. Why wouldn't they? Nobody ever stops them.

Guess what they have to show for it? Possibly the most distinguished decade of football in NFL history.

Take this for what it is, and I've never known my Dad to lie (okay all Dads tell "fish tales"), but my dad met Ditka and Jaworski at the hotel they were staying at for the Superbowl (my dad was there for golf, such a dego), and they both said Belichik is a cheat and always has been a cheat since day one. Ditka said it in those exact words, while Jaws was a bit more polite.

I don't have a link other than pictures of a bunch of old athletes past their prime with their arms around each other, and of course there is the problem of my dad worrying about his digital footprint at 70. Rock on.

[Skooby]

What a joke, keep the deck loaded for one team with high friends. It's time for a big change, goodbye Roger.

[BuffaloRedleg]

Guys, you are missing the unwritten language. Have you seen this?

Former Colts executive Bill Polian, who spent 19 years on the competition committee, said the term "more probable than not" has been the standard of proof the NFL has used for competitive violations over the last six years.
"In short, he is finding there was a violation," Polian said on ESPN. "It clearly says a violation occurred."

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports...olts/70890450/

I have seen this multiple times. Don't worry about the lingo, it's just non-legalese to give the league wiggle room since this isn't an actual legal case. What they choose to do with that wiggle room? We'll see.

[SmokeShowin]

Probably?! HAHAHA!!! What a joke, just like friggin Goodell. ZERO proof that anything was done, because there wasn't.

[ICRockets]

What a joke, keep the deck loaded for one team with high friends. It's time for a big change, goodbye Roger.

This statement has nothing to do with anything in the link you posted. Did you even read it?

[Topas]

Punishment will be they can't deflate balls anymore. Except in that really dastardly cold weather.

That sounds reasonable. One more rule that they are not allowed anymore to break. Starting from now they are only allowed to break rules that they weren't caught yet. That will teach them...

/end sarcasm

[Historian]

Pats forfeit their title for last year. (No winner)

Brady suspended for all of 2015.

On million dollar fine to be divvied up amongst several charities the league sponsors.

[HHURRICANE]

Agree with poster above.... If anything the refs wanted to catch them which gave the Colts a disadvantage.

[Historian]

I have no doubt about his son's integrity either....I've always known he has none.

[Night Train]

It's just all our imagination. Wait..

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/201...-texts-in-full

[SmokeShowin]

Brady drawn and quartered.

LOL. Bunch of ignorant jealous boobs.

[Discotrish]

Hopefully has Hall of Fame implications.

Patti

[DynaPaul]

Brady drawn and quartered.

LOL. Bunch of ignorant jealous boobs.

Did you read the report or are you just ******ed?

[Meathead]

in eighteen games during this superbowl season they had an unnatural advantage due completely to cheating. thus we have no idea where they would have ended up record wise if they hadnt been cheating. could have changed the standings, the bye they got, and the results of the first two playoff games ok maybe not the colts

they need to vacate that title

[SmokeShowin]

Did you read the report or are you just ******ed?

It's more than probable that I did jackhole.

Keep on hatin pumpkin. You know you'd grab Kraft , Belichick or Brady if you had the chance..

There is ZERO proof that the balls were intentionally deflated bu anybody. But Cockjockeys like you want to take any chance they can to go after someone who has had your number for YEARS. GO BILLS!

[Meathead]

Patriots owner Robert Kraft promised his full cooperation with the Ted Wells investigation.

What Wells found from the Patriots was something that falls well below the threshold of full.

The Wells report said that the Patriots refused to make officials locker room attendant Jim McNally available for a follow-up interview which was requested, “despite our offer to meet at any time and location that would be convenient for McNally.”

The report said Patriots counsel apparently didn’t inform McNally of the request, and that the refusal “violated the club‟s obligations to cooperate with the investigation under the Policy on Integrity of the Game & Enforcement of League Rules and was inconsistent with public statements made by the Patriots pledging full cooperation with the investigation.”

The report also concluded that the Patriots “questioned the integrity and objectivity of game officials, various NFL executives and certain NFL Security representatives present at the AFC Championship Game or otherwise involved in the investigative process.”

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...investigation/

this was honest to goodness real old fashioned cheating of the highest order. one team gets a distinct advantage for years, including all the way to the game just before the superbowl

this is what needs to happen

- marcia banned from the nfl
- belicheat suspended the season
- 2016 & 17 first round picks surrendered
- ten million dollar fine
- 2015 title vacated

[Buddo]

The notion that the refs 'loaded the deck' is ludicrous. There is no reason whatsoever for a team to be told before hand, that they are going to be watched for something, unless you don't want them to be caught.

As is the idea that you protect the integrity of something, by just telling the people who have been undermining it, to stop doing it.