https://sports.vice.com/article/the-belichick-view
January 22, 2015 | 1:30 PM
THE BELICHICK VIEW
DAVID ROTH
Contributing Editor
THE BELICHICK VIEW
There is something bracing about being reminded that there are real people who see the NFL as the NFL sees itself. They are indeed out there—this is a big and wrongly righteous world, after all—talking about football in the NFL's own grandiose and super-stilted syntax. It's roughly the difference between meeting someone who is a big professional wrestling fan and meeting someone who actually acts like The Rock. The first person enjoys overstated sports-like entertainment. The latter is severely peeling off his shirt at the supermarket and flaring his nostrils wildly because he noticed Fanta isn't on sale anymore.
Even if we grant that the New England Patriots using under-inflated footballs while stomping the Indianapolis Colts out of the AFC Championship was somewhat more offensive than paying retail for a two-liter of orange soda, there has still been a great deal of overdetermined over-emoting in response to it. For the most part, all this noise is coming from the members of the Hot Take Community, who are paid to make this sort of overwrought noise. It's their job, and they're doing it.
This is all the more impressive given that the NFL has spent this entire long season tumbling, piss-drunk and pantsless, down a long spiral staircase, declaiming all the while on integrity and The NFL Way. Any expression of how frequently and floridly the NFL has shown its collective ass this season would require the use of scientific notation, and yet somehow—even when presented with a story as authentically ridiculous and utterly uncomplicated as this—the conversation about it is still conducted in the same freezer-burned Sorkin-scented vocabulary of righteous purpose.
This is pretty silly, honestly. For all the things that are still unknown, about this case and every other one of the NFL's many scandals, the question of integrity is pretty much settled business where the NFL is concerned. It is a thing the league likes to talk about, and is unwilling to pay for; it's an undisputed brand truth, and thus also mostly a lie. And so when we hear, again, that the NFL is intent on getting this right, and protecting the integrity of the game, the first instinct is either a muffled laugh or an un-muffled one.
It's not that these are bad things for the NFL to want. Cheating, even cheating as mundane and mainstream as this, is uncool; rules are rules. It's just that all this righteous huff-and-puff from the NFL—an entertainment brand that thinks it is a powerful nation-state, run by a defective Epcot "Hall of Presidents" droid that believes itself to be an actual head of state—comes across as flabby, obvious satire.
And yet here they still are: the designated khaki-fied heralds assuring us of the league's sense of urgency on this matter. The peevish chorus of columnists treating this latest bit of Belichick-ian gamesmanship like a matter of national import, as opposed to more amusingly amoral a-holery from one of the sport's all-time amusingly amoral a-holes. It's not different, but it feels different. Maybe this is what transition looks like: everyone knows the NFL's grandiosity and integrity fetish are laughable and false, but no one has quite figured out a new way to talk about the league.
The game balls that the New England Patriots supplied for their own use (due to some peculiar and outdated NFL rules and in defiance of all reason, this is how it is done) were manipulated after the usual inspection such that they were less-inflated and therefore easier to hold than NFL rules allow. The Colts noticed, referees tested the balls and found them in violation, and removed them from play; during the second half, when the Patriots shredded the Colts, they were reportedly using regulation, ref-approved footballs to do it. Belichick said Thursday that he has no idea how the balls got deflated, and maybe he doesn't. We don't know what happened.
We can be much more certain that the NFL's response to this will be characteristically purposeful and characteristically buffoonish, and be centered around disciplinary action. The blue-ribbon panel that Goodell will bring together to investigate the ball-deflating—separate and distinct from the blue-ribbon panel investigating whether it's smart for teams to be allowed to groom their own game balls, but probably also headed by a former Senator or something—will get to the bottom of it sometime. Goodell will hold a press conference and appear purposeful and chastened, promise that this will be taken very seriously. The debate will turn to whether he did a good job or not, and I will probably write another column about how he's like Teddy Ruxpin or whatever.
But there's an alternative. The NFL could just change this weirdo rule so that all the game balls are handled by the officials and only the officials, as with the footballs used for kicking; it could regulate the substances that quarterbacks are allowed to use to alter the balls or—and hear me out on this—it could also not. A simple rule that replaces the century-old congeries of micro-rules would go a long way towards clarifying this and many other NFL ambiguities, and is probably the least likely outcome of all this. The NFL can't do a lot of the things it tries to do, but it can change a rule and then enforce it, and that's probably enough in this case. Instead, we will have commissions and official reports and rafts of updated talking points.
It's worth wondering who ever wanted the NFL to be this way. The impractical grandiosity of it—the idea that the NFL needs to Stand For Something, instead of actually doing the basic things it's supposed to do—suggests that this call is coming from inside the house; only the NFL would think that prioritizing excellence over competence is a good way for the NFL to be. Think of the NFL as an organization actually dedicated to integrity and excellence—in terms of accountability, honesty, fairness, and so on—and it is really not doing a very good job at all. Think of it as an organization staffed by people who have been in the same smug-stupid culture for so long that they believe integrity and excellence to be words for "whatever we just did," and it's a lot easier to understand.
Lose the NFL's pomp and rum-dummy-dum rhetoric, and we see the NFL as what it is: a moderately skanky business concern selling us something that is both bad for us and extremely addictive. The NFL is welcome to use its delusion however it wants, just as people are welcome to talk about it in the NFL's own language if they wish. But, as serious as Bill Belichick is about football—and the great gray recession of his personality suggests that this is an acid seriousness that opens onto a big, mean void—he clearly does not see or think about the NFL this way.
He, and maybe we, can see a rulebook that's too big and too dimly understood and too lazily mis-enforced to constrain his intellect and ambition. He sees a game that is bigger and weirder than any authority that would attempt to govern it. He sees how soft, stupid, and self-regarding the NFL truly is, and then he does whatever he wants, secure in the knowledge that no one can really stop him from doing it. He innovates in thrilling ways and cheats in trivial ones for the same reason, and it's the reason that people climb Everest.
There is nothing that says we have to like this about Belichick, or respect the amoral arrogance of it. But we might as well acknowledge that he understands the NFL more clearly than the NFL understands itself, and borrow some of that instrumentalism for our own purposes. We might as well see the NFL as Belichick does—something to play around with for as long as it's amusing, and something we do not need to take nearly as seriously as it takes itself
In the interview with Bellicheck and Brady to the press, Bellichek made it clear he had no knowledge of it, but he also said that Brady had his own perferences related to the balls and that he himself would have to speak on that.
http://jonathanturley.org/2015/01/21/balls-out-nfl-reportedly-finds-11-out-of-12-patriots-balls-to-be-underinflated/
11 out of 12 balls.
"Tom's personal preferences on his footballs are something that he can talk about in much better detail and information than I could possibly provide."
There was also a comment in the recent news media that in 2011 this issue occurred also and that Brady is known to like his balls 2 lbs. lighter. What I found compelling in the press interview is that Brady was saying he knew nothing about it, but while he was saying that, he kept shaking his head from side to side. Body language experts would tell you that action means that someone unconsciously disagrees with what they are saying with their mouth. The same way when someone denies something and they look to the side they are lieing.
But CBS Connecticut dug up an old statement from Tom Brady that seemed to indicate he preferred playing with a deflated ball.
“[W]hen Gronk scores – it was like his eighth touchdown of the year – he spikes the ball and he deflates the ball,” Brady said in November 2011.
“I love that, because I like the deflated ball. But I feel bad for that football, because he puts everything he can into those spikes.”
Patriot players have scoffed at allegations. Brady called them “ridiculous” when asked about them Monday on a weekly radio appearance, and tight end Rob Gronkowski took to Twitter to post a photograph of himself spiking a ball after a touchdown. The familiar action has become known to New England fans as “Gronking” and he offered these words around the photo: “WARNING GRONKING MAY CAUSE DEFLATION.”
According to the NFL rulebook, the home team, which was the Patriots in the AFC title game, is required to provide 12 primary balls to the referee 2 hours and 15 minutes before kickoff. The home team is also mandated to provide 12 backup balls. The visiting team brings another 12 balls, and all are supposed to weigh 14-15 ounces and be inflated with 12 1/2 to 13 1/2 pounds of air per square inch. The balls are not guarded, however, but are simply put into ball bags and set on the sideline for each team
It could be simpler, once the balls are inflated they are put in a locked cage, and that cage could be monitored and only opened by one person on the team who stands watch over the cage and throws out a new ball when needed. Ends the problem.
SO did Brady know? Well he likes his balls underinflated 2 lbs., and his balls turn up underinflated. He as a quarterback had to know they were softer when he was throwing them, so why wouldn't he have them checked? Cause he liked them that way. It worked better for him. He didn't de-flate them, but whoever was responsible to provide the balls the way he wanted them did just that.
[Edited on 1/23/2015 by gina]
Press Conference Video
Let me see if I'm the only one here.
I watch an incredible amount of NFL although I don't have any passion for it like I do college football, I do care about watching it and betting on it and being entertained by it.
So let me say, I don't care if there is some minor level of cheating. Guys having footballs a little underinflated. Or linemen with slippery coatings on their jerseys. Or other competitive advantages. I don't care about PEDs, steroids, spying on other teams. It makes no difference to me and does not impact my level of interest in watching the games.
Am I the only one?
So let me say, I don't care if there is some minor level of cheating. Guys having footballs a little underinflated. Or linemen with slippery coatings on their jerseys. Or other competitive advantages. I don't care about PEDs, steroids, spying on other teams. It makes no difference to me and does not impact my level of interest in watching the games.
I agree nebish.
holding is cheating, pass interference is cheating, face masking is cheating. life is about cheating, that's why there are rules and rules are meant to be broken.
let the game go on.
Tom Brady says no one from the NFL office has contacted hm about this. So WTF has the NFL been doing all week? That was the most shocking thing I heard yesterday. This entire stupid mess has taken on a life of its own and turned into an outright media witch hunt the likes of which I have never seen, and the NFL is largely to blame.
Brady and Belichick have both told their side of it in pressers that IMO did nothing other than make a mockery of the media circus that this has turned into. If you don't believe them, then that's fine and the truth will be whatever you want it to be. But they denied any role in violating any rules as it relates to the handling of the footballs, and so the onus is now on Goodell to come out TODAY and present whatever evidence they have about what actually happened and either punish them or clear them (not that either one will satisfy the sharks that are out for blood no matter what). If he doesn't/can't do that, then Goodell really needs to go.
PS - Mark Brunell is an freakin idiot.
[Edited on 1/23/2015 by gondicar]
So let me say, I don't care if there is some minor level of cheating. Guys having footballs a little underinflated. Or linemen with slippery coatings on their jerseys. Or other competitive advantages. I don't care about PEDs, steroids, spying on other teams. It makes no difference to me and does not impact my level of interest in watching the games.
I agree nebish.
holding is cheating, pass interference is cheating, face masking is cheating. life is about cheating, that's why there are rules and rules are meant to be broken.
let the game go on.
Very true and when a player gets caught committing pass interference or holding what happens? they get penalized yes?
Rules are not meant to be broken they are meant to be followed and when you do break them you need to man up and face the consequences. you reap what you sow.
So let me say, I don't care if there is some minor level of cheating. Guys having footballs a little underinflated. Or linemen with slippery coatings on their jerseys. Or other competitive advantages. I don't care about PEDs, steroids, spying on other teams. It makes no difference to me and does not impact my level of interest in watching the games.
I agree nebish.
holding is cheating, pass interference is cheating, face masking is cheating. life is about cheating, that's why there are rules and rules are meant to be broken.
let the game go on.
Very true and when a player gets caught committing pass interference or holding what happens? they get penalized yes?
Rules are not meant to be broken they are meant to be followed and when you do break them you need to man up and face the consequences. you reap what you sow.
Agreed 100%; and the severity of the penalty leads to the amount of punishment. So if wrongdoing proven it is up to the league.
Let me see if I'm the only one here.
I watch an incredible amount of NFL although I don't have any passion for it like I do college football, I do care about watching it and betting on it and being entertained by it.
So let me say, I don't care if there is some minor level of cheating. Guys having footballs a little underinflated. Or linemen with slippery coatings on their jerseys. Or other competitive advantages. I don't care about PEDs, steroids, spying on other teams. It makes no difference to me and does not impact my level of interest in watching the games.
Am I the only one?
I don't agree.
If some level of order is not kept and enforced, football could go the way of professional wrestling. Do we want that?
I know a ton of people who already feel that NASCAR is just like wrestling, fuzzy rules, winner determined before the race, elite teams enjoy different rules etc.
I for one want football to "attempt" to remain above that, I may be dreaming.
This is getting out of control. Yes, I'm a Pats fan it's fairly obvious. Yes, I was extremely disappointed when this story first leaked, but the more it goes on the more I believe this is just a huge media stunt created by ESPN.
Look at the facts:
1) the NFL has not released any official statements, everything is coming from "ESPN unnamed sources"
2) the story first leaked from an Indy beat writer, the cause of the story was based on Jackson mentioning the ball seemed deflated after his second quarter interception. Jackson has gone on record saying he NEVER said anything like that, in fact he went on record saying he would never be able to tell the difference... so where is the groundwork for this story now? As a side note I find it funny how ESPN is hiding this article, when it should be front page news like all the Patriots hatred and satire. Shouldn’t the original reason for the investigation (that was obviously a media fabrication) be front page worthy, or is this story solely based on assumptions that Brady and BB are lying? Clearly the only person proven to be lying at this point is the Colts beat writer saying it was Jackson who claimed the balls were deflated.
3) 11 out of 12 balls were deflated according to a report. Patriots have gone on record saying they bring the balls down to the minimum requirement of 12.5 PSI. Wouldnt it be much easier for balls to fall below the minimum threshold throughout the evening since they are already on the cusp? No data from the colts balls have been released except for the fact they were still within regulation. What if the Colts balls started at 14.5 PSI (within regulation) and deflated to 13 PSI throughout the course of the game? Still within regulation, but still showing similar signs of deflation? Why hasn’t the nfl released any of this information yet?
4) The NFL never released the refs protocol of checking the balls before the game, it has never been said that the refs measured these balls at all before the game. The only comments were that they were "checked" but how were they "checked?" Something tells me the ref gave them a quick squeeze and said okay lets go.
Guilty until proven innocent. I strongly believe there is a good chance the Patriots did nothing wrong, and yes I do believe there is a chance they did.
Having said that, the media is doing a great job of destroying two legacy's and patriots haters are doing a great job of casting the first stone without any concrete evidence whatsoever. I hope if found innocent the Bob Kraft sues ESPN and other media outlets for defamation. This so called “cheating scandal” is a joke.
Just like after the Ravens game everyone wanted the Patriots heads for running LEGAL formations while APPROPRIATELY notifying the refs of eligibility, but since it was the Patriots it was foul play.
Give me a break, and move on with your lives.
Let me see if I'm the only one here.
I watch an incredible amount of NFL although I don't have any passion for it like I do college football, I do care about watching it and betting on it and being entertained by it.
So let me say, I don't care if there is some minor level of cheating. Guys having footballs a little underinflated. Or linemen with slippery coatings on their jerseys. Or other competitive advantages. I don't care about PEDs, steroids, spying on other teams. It makes no difference to me and does not impact my level of interest in watching the games.
Am I the only one?
I don't agree.
If some level of order is not kept and enforced, football could go the way of professional wrestling. Do we want that?
I know a ton of people who already feel that NASCAR is just like wrestling, fuzzy rules, winner determined before the race, elite teams enjoy different rules etc.
I for one want football to "attempt" to remain above that, I may be dreaming.
Based on their botched handling of this, coming on the heels of the other "high profile" cases they botched earlier this year, I'd day you are indeed dreaming.
On further review at least the NFL finds the Jackson leak to be front page worthy, I mean after all it was the original reason for this investigation...
But then again ESPN still finds satire to be front page worthy, not the fact the evidence is starting to shift sides.
http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/12213363/tom-brady-tale-hold-weight
I'm not surprised at all, and I think it has everything with jealousy and/or just wanting to see the top dog go down.
Meh. The Patriots haven't been the top dog in almost 10 years since the last time they got caught cheating.
Matter of fact, the Seahawks are the defending champs unless otherwise proven... 😛
This is SO much more fun than politics.
and that, folks, is it in a nutshell.
people love this crap. Scandal, controversy...the Patriots.
they beat the Colts 45 to 7 to get to the SB.
no one deserves to be there more than them.
deal with THAT.
I love ya 'hawk 
, I do...but you've fallen into the media pit.
This is getting out of control. Yes, I'm a Pats fan it's fairly obvious. Yes, I was extremely disappointed when this story first leaked, but the more it goes on the more I believe this is just a huge media stunt created by ESPN.
Look at the facts:
1) the NFL has not released any official statements, everything is coming from "ESPN unnamed sources"
2) the story first leaked from an Indy beat writer, the cause of the story was based on Jackson mentioning the ball seemed deflated after his second quarter interception. Jackson has gone on record saying he NEVER said anything like that, in fact he went on record saying he would never be able to tell the difference... so where is the groundwork for this story now? As a side note I find it funny how ESPN is hiding this article, when it should be front page news like all the Patriots hatred and satire. Shouldn’t the original reason for the investigation (that was obviously a media fabrication) be front page worthy, or is this story solely based on assumptions that Brady and BB are lying? Clearly the only person proven to be lying at this point is the Colts beat writer saying it was Jackson who claimed the balls were deflated.
3) 11 out of 12 balls were deflated according to a report. Patriots have gone on record saying they bring the balls down to the minimum requirement of 12.5 PSI. Wouldnt it be much easier for balls to fall below the minimum threshold throughout the evening since they are already on the cusp? No data from the colts balls have been released except for the fact they were still within regulation. What if the Colts balls started at 14.5 PSI (within regulation) and deflated to 13 PSI throughout the course of the game? Still within regulation, but still showing similar signs of deflation? Why hasn’t the nfl released any of this information yet?
4) The NFL never released the refs protocol of checking the balls before the game, it has never been said that the refs measured these balls at all before the game. The only comments were that they were "checked" but how were they "checked?" Something tells me the ref gave them a quick squeeze and said okay lets go.Guilty until proven innocent. I strongly believe there is a good chance the Patriots did nothing wrong, and yes I do believe there is a chance they did.
Having said that, the media is doing a great job of destroying two legacy's and patriots haters are doing a great job of casting the first stone without any concrete evidence whatsoever. I hope if found innocent the Bob Kraft sues ESPN and other media outlets for defamation. This so called “cheating scandal” is a joke.
Just like after the Ravens game everyone wanted the Patriots heads for running LEGAL formations while APPROPRIATELY notifying the refs of eligibility, but since it was the Patriots it was foul play.
Give me a break, and move on with your lives.
Sorry Pats fan. You are dead wrong. The Patriots need to be pulled from the Superbowl. I say let the Colts play. Bellicheck and Brady should both resign. The league just doesn't need dishonorable men in the game.
This is getting out of control. Yes, I'm a Pats fan it's fairly obvious. Yes, I was extremely disappointed when this story first leaked, but the more it goes on the more I believe this is just a huge media stunt created by ESPN.
Look at the facts:
1) the NFL has not released any official statements, everything is coming from "ESPN unnamed sources"
2) the story first leaked from an Indy beat writer, the cause of the story was based on Jackson mentioning the ball seemed deflated after his second quarter interception. Jackson has gone on record saying he NEVER said anything like that, in fact he went on record saying he would never be able to tell the difference... so where is the groundwork for this story now? As a side note I find it funny how ESPN is hiding this article, when it should be front page news like all the Patriots hatred and satire. Shouldn’t the original reason for the investigation (that was obviously a media fabrication) be front page worthy, or is this story solely based on assumptions that Brady and BB are lying? Clearly the only person proven to be lying at this point is the Colts beat writer saying it was Jackson who claimed the balls were deflated.
3) 11 out of 12 balls were deflated according to a report. Patriots have gone on record saying they bring the balls down to the minimum requirement of 12.5 PSI. Wouldnt it be much easier for balls to fall below the minimum threshold throughout the evening since they are already on the cusp? No data from the colts balls have been released except for the fact they were still within regulation. What if the Colts balls started at 14.5 PSI (within regulation) and deflated to 13 PSI throughout the course of the game? Still within regulation, but still showing similar signs of deflation? Why hasn’t the nfl released any of this information yet?
4) The NFL never released the refs protocol of checking the balls before the game, it has never been said that the refs measured these balls at all before the game. The only comments were that they were "checked" but how were they "checked?" Something tells me the ref gave them a quick squeeze and said okay lets go.Guilty until proven innocent. I strongly believe there is a good chance the Patriots did nothing wrong, and yes I do believe there is a chance they did.
Having said that, the media is doing a great job of destroying two legacy's and patriots haters are doing a great job of casting the first stone without any concrete evidence whatsoever. I hope if found innocent the Bob Kraft sues ESPN and other media outlets for defamation. This so called “cheating scandal” is a joke.
Just like after the Ravens game everyone wanted the Patriots heads for running LEGAL formations while APPROPRIATELY notifying the refs of eligibility, but since it was the Patriots it was foul play.
Give me a break, and move on with your lives.
Sorry Pats fan. You are dead wrong. The Patriots need to be pulled from the Superbowl. I say let the Colts play. Bellicheck and Brady should both resign. The league just doesn't need dishonorable men in the game.
Keep letting the media control you sheep...
learn to swim.
I'm not surprised at all, and I think it has everything with jealousy and/or just wanting to see the top dog go down.
Meh. The Patriots haven't been the top dog in almost 10 years since the last time they got caught cheating.
Matter of fact, the Seahawks are the defending champs unless otherwise proven... 😛
This is SO much more fun than politics.
and that, folks, is it in a nutshell.
people love this crap. Scandal, controversy...the Patriots.
they beat the Colts 45 to 7 to get to the SB.
no one deserves to be there more than them.
deal with THAT.
I love ya 'hawk
LOL...every single post I made yesterday I was literally laughing out loud. I haven't had that much fun posting on the WP in a long, long time. Totally in it to needle my online friends.
In the end, I can't tell ya how little I care if the Patriots or anyone else deflates their toys.
The real humor is now being provided by the NFL. How hard is it to "complete an investigation" of 11 underinflated footballs? Make a decision, issue an arbitrary penalty, move on. Sheesh!
Keep letting the media control you sheep...
learn to swim.
Is that a key in your back jbpats? I'm just winding you up man.
LOL...every single post I made yesterday I was literally laughing out loud. I haven't had that much fun posting on the WP in a long, long time. Totally in it to needle my online friends.
In the end, I can't tell ya how little I care if the Patriots or anyone else deflates their toys.
The real humor is now being provided by the NFL. How hard is it to "complete an investigation" of 11 underinflated footballs? Make a decision, issue an arbitrary penalty, move on. Sheesh!
I deflate my wife's toys. I want to keep her expectations reasonable.
Let me see if I'm the only one here.
I watch an incredible amount of NFL although I don't have any passion for it like I do college football, I do care about watching it and betting on it and being entertained by it.
So let me say, I don't care if there is some minor level of cheating. Guys having footballs a little underinflated. Or linemen with slippery coatings on their jerseys. Or other competitive advantages. I don't care about PEDs, steroids, spying on other teams. It makes no difference to me and does not impact my level of interest in watching the games.
Am I the only one?
For the first time in a while, we agree.
This is getting out of control. Yes, I'm a Pats fan it's fairly obvious. Yes, I was extremely disappointed when this story first leaked, but the more it goes on the more I believe this is just a huge media stunt created by ESPN.
Look at the facts:
1) the NFL has not released any official statements, everything is coming from "ESPN unnamed sources"
2) the story first leaked from an Indy beat writer, the cause of the story was based on Jackson mentioning the ball seemed deflated after his second quarter interception. Jackson has gone on record saying he NEVER said anything like that, in fact he went on record saying he would never be able to tell the difference... so where is the groundwork for this story now? As a side note I find it funny how ESPN is hiding this article, when it should be front page news like all the Patriots hatred and satire. Shouldn’t the original reason for the investigation (that was obviously a media fabrication) be front page worthy, or is this story solely based on assumptions that Brady and BB are lying? Clearly the only person proven to be lying at this point is the Colts beat writer saying it was Jackson who claimed the balls were deflated.
3) 11 out of 12 balls were deflated according to a report. Patriots have gone on record saying they bring the balls down to the minimum requirement of 12.5 PSI. Wouldnt it be much easier for balls to fall below the minimum threshold throughout the evening since they are already on the cusp? No data from the colts balls have been released except for the fact they were still within regulation. What if the Colts balls started at 14.5 PSI (within regulation) and deflated to 13 PSI throughout the course of the game? Still within regulation, but still showing similar signs of deflation? Why hasn’t the nfl released any of this information yet?
4) The NFL never released the refs protocol of checking the balls before the game, it has never been said that the refs measured these balls at all before the game. The only comments were that they were "checked" but how were they "checked?" Something tells me the ref gave them a quick squeeze and said okay lets go.Guilty until proven innocent. I strongly believe there is a good chance the Patriots did nothing wrong, and yes I do believe there is a chance they did.
Having said that, the media is doing a great job of destroying two legacy's and patriots haters are doing a great job of casting the first stone without any concrete evidence whatsoever. I hope if found innocent the Bob Kraft sues ESPN and other media outlets for defamation. This so called “cheating scandal” is a joke.
Just like after the Ravens game everyone wanted the Patriots heads for running LEGAL formations while APPROPRIATELY notifying the refs of eligibility, but since it was the Patriots it was foul play.
Give me a break, and move on with your lives.
Sorry Pats fan. You are dead wrong. The Patriots need to be pulled from the Superbowl. I say let the Colts play. Bellicheck and Brady should both resign. The league just doesn't need dishonorable men in the game.
How do you get "dead wrong"? What specifically about that post is "dead wrong"?
Tom Brady says no one from the NFL office has contacted hm about this. So WTF has the NFL been doing all week? That was the most shocking thing I heard yesterday. This entire stupid mess has taken on a life of its own and turned into an outright media witch hunt the likes of which I have never seen, and the NFL is largely to blame.
Brady and Belichick have both told their side of it in pressers that IMO did nothing other than make a mockery of the media circus that this has turned into. If you don't believe them, then that's fine and the truth will be whatever you want it to be. But they denied any role in violating any rules as it relates to the handling of the footballs, and so the onus is now on Goodell to come out TODAY and present whatever evidence they have about what actually happened and either punish them or clear them (not that either one will satisfy the sharks that are out for blood no matter what). If he doesn't/can't do that, then Goodell really needs to go.
PS - Mark Brunell is an freakin idiot.
[Edited on 1/23/2015 by gondicar]
"they denied any role in violating any rules as it relates to the handling of the footballs"
Welll, that's easy, other people were responsible for inflating the balls to the pressure they were found to be at. 11 out of 12 balls underinflated is not a mistake because two people handle the balls. Were both their gauges defective? Not likely. Looks like it was deliberately done, and that one ball that had the correct weight, that's probably the first one handed to the officials when they went to check the balls in the routine procedure. It's no different than pine-tar on baseball bats. Giving yourself an advantage that the other team does not have is cheating.
[Edited on 1/23/2015 by gina]
Tom Brady says no one from the NFL office has contacted hm about this. So WTF has the NFL been doing all week? That was the most shocking thing I heard yesterday. This entire stupid mess has taken on a life of its own and turned into an outright media witch hunt the likes of which I have never seen, and the NFL is largely to blame.
Brady and Belichick have both told their side of it in pressers that IMO did nothing other than make a mockery of the media circus that this has turned into. If you don't believe them, then that's fine and the truth will be whatever you want it to be. But they denied any role in violating any rules as it relates to the handling of the footballs, and so the onus is now on Goodell to come out TODAY and present whatever evidence they have about what actually happened and either punish them or clear them (not that either one will satisfy the sharks that are out for blood no matter what). If he doesn't/can't do that, then Goodell really needs to go.
PS - Mark Brunell is an freakin idiot.
[Edited on 1/23/2015 by gondicar]
"they denied any role in violating any rules as it relates to the handling of the footballs"
Welll, that's easy, other people were responsible for inflating the balls to the pressure they were found to be at. 11 out of 12 balls underinflated is not a mistake because two people handle the balls. Were both their gauges defective? Not likely. Looks like it was deliberately done, and that one ball that had the correct weight, that's probably the first one handed to the officials when they went to check the balls in the routine procedure. It's no different than pine-tar on baseball bats. Giving yourself an advantage that the other team does not have is cheating.
What did the gauges say the PSI was when the balls were inspected before the game? When were gauges actually used? Who used them? Were gauges even involved? These are just a few oif the questions that have no answers almost a week after this story broke. So how do you possibly conclude that it "looks like it was deliberately done" given how little (as in ZERO nada nothing) we know about the process to inspect them balls before, during and after the game? I am surprised that such a committed conspiracy theorist like yourself would lap up the media hype and be so easily duped into believing what they want you to believe with little to no evidence to back them up.
How do you get "dead wrong"? What specifically about that post is "dead wrong"?
I was just winding him up! I'm a Redskins fan with time on my hands. Looks like I'll have post-season time on my hands for the foreseeable future.
I don't have any moral ground to stand out. All I've got is an occasional opportunity to mess with fans of championship teams. Don't take that from me as well.
I know he works for ESPN now, but he does not come across as a guy that would lie to suit them.
Mark Brunell speaks about deflated football investigation
Former Jaguars quarterback doesn't believe Tom Brady
Published On: Jan 22 2015 06:56:34 PM EST Updated On: Jan 22 2015 09:04:59 PM EST
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -
Former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell said he doesn't believe Tom Brady didn't know about deflated footballs during the AFC Championship game.
Brady, the New England Patriots quarterback, held a news conference Thursday to address questions. He said he didn't alter the balls in any way and the NFL hasn't talked to him about the investigation.
Brunell appeared on ESPN Thursday.
"I didn't believe Tom Brady. The balls were deflated. Somebody deflated those balls. There is not one equipment manager or ball boy in the NFL that would take it upon himself to deflate a football 2 PSI unless the starting quarterback knew about it. The equipment guys have one job to do. To make sure the shoulder pads, cleats, helmets and footballs to make sure they're properly equipped to the players' specifications," said Brunell.
Brunell said he was satisfied with what he heard from Patriots head coach Bill Belichick at an earlier news conference. Belichick said he didn't hear about the deflated balls until Monday morning.
"My experience, having six head coaches, not one time did I have a conversation about the condition of the footballs going into the game. On game day, they're obviously concerned about other things. They're concerned about getting their team in the right position to win the football game. No question," said Brunell.
When asked if there's any chance the footballs were a little light but got wet and damp and Brady couldn't tell the difference, Brunell said there's no chance.
"You know the difference. I had a tough time watching that press conference. The footballs, that is the livelihood of the quarterback. They know full well. In my experience, I had about 150 starts. Before every game I touched, squeezed, held every football I had to make sure it met my specifications," said Brunell.
Brunell feels rules were broken and this investigation is important to the integrity of the game.
When a reporter asked Brady whether he was a cheater, the quarterback replied: "I don't believe so. I've always played within the rules."
He said he was unhappy "Deflategate" had taken the focus away from the Patriots upcoming Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks.
I know he works for ESPN now, but he does not come across as a guy that would lie to suit them.
I don't think he's lying, but he is an idiot if he thinks that his "way" is the same for every other QB that has ever played in the NFL. Unless he's got specific knowledge of TB's pre-game ritual (which he doesn't or he would have said so) then he's just another talking head sitting in his ivory tower throwing his opinion down to the masses and adding to the noise.
Ok, now...who exactly are being drama queens all hopped on hype again? 😉 😉 😛
I know he works for ESPN now, but he does not come across as a guy that would lie to suit them.
I don't think he's lying, but he is an idiot if he thinks that his "way" is the same for every other QB that has ever played in the NFL. Unless he's got specific knowledge of TB's pre-game ritual (which he doesn't or he would have said so) then he's just another talking head sitting in his ivory tower throwing his opinion down to the masses and adding to the noise.
Are Brady Quinn and Drew Bledsoe in the same ivory tower?
I know he works for ESPN now, but he does not come across as a guy that would lie to suit them.
I don't think he's lying, but he is an idiot if he thinks that his "way" is the same for every other QB that has ever played in the NFL. Unless he's got specific knowledge of TB's pre-game ritual (which he doesn't or he would have said so) then he's just another talking head sitting in his ivory tower throwing his opinion down to the masses and adding to the noise.
Are Brady Quinn and Drew Bledsoe in the same ivory tower?
No, they know better, and I don't think either of them are being paid to pontificate as "NFL Insiders" on the 4-letter network. And besides, it's already too crowded up there anyway. 😛
[Edited on 1/23/2015 by gondicar]
LOL...every single post I made yesterday I was literally laughing out loud. I haven't had that much fun posting on the WP in a long, long time. Totally in it to needle my online friends.
In the end, I can't tell ya how little I care if the Patriots or anyone else deflates their toys.
The real humor is now being provided by the NFL. How hard is it to "complete an investigation" of 11 underinflated footballs? Make a decision, issue an arbitrary penalty, move on. Sheesh!
I deflate my wife's toys. I want to keep her expectations reasonable.
LMAO, best post in here. Don't care one way or another but to me it seems if this story goes away then all we have left to talk about us the game for the next week. Now what fun would that be for the fans whose team isn't in the game.
LOL...every single post I made yesterday I was literally laughing out loud. I haven't had that much fun posting on the WP in a long, long time. Totally in it to needle my online friends.
In the end, I can't tell ya how little I care if the Patriots or anyone else deflates their toys.
The real humor is now being provided by the NFL. How hard is it to "complete an investigation" of 11 underinflated footballs? Make a decision, issue an arbitrary penalty, move on. Sheesh!
I deflate my wife's toys. I want to keep her expectations reasonable.
LMAO, best post in here. Don't care one way or another but to me it seems if this story goes away then all we have left to talk about us the game for the next week. Now what fun would that be for the fans whose team isn't in the game.
no fun at all. thus, this thread.
Enjoy! it's all you guys got. We got a game to get ready for. Mic's in place, cameras, traces of carbon monoxide running through Seattle's locker room, refs bribed, balls deflated (let's not forget that one...) opponents helmets rigged with tear gas, Seattle's bus driver bribed to go to Yuma and whatever else Bill comes up with 'til game time.
Pats by 20.
we rule, you suck.
