NFL says Patriots "probably" deliberately deflated footballs

[tlongII]

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/12833542/wells-report-finds-new-england-patriots-probably-deflated-balls


The NFL has found that it is probable that New England Patriots personnel deliberately deflated balls during the AFC Championship Game in January and that quarterback Tom Brady was "generally aware" of what was happening.

The NFL is such a joke. :rolleyes

[Raven]

what a joke :lmao

[The Gemini Method]

Meh. I don't even care anymore.

[AlexJones]

lol no shit they were

[Spur-Addict]

Meh. I don't even care anymore.

[The Reckoning]

NFL coverup "investigation" waiting until it all blew over to give some politician remark

[Blake]

This passage from the report cites text messages sent between McNally and Jastremski before the Patriots' playoff game against the*Baltimore Ravens, one week before the AFC championship game against the Colts, and McNally asking for autographed gifts from Brady, which he got.

McNally: Remember to put a couple sweet pig skins ready for tom to sign

Jastremski: U got it kid...big autograph day for you

McNally: Nice throw some kicks in and make it real special

Jastremski: It ur lucky. 11?

McNally: 11 or 11 and half kid

On January 10, 2015, immediately prior to the game between the Patriots and the Ravens, in the Patriots equipment room with both Brady and Jastremski present, McNally received two footballs autographed by Brady and also had Brady autograph a game-worn Patriots jersey that McNally previously had obtained.

Those are the only three implicated in the report. The report said investigators do not believe "any other Patriots personnel participated in or had knowledge of the violation of the Playing Rules or the deliberate effort to circumvent the rules."



http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/long-awaited-deflate-gate-investigation-implicates-pats--tom-brady-173408354.html

[Monostradamus]

103 days of investigating and all he has is "probably" :lmao ted wells cashin dem checks

[The Reckoning]

pretty sure they're just two gay lovers with the texts

add in brady and we have a love triangle :lol


Jastremski: I have a big needle for u this week
McNally: Better be surrounded by cash and newkicks….or its a rugby sunday
McNally: Fuck tom
Jastremski: Maybe u will have some nice size 11s in ur locker
McNally: Tom must really be working your balls hard this week

[Chris]

:lol cheating faggots :lol

[SupremeGuy]

:lol cheating faggots :lol

[KobeOwnsDuncan]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CEWDyE0UUAA_Cjf.jpg

[KobeOwnsDuncan]

595999271050031105

[KobeOwnsDuncan]

596010826508570624

[KobeOwnsDuncan]

596037980894175232
:lmao

[Blake]

He might have other doubts about his son tho

[Avante]

If not for deflated footballs Tom Brady would be a sad sad example of an NFL QB and the Pats would never have won shit. And it's so obvious.

Sheesh~~~~~~~~~~~


The Pats and Tom Brady would be where they are using rolled up socks, a soccer ball, a soft ball, the oppositions footballs.
It could be touch or flag football.

Sometimes ya just have to shake your head.

[spurraider21]

Avante still doesn't get it

[Avante]

Avante still doesn't get it

spurraider still talking stupid.

I get it guy it's really not too complex, ok? The thing is it made no difference at all..ok?

[SupremeGuy]

lol @ Jim McNally tbh

"Fuck tom"

:lol

the cheaters aren't even liked within their own organization

[Blake]

spurraider still talking stupid.

I get it guy it's really not too complex, ok? The thing is it made no difference at all..ok?

what's your opinion on why the rule is in place

[sook]

"probably" --yea effin right :lol

The rest of the NFL has just been jealous is all.

[Avante]

what's your opinion on why the rule is in place

Unfair advantage.

And then the league schedules Thurday night games, double home/double road, being at home after a bye week. All give teams advantages/disadvantages.

[Silver&Black]

They tested 4 "Colts" footballs....3 of them were under-inflated.

[Pelicans78]

The statement itself is embarrassing. If there's no concrete evidence then say there's no evidence. Probably is not good enough.

[Blake]

Unfair advantage.


well there you go.

It's irrelevant whether you think they would have won regardless. If they cheated they cheated.

I think the rule is stupid myself.

[Monostradamus]

They tested 4 "Colts" footballs....3 of them were under-inflated.
CHEATERS!!!!!!! Suspend Luck NOW!!!!!!

[Clipper Nation]

"probably" --yea effin right :lol

The rest of the NFL has just been jealous is all.
:lol Brady is the league's biggest moneymaker. They're not going to fuck with the golden goose based on "jealousy" alone.

[Silver&Black]

CHEATERS!!!!!!! Suspend Luck NOW!!!!!!

I think they should go back and take away Peyton's SB tbqh....

[Monostradamus]

:lol probably cheating faggots :lol
Fixed

[Avante]

well there you go.

It's irrelevant whether you think they would have won regardless. If they cheated they cheated.

I think the rule is stupid myself.

Everyone cheats.

[spurraider21]

avante with the kindergarten "he did it too" mentality

[Avante]

avante with the kindergarten "he did it too" mentality

spurraider with the naive..."nobody cheats".

[spurraider21]

spurraider with the naive..."nobody cheats".
never said that. don't put words in my mouth

[Avante]

never said that. don't put words in my mouth

Then don't mess with me shorty, ok?

[Chris]

Fixed

:lol

[Blake]

Everyone cheats.

if they get caught should they be punished?

[Avante]

if they get caught should they be punished?

It depends on who it is. Life is not fair, that's the mistake everyone makes.

[Blake]

It depends on who it is. Life is not fair, that's the mistake everyone makes.

football should be as fair as possible, no matter who it is.

If it's not, then it's just scripted rasslin

[Avante]

football should be as fair as possible, no matter who it is.

If it's not, then it's just scripted rasslin

Life simply doesn't work that way. It's not fair and it is about who ya are and that's obvious.

[Chinook]

It's pretty embarrassing that the Pats got caught cheating again. I imagine there will be a pretty hefty punishment for them. Dunno what's appropriate, though.

[Clipper Nation]

Life simply doesn't work that way. It's not fair and it is about who ya are and that's obvious.

And yet you threw a shitfit about the officiating for an entire year after your Niners choked in the Super Bowl (even though the Niners got nearly every call/no-call and a power outage to keep them in the game). Funny how your attitude wasn't "life isn't fair" when you needed an excuse for your team's chokejob.

[Avante]

And yet you threw a shitfit about the officiating for an entire year after your Niners choked in the Super Bowl (even though the Niners got nearly every call/no-call and a power outage to keep them in the game). Funny how your attitude wasn't "life isn't fair" when you needed an excuse for your team's chokejob.

As usual you never ever get anything right.

An...OBVIOUS...holding penalty is a totally different deal than what is being talked about here, not surprised you wouldn;t get that.

[Chinook]

:lol ^ abysmal.

[LnGrrrR]

Yeah, Brady will be punished, and probably should be. It's a good thing that he did better after the half in the Indy game, or we'd be hearing a ton more shit.

[SupremeGuy]

Yeah, Brady will be punished, and probably should be. It's a good thing that he did better after the half in the Indy game, or we'd be hearing a ton more shit.Saying that Brady should be punished doesn't remove your obvious bias. "Good thing they played better" is bullshit cause they cheated for an entire half and wouldn't have stopped on their own.

They've been busted and branded as cheaters; that's their legacy. Deal with it and move on, tbh.

[unleashbaynes]

too bad Brady played better in the half with normal footballs you dumbshit. they stomped the Colts either way.

[unleashbaynes]

if you were really so offended about the Patriots cheating, why the fuck would you watch the NFL at all then, seeing as how they allow cheaters to win the super bowl?

[LnGrrrR]

Saying that Brady should be punished doesn't remove your obvious bias. "Good thing they played better" is bullshit cause they cheated for an entire half and wouldn't have stopped on their own.

They've been busted and branded as cheaters; that's their legacy. Deal with it and move on, tbh.

Of course I'm biased. I'm a Pats fan. The sky is blue, the grass is green, etc etc. At the end of the day, he still has four rings, and that's all I care about it. You can tarnish it all you want, I give zero... ok, that's not fair. Maybe 1/4 of a fuck.

[The Gemini Method]

Fuck Tom Brady and the legion of Massholes who follow him. Hope Suh stomps that ugh wearing cocksucker out. j/k. I do like the text salvo where the dude say Fuck Tom.

[SupremeGuy]

too bad Brady played better in the half with normal footballs you dumbshit. they stomped the Colts either way.Then why was it necessary for them to cheat, dumbfuck? They cheated again, got busted again, and will forever be remembered as the faggots who cheated.

[LnGrrrR]

It wasn't necessary, obviously. It's just that Brady is an absolute control freak and is obviously retarded.

[DD]

Brady should be suspended for the season-opener...1-0 here we come!

[Blake]

So they really gonna suspend Tomselle on circumstantial evidence?

[Blake]

Lol jonny boy

it looks bad for sure, but still circumstantial


Brady (9:51 a.m.):*You good Jonny boy?

Jastremski (9:53 a.m.):*Still nervous; so far so good though. I'll be alright


Full transcript of communication:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/suspicious-texts-between-tom-brady-151219208.html


Lol jonny has worked for Pats for 20 years but has never been to the glorious QB room......until now...

[Infinite_limit]

Don't give a fuck. Shouldn't be discussing shitty american football at this time of the year anyway

[Blake]

Oh look what forum you're in

[Infinite_limit]

Oh look what forum you're in
NFL story lines

- Cheating Patriots
- Violent criminals
- 20 year olds from College


What a shit "sport"

[tlongII]

It doesn't matter if it's circumstantial. This isn't a criminal case. They merely need an abundance of evidence similar to a civil case.

[Monostradamus]

Then why was it necessary for them to cheat, dumbfuck? They cheated again, got busted again, and will forever be remembered as the faggots who cheated.
Maybe if you cry hard enough they'll inscribe "cheating faggots" on all 4 of their SB trophies.

[Blake]

NFL story lines

- Cheating Patriots
- Violent criminals
- 20 year olds from College


What a shit "sport"

Ohhhhh look what forum you're still in

[Blake]

It doesn't matter if it's circumstantial. This isn't a criminal case. They merely need an abundance of evidence similar to a civil case.

They would need something concrete to avoid a civil suit from Brady against the league.

What they'll probably get him on is for failure to cooperate, which is a violation of league rules.

[Monostradamus]

:cry It doesn't matter if it's circumstantial. :cry This isn't a criminal case. :cry They merely need an abundance of evidence similar to a civil case.:cry

[boutons_deux]

Holes in NFL’s ‘Deflategate’ Report

Perhaps New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady did conspire with two locker room attendants to deflate footballs below the minimum permissible levels in a big game, but thereport (http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/photo/2015/05/06/0ap3000000491381.pdf) by NFL investigator Ted Wells reads more like a prosecutor’s brief than a balanced presentation of the facts as he obscures the collapse of one principal argument for believing in Brady’s guilt.

A key assertion by people accusing Brady was that it made no sense that the footballs used by the Patriots in the AFC championship game last January – when tested at halftime – would have lost significantly more air pressure than those used by their opponents, the Indianapolis Colts. But scientists hired by the NFL discovered that measurements varied sharply depending on when at halftime the balls were tested.

http://consortiumnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/768x432-2014-tom-brady-300x169.jpg?55ac53 (http://consortiumnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/768x432-2014-tom-brady.jpg?55ac53)New England Patriot quarterback Tom Brady.

According to a study by Exponent, a California-based testing firm, footballs lose air pressure during games in chilly, rainy weather, the conditions that existed on Jan. 18, 2015, in Foxborough, Massachusetts, but when returned to the warmth of a climate-controlled room, their air pressure rapidly rises close to the original internal pressure.

Since the Colts were alleging that the pressure of one Patriot football that had been intercepted before halftime weighed below the minimum level of 12.5 pounds per square inch, NFL officials rushed all 11 remaining Patriot game balls into the referees’ locker room and began testing them, finding the balls to be significantly below the 12.5 psi minimum where they were set before the game began. The referees then added air pressure to bring the balls back to legal standards.

After testing the Patriots’ balls, NFL officials turned to the Colts’ footballs, but only had time to test four before the 13.5-minute halftime break ended and the balls had to be returned to the sidelines for the second half.

Of the Colts’ four tested balls, all had lost air pressure when compared to the 13.0 psi that Colts’ quarterback Andrew Luck preferred but not as much as the Patriots’ balls had. However, Exponent scientists noted that much – and possibly all – of that discrepancy could be explained by the fact the Colts’ balls were tested toward the end of halftime.

Also, one of the four measurements was apparently taken down incorrectly, leaving only three reliable halftime tests on the Colts’ balls.

Further uncertainty was injected by the fact that the two gauges used by NFL officials at halftime recorded different measurements, off by a third to nearly one-half psi, and it wasn’t clear which gauge was used to test the balls before the game. According to Exponent, the lower of the two gauges – referred to in the report as the “non-logo gauge” – was the accurate gauge and was most likely used by referee Walt Anderson in his pre-game measurements.

Colts’ Underinflated Balls

Ironically, however, if the data from the accurate gauge is used, all three Colts’ balls were themselves underinflated, averaging 12.27 psi, thus below the 12.5 psi minimum, but nevertheless those balls were allowed back in the game for the second half.

At the end of the game, four balls from the Colts and four from the Patriots were tested again. Three of the four Colts’ balls were underinflated while none of the Pats’ balls were. In other words, while the Patriots’ footballs were deflated in the first half, the Colts’ balls were deflated in both the first half and second half.

Another possible factor why the Pats’ balls tested relatively lower in psi could have been the way the balls were prepared before the game. The Pats’ balls were rubbed down to remove any slickness while the Colts’ balls were left slicker or more water resistant. One of the findings by the Exponent scientists was that wetter balls recovered their psi more slowly than drier balls when brought into a climate-controlled environment.

It also turns out that an initial claim by an NFL official in a letter to the Patriots – that one of the Pats’ balls had been measured at 10.1 psi, 2.4 psi below the minimum, and that the Colts’ balls all met specifications – was false. The letter stated: “In fact, one of the game balls was inflated to 10.1 psi, far below the requirement of 12½ to 13½ psi. In contrast, each of the Colts’ game balls that was inspected met the requirements set forth above.”

In excusing these errors, Wells wrote that the NFL official who wrote the letter drafted it “based on communications with colleagues with first-hand knowledge of events that had taken place at Gillette Stadium. In fact, none of the Patriots game balls measured 10.1 psi when they were tested at halftime. We believe that there was an inadvertent error in communication of the results …

“We also note that the statement in the letter about the Colts measurements did not make clear that the Colts game balls inspected met the requirements on at least one of the two gauges used to measure the balls.” However, Wells does not note here that the one gauge in which the Colts’ balls met specifications was the inaccurate one.

Though the errors in the NFL’s letter were almost surely innocent, the media stampede that these initial claims helped set off clearly shaped the PR environment in which the Wells investigation was conducted. The NFL would have looked foolish if Wells had simply concluded that the so-called “deflategate scandal” had been just a lot of hot air – or cold.

Argumentative Case

Wells did take note of the question regarding when the balls were tested at halftime but tried to blur the point by suggesting to the Exponent scientists that the NFL officials might have waited a couple of minutes before testing the Patriots’ balls and then proceeded immediately to the Colts’ balls, thus minimizing the time differences between the measurements.

But that makes little sense because the NFL officials would have realized how little time they had to check the 11 Patriots’ footballs and they followed up those measurements by readjusting the air pressure. The testing of the Colts’ balls would have likely come at the end of halftime, explaining why the officials only had time to test four before heading back to the field.

The motive for why Wells pressed for the unlikelier time sequence appears to be that the more likely timeline could have provided an innocent explanation for the “deflategate scandal.”

There were other signs of bias in the report. For instance, Wells makes a big deal out of the fact that the Patriots organization declined to arrange a follow-up interview with Jim McNally, the part-time locker room attendant who carried the game balls from the referees’ locker room to the field and stopped briefly at a bathroom en route. But Wells knew how to reach McNally and could easily have contacted him directly, rather than making the Patriots organization act as middleman and thus making its hesitancy to arrange another meeting look like a sign of guilt.

Wells also zeroes in on sketchy text messages between McNally and John Jastremski, a Patriots’ equipment assistant, containing comments about Brady’s anger over the apparent over-inflation of the footballs in a home game against the New York Jets in October 2014, with Brady apparently wanting to make sure that NFL referees understood that he liked the psi in Patriot balls to be at the low end of the 12.5 to 13.5 psi permissible range.

McNally, whose job included interacting with the referees before a game and reminding them of Brady’s preference regarding psi levels, joked that he might make sure the balls are over-inflated even more. “Tom sucks…im going make that next ball a fuckin balloon,” McNally wrote.

Jastremski noted that Brady apparently was correct regarding the over-inflated balls in the Jets game. “I checked some of the balls this morn,” Jastremski wrote. “The refs fucked us … a few of them were at almost 16” psi. “They didnt recheck them after they put air in them.”

McNally, apparently sensitive to criticism that he had not done his job correctly, responded: “Fuck tom … 16 is nothing … wait till next Sunday.”

Oddly, although the point of the Wells investigation was whether the Patriots intentionally under-inflated the footballs, the text conversations appear focused more on McNally’s threats to ensure that the balls were over-inflated, against Brady’s wishes.

In another exchange, McNally writes, “Fuck tom … .make sure the pump is attached to the needle. …. fuckin watermelons coming. … The only thing deflating sun[day] .. is his passing rating.”

According to the Wells report, Jastremski and McNally dismissed these comments as joking banter, but Wells detected something more sinister, as he did with references to Jastremski providing “a needle” to McNally, a presumed reference to a needle that is used to inflate or deflate footballs, basketballs, soccer balls, etc.

Though Wells treats the “needle” as if it’s some exotic piece of equipment that Jastremski would have to obtain for McNally, these inflation needles can be obtained from any sporting goods store for less than a dollar and are common in any athletically minded American household.

Suspicious Actions

But Wells does compile a number of suspicious circumstances that could support a case of intentional doctoring of the footballs, such as McNally moving the footballs to the field without specific instructions to do so, stopping at a single-toilet bathroom with enough time theoretically to let some air pressure out of the balls, referring to himself in one message as the “deflator,” and suggesting that he might take some unspecified information to the sports network ESPN.

Wells also cited Brady’s autographing items for Jastremski and Brady’s unwillingness to give investigators access to his phone records and text messages, although Wells had the messages between Brady and Jastremski because the Patriots handed over Jastremski’s company phone. None of those messages contained any explicit instructions regarding deflating footballs.

Another possible scenario that Wells does not consider is that — if McNally did deflate Patriot game balls in the bathroom — that he did so not on Brady’s instructions but
because he feared that the referees had pumped them up excessively as they had done before the Jets game, incurring Brady’s wrath toward McNally. The Wells report describes McNally watching the refs as they added air to some balls as he reminded them that Brady likes the footballs at 12.5 psi. Perhaps, McNally feared that his pleas had been ignored.

So, while Wells does build a circumstantial case that establishes the possibility of wrongdoing by Brady and the two locker room employees, it is far from conclusive as even Wells acknowledges.

“We have concluded that, in connection with the AFC Championship Game, it is more probable than not that New England Patriots personnel participated in violations of the Playing Rules and were involved in a deliberate effort to circumvent the rules,” Wells wrote.

“In particular, we have concluded that it is more probable than not that Jim McNally … and John Jastremski … participated in a deliberate effort to release air from Patriots game balls after the balls were examined by the referee. Based on the evidence, it also is our view that it is more probable than not that Tom Brady … was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities of McNally and Jastremski involving the release of air from Patriots game balls.”

The phrasing, which arguably pumps up the circumstantial case to its outer limits, is lawyerly and vague with its references to “more probable than not,” but – if there were to be an adversarial proceeding – a smart defense lawyer would surely have little trouble deflating the NFL’s case.

https://consortiumnews.com/2015/05/07/holes-in-nfls-deflategate-report/

[Clipper Nation]

NFL story lines

- Cheating Patriots
- Violent criminals
- 20 year olds from College


What a shit "sport"

Povertyball storylines:

- Somebody flopped again
- Two teams that buy the championship every year had a "riveting" 0-0 tie
- Some midget scored a regular-season goal and it was apparently a big damn deal
- Fans kill each other over grown men playing a kid's game
- Drug cartel kills player over an own goal

[The Gemini Method]

Surprised that a Korean person would balk at futbol being that it is the biggest sport in his native country.

[Spur-Addict]

Surprised that a Korean person would balk at futbol being that it is the biggest sport in his native country.

Yikes nigga :lol

[djohn2oo8]

Seriously doubt this, but CBS had a report if Brady were suspended that a year long is a real possibility.

[spurraider21]

highly doubt it. i think it'll be a fine and that will be that

[HI-FI]

figured this was coming, Brady looked guilty as shit in his original press conference. He's just not a natural liar/cheater like Belichick.

It's pretty embarrassing that the Pats got caught cheating again. I imagine there will be a pretty hefty punishment for them. Dunno what's appropriate, though.
Yeah, but it's systemic with them, Belichick and Ernie Adams have gamed the system better than anyone before imo. Can't remember a team with so many cheating scandals. Even if Brady is out for a long time, next system QB up with Adams telling them what the defense will be doing and they'll still win a bunch of games.

[Avante]

Football is the greatest game there is. So many legendary players, coachs and games. So many memorable moments. Little silly shit like this, yawn~~~~~~~~~~~~

Watching big Jim Brown run over around and away from wanna be tacklers, what a sight. The "Kansas Comet" Gale Sayers having you wondering if you really just saw that. Dick Butkus looking like a pro rassler as he drove anyone he could touch into the ground. What an amazing sport.

[LnGrrrR]

Has infinite_limit taken the title of "shittiest ST poster" yet? Because he at least has to be in the running.

[Raven]

It doesn't matter if it's circumstantial. This isn't a criminal case. They merely need an abundance of evidence similar to a civil case.

how so

[MultiTroll]

Seriously doubt this, but CBS had a report if Brady were suspended that a year long is a real possibility.
:lmao NFL?
No.

[spurraider21]

how so
in a criminal case, a prosecution needs to prove their case "beyond a reasonable doubt" whereas in a civil case, the plaintiff needs their case to be supported by a "preponderance of the evidence" which is fancy talk for "more likely true than not"

at least those are the general US standards

then again this is an internal NFL matter and not a civil court

[Raven]

in a criminal case, a prosecution needs to prove their case "beyond a reasonable doubt" whereas in a civil case, the plaintiff needs their case to be supported by a "preponderance of the evidence" which is fancy talk for "more likely true than not"

at least those are the general US standards

then again this is an internal NFL matter and not a civil court

i doubt that is the case. you don't give hgh bans based on he's more likely than not, do you?

[spurraider21]

i doubt that is the case. you don't give hgh bans based on he's more likely than not, do you?
i dont know. the nfl handles their stuff internally, and they use their own standards. like i said, the NFL isn't civil court. was just expanding on tlong's post about civil vs criminal standards

[Chris]

https://scontent-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10985383_10206822857750478_8234425847454736471_n.j pg?oh=4aec1bcb38556ac0033b79f103203fb8&oe=55C7AA52

[HI-FI]

https://scontent-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10985383_10206822857750478_8234425847454736471_n.j pg?oh=4aec1bcb38556ac0033b79f103203fb8&oe=55C7AA52
:rollin