NFL finds Patriots employees probably deflated balls

[mornelithe]

McDonaldsGuy said:

DivinePaladin said:

Firstly, speaking as somebody who hates the Pats, so don't declare me a biased fanboy for saying this.

 

No, they won't and shouldn't be stripped of the SB title. The deflated balls only lasted until about halftime when the Colts got a pick and the player realized the ball was really deflated. After that they were reinflated by refs during halftime and the game continues normally. After halftime, I believe the Pats REALLY turned it into a blowout, but I can't remember the scoring by quarter since it's been four months. 

 

Moreover, the Colts didn't use the same balls, so their play was unaffected. Having deflated balls on offense didn't help the Pats' defense stop Luck cold most drives. Had the game been close, and decided by a Pats' TD before the balls were discovered, then maybe there'd be a case here, but considering the history of Brady v Luck and the results that happened, nothing the Colts did would've helped win that game. 

 

I do believe that if they can find Brady truly behind the plans, that he should be suspended and given a harsh penalty (maybe personally stripped of his SB MVP since that's inconsequential to the outcome of that game but very important to him personally).

The thing is is that the Patriots have been doing this as early as October 2014 (and likely way before that). I personally believe they started to really ramp it up after the Chiefs game. Notice how terrible Brady was during the first quarter of the season (including that demolition by the Chiefs) then after. It's a night and day difference.

 

The main issue though is that Brady lied. Brady lied to investigators a few times, wouldn't let them read his emails and texts, and denied involvement. He should get a year suspension based on that alone.

Yeah except that argument falls flat, given Brady was using correct balls in the SB, and went what, 8 for 8 on the final drive and brought his team back from 10pts down (which no one had ever done before)?  Additionally, where's the evidence Brady lied again?  Nothing in the Wells report actually says anyone did anything, it merely uses the NFL's appallingly low bar for 'preponderance of the evidence' (which is applied in integrity cases), as opposed to the real world 'evidence'.  As far as not giving them his phone...it's his phone, who knows what's on it.  And he owed the NFL exactly jack and shit after all the leaks (which no one in the league has addressed).

PS. 3 of the 4 Colts balls tested at Half-time were also under-inflated (Page 8)