RealGM

Figured this deserved its own thread.

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/i ... nship-game

Shockingly, it looks like there is some truth to the story. I realize it's completely unrealistic, but the Pats should be removed from the super bowl this year. Sure, it didn't matter against the Colts, but they didn't know that going in. And you want to believe their balls weren't deflated against the Ravens?

At a minimum, they should lose a first round pick AND Belichick should be suspended several games. This is the second time they've been caught blatantly cheating on game day. A fine isn't going to do it. It also casts a pall over their legacy. Lorenzo Neal was on 95.7 saying he didn't believe Brady was involved. bull. Brady handles those balls every single play. The guy is obsessive about his preparation. Now, maybe he wasn't calling for them to be deflated - which is in serious question, frankly - but there is absolutely no doubt that he didn't know about it. Those guys will do anything and everything to gain an advantage. I think it would be very interesting to hit them with an NCAA-style playoff ban, but of course that would never happen.

I'm reading that this is actually a common practice amongst teams. I do feel that the league will make an example given the Pats history and probably will make changes to how the balls are handled. I would expect some draft pick reduction at the most.

Teams that have QBs with weaker grip and smaller hands tend to deflate the balls. Guys like Rodgers with bigger hands and stronger grip actually want more air in the footballs. He has complained that officials deflate the balls from what he wants. He likes them PUUUMPED up.

I'm not going to sugar coat it, that was terrible.

"but there is absolutely no doubt that he didn't know about it." I think you used one too many negatives in the sentence.

Anyway, in today's society, people don't really understand that, like you said, if the Patriots did this, they did it so not knowing that I was going to be a blowout.

People would say that the games weren't close and the Patriots are a good team and see if it didn't have affect. But no one is saying the Patriots couldn't beat the Colts fairly. They're just saying that they cheated. They said the same thing about spy gate.

But what people don't seem to understand is that when one team is at an advantage, it can snowball. If the change were so small, it could actually incidentally work against them, but if it's a big deal, it makes their odds lot stronger. If seeing the other teams preparation in spy gate and being able to throw the ball and know the balls were deflated, that can turn into a blowout. It truly affects games and people don't want to accept that. They want to just say, "well Indianapolis didn't play that well, anyway. Derp."

One thing that I don't understand is how there is a 2 pound scope. They say can be 12.5 to 14.5 lb - why can't they just say it has to be 13.5. They have enough time and have enough money to pay someone to get them exact and then the conditions can maybe change it, but start off exactly at one weight.

For some reason I just don't care about this issue at all.

MHSL82 wrote:"but there is absolutely no doubt that he didn't know about it." I think you used one too many negatives in the sentence.

Anyway, in today's society, people don't really understand that, like you said, if the Patriots did this, they did it so not knowing that I was going to be a blowout.

People would say that the games weren't close and the Patriots are a good team and see if it didn't have affect. But no one is saying the Patriots couldn't beat the Colts fairly. They're just saying that they cheated. They said the same thing about spy gate.

But what people don't seem to understand is that when one team is at an advantage, it can snowball. If the change were so small, it could actually incidentally work against them, but if it's a big deal, it makes their odds lot stronger. If seeing the other teams preparation in spy gate and being able to throw the ball and know the balls were deflated, that can turn into a blowout. It truly affects games and people don't want to accept that. They want to just say, "well Indianapolis didn't play that well, anyway. Derp."

Indeed I did.

Hangman_52 wrote:For some reason I just don't care about this issue at all.

If it wasn't the Pats, I probably wouldn't really either. But these guys have been caught cheating repeatedly. What do you think they're doing that they're getting away with? I think the repeated disregard for the rules casts a lot of doubt on their success. In the Colts game it's not a huge deal. But again, what about in the Baltimore game? What if it tipped the balance just enough to win one or two games during the season, thus securing homefield advantage? Small advantages can add up in this type of game, and that Pats know that. Otherwise, why take the chance on something that seems so silly?

I'd say an NCAA level death sentence for 2015-2016 would be fair. No playoffs next year, no matter what.

That or remove their top 3 picks of the upcoming draft.

I'm just getting tired of this Patriots being scummy and trying to game the system. There's a BIG difference between Running a goofy play against the Ravens and Spygate / Deflategate.

I'd say an NCAA level death sentence for 2015-2016 would be fair. No playoffs next year, no matter what.

That or remove their top 3 picks of the upcoming draft.

I'm just getting tired of this Patriots being scummy and trying to game the system. There's a BIG difference between running a goofy play against the Ravens vs a Spygate or Deflategate.

There has to be a legitimate deterrent to this sort of thing or it's just going to keep happening. The Pats don't care in the least about a fine. They'll easily make that up with a trip to the SB. And even a draft pick is a relatively minor consequence when you have an elite QB working in a system with which he is intimately familiar. Belichick has got to feel the sting of this, and a suspension for him or a playoff bar (less realistic) is the only way to do that IMO.

CrimsonCrew wrote:

Hangman_52 wrote:For some reason I just don't care about this issue at all.

If it wasn't the Pats, I probably wouldn't really either. But these guys have been caught cheating repeatedly. What do you think they're doing that they're getting away with? I think the repeated disregard for the rules casts a lot of doubt on their success. In the Colts game it's not a huge deal. But again, what about in the Baltimore game? What if it tipped the balance just enough to win one or two games during the season, thus securing homefield advantage? Small advantages can add up in this type of game, and that Pats know that. Otherwise, why take the chance on something that seems so silly?

This is exactly my thoughts on it. This isn't a first time offense. I don't care if every team in the league does it, they were caught. There needs to be punishment. I would go the Sean Payton route and give Billy a year.

Hangman_52 wrote:For some reason I just don't care about this issue at all.

Feel the same. Seems like a hard thing to prove don't footballs let air out in the cold? Arent the ball people working for the NFL?

As others have said, I probably wouldn't care as much if it wasn't the Patriots and that I really doubt Roger Goodell is going to act tough against the Patriots due to Robert Kraft being such an influential owner.

Cronyism will win out vs upholding the "integrity of the game." (Again, not that deflating balls is that big of a deal, but the Pats have a reputation for various types of scummy behavior and the evidence is much stronger than the Saints "Pay for Play" case, which I mainly cared about because it involved trying to injure Niners players.)

Why would someone who is known for being carried admit this? I understand telling them what you like, but if you have to pay for it...

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/23 ... hared=true

49rangER wrote:

Hangman_52 wrote:For some reason I just don't care about this issue at all.

Feel the same. Seems like a hard thing to prove don't footballs let air out in the cold? Arent the ball people working for the NFL?

It just cannot be a coincidence that 11 of the Patriots 12 footballs were under inflated while we heard nothing about any of Indy's footballs being under inflated. The NFL, if given the chance, would definitely have jumped at the chance to brush this situation under the rug by reporting footballs on both sides were not in the proper range.

It is just bad for business to let this story take anything away from the Super Bowl, especially if the Patriots win.

DoobieKeebler wrote:As others have said, I probably wouldn't care as much if it wasn't the Patriots and that I really doubt Roger Goodell is going to act tough against the Patriots due to Robert Kraft being such an influential owner.

Cronyism will win out vs upholding the "integrity of the game." (Again, not that deflating balls is that big of a deal, but the Pats have a reputation for various types of scummy behavior and the evidence is much stronger than the Saints "Pay for Play" case, which I mainly cared about because it involved trying to injure Niners players.)

I don't like that excuse or that kind of talk myself. I don't like a lot of the emotional stuff thrown at Goodell either, and I'm not a fan or critic one way or the other, but keep in mind the Patriots already forfeited one first round pick before. I'll need a lot better examples or evidence against certain teams before I believe he favors or gives different kind of treatment to certain owners.

I also cringe personally when I hear from fans saying they care more when it's the Patriots or if it was the Cowboys or Steelers or whatever popular team you name. I get why fans feel that way but it just makes me cringe. Maybe it's because I'm so football obsessed but I don't think I could make myself less mad if it was the Jaguars or Raiders who were caught doing it. No problem if others feel differently about that, but the whole added emotion thing to it because it's a certain team kind of just makes me cringe.

49rangER wrote:

Hangman_52 wrote:For some reason I just don't care about this issue at all.

Feel the same. Seems like a hard thing to prove don't footballs let air out in the cold? Arent the ball people working for the NFL?

I still think there's a considerable chance they'd be in hot water but quite possibly their best out or defense would have been if not every single ball (except for the kicking ball which wasn't deflated) was deflated or the kicking ball (K-ball) was also deflated. They'd have MAYBE been able to try the defense that they weren't sure how they got that way but the fact that every single one came back that way, except for the K-ball, kind of is the final nail in the coffin IMO.

tallglassowater wrote:This is exactly my thoughts on it. This isn't a first time offense. I don't care if every team in the league does it, they were caught. There needs to be punishment. I would go the Sean Payton route and give Billy a year.

I'd be happier with a lifetime ban. Sends a message to other coaches that you should not cheat and that no one is safe from the rule.