Matt in KC

Is it per incident? I wonder if that is $500K for the deflating and $500K for the obstruction....

Actually, that would just make you a jerk. I don't blame Wells for being pissed. I would think any claims he is acting unprofessionally are slanderous/libelous (though I know very little about that area of the law).

Thanks eBall. I don't know how to say it any clearer than I did previously. My comment was specifically driven by the same thing WEO is reacting to: I actually want the Pats** for pick 32nd (i.e. after finishing in last place).

No, they have been stripped of their first round pick. I mean finishing with the worst record, losing the #1 overall pick, and therefor picking for the first time at pick #32. That's why I said it's unusual for me to want them to have that pick.

I'm not sure what you mean. Finishing last and not getting the #1 overall pick in the draft makes it that much worse for them, doesn't it?

Random thought: this is the first time I've ever hoped the Pats pick 32nd in next year's draft!

Brady's going to be under a lot of pressure when he comes back. I think the press is going to needle him at every PC for the first half of the year....

I can't wait to see the league's reaction when they catch Tom practicing with the team on their bye week before his suspension is over....

Thanks for posting that. I think we've hit consensus across he sports world (as much as ever) when this is in the Boston Globe!

...and Travis Henry: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/2001/tracker/player?id=497

I think that article completely missed the boat. In the analysis they control for both the gauge used and the operator. Page 100 footnote: Page 111: I don't see any "wiggle room" that supports the article's key statement that "the scientific proof of tampering hinges on a literal coin flip between the pressure gauge that generated a higher reading and the pressure gauge that generated a lower reading."

What's the difference? Seriously? Rogers is following the process. It's not his job to double-check and correct the pressure of the balls presented. That's the role of the referees. Brady bribed someone to sneak the balls off-camera to reduce the pressure, lied, and did not cooperate with an NFL investigation. As most reasonable people have said, the cover-up has been worse than the offense. But the approach itself affirms they knew it was wrong and should be dealt with harshly. I would have thought only a minor fine or warning would be all that was warranted if McNally had reduced the pressure in front of the refs.

Hater.

And Happy Mothers Day to the mothers of the women on TBD too!

Wasn't Brady using his wife's phone? I forget exactly where I read that. Someone who has paid closer attention please remind me! If he did that consistently, that was smart, but underscore he knew he was doing something wrong.

I wonder how much Kraft had to pay to have that done so quickly? The link still works for me: http://www.theonion.com/article/nation-cant-wait-to-hear-patriots-fans-excuses-thi-37819 And here's the link to post it on Facebook, which I just did: Facebook link

Nation Can’t Wait To Hear Patriots Fans’ Excuses This Time

My guess is Brady is fined $500,000 and suspended for 4 games, but these are reduced to 2 games and $250K or $100K on appeal. Additionally, the Pats lose a draft pick somewhere in rounds 4-6. I think the lying and cover up is a much bigger deal than the offense. It forces the league to look like they are being tough on the Pats.

I just don't buy the whole "murder for hire" angle. If he was responsible, why choose this timing that hurt him so much? That would only make sense if she was blackmailing him and threatening to hurt his reputation ahead of the draft, somehow more than this did? If this was pre-meditated by him, I just don't get it. Heat-of-the-moment might make sense, but he wasn't there.

I'm not sure about everyone on here, but I helped save him! I signed the petition. . . .

...as it should if he's cut without being beaten out. If he's actually beaten out I think everyone, including Fred, will accept it.

Yes, assuming 3-4 RBs outperform him in TC (which I doubt!)

That sounds like a record that might stand for awhile!

Has anyone ever come close to signing their contract before the draft was finished?