Nihilist25

Yeah, you will take the punishment, Mr. Kraft. You aren't going to argue against the texts, the video of your employee inexplicably taking the balls into the bathroom, the autographed footballs and shoes, the refusal to fully cooperate, and the neutral scientific analysis.

Kraft already stated NE isn't going to fight the team punishment.

Also, seems like a big issue the NFL had with NE was that NE didn't cooperate with the investigation by making McNally available a second time. The Wells report stated again and again that NE didn't make McNally available a second time or even ask McNally. Maybe Wells and NE thought McNally would break during a second interview. Therefore, NE didn't make McNally available and the NFL punishes harder.

So just 31 picks in the first round 2016?

So what happens with the picks NE loses?

Yeah, the innocent players and employees should blame Tom and his crew and/or chalk it up to the risk they take when playing/working for a team like the Patriots. As for Kraft, he won't fire Brady although he could.

Isn't Kraft still holding onto the theory the atmosphere caused deflation? Faced with investigation findings, even Biscotti accepted responsibility and embarrassment. Also, even though the report found no knowledge on the part of Kraft and Billichick, aren't they responsible for everything their organization does, especially when it's game related, regardless of their knowledge? If they're responsible, shouldn't they be embarrassed? How is a Brady suspension unfair to the Patriots in this situation? Also, if Brady was just a numbnut who tarnished the Patriots' reputation, shouldn't Kraft want to make an example of him? If anything, a Brady suspension is light on a team whose members have been caught cheating before.

Further, I find it kind of telling that Lee's first criticism is that the situation was a "sting operation" because the Patriots weren't notified of a complaint that they were deflating balls. http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sm3i1u. It's like saying a drug dealer is innocent because the police didn't notify him that they had recieved a tip that he was selling.

Exactly. The standard used is explained in fn 1 on p. 1 of the report. The standard is common in civil litigation including employment law. You don't have to be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt as with a crime in civil litigation because the stakes are lower (i.e., you don't take the risk of going to jail in civil litigation) and because it allows for greater efficiency. Applying a standard of beyond a reasonable doubt in civil litigation would be ridiculously ornerous on any employer making it impossible to fire dirtbags. The folks who wrote the report are experienced attorneys and are accustomed to the preponderance of the evidence standard which is taught to all first year law students.

I'll bet that whoever does read the fan boards reports to someone who does sit at the table. It would be ridiculous to think that a business wouldn't consider its consumer's reaction when making a change.

Kiko was a risk. Not only weak knees, but off-field. I always thought the circumstances he provided regarding his most recent ACL injury were sketchy.

SJ - not a good idea.

So what's the reason for his success in 2013? Can it be repeated?

Yes.

If RI can keep his nose clean, mouth shut, and motor running - great. If not, cut him.

I hope this isn't the plan.

Winning is important to FAs. I agree facilities are important. Who wants to work in a dump? Mostly, it's about respect which is reinforced by various factors already mentioned.

IMO yes, wisely spending money on coaches, facilities, etc can attract player talent at lower salary amounts. Also, winning. I'm happy to see lots of splashes this year and last as previously we could count on about one big splash per season. Hope to see more during FA.

1. Did you click on the link which includes a verbatim copy of the NFL's statement?2. Because after their special treatment of their footballs the Patriots were obligated to ensure their footballs would still be in compliance with the rules during the game.

Nope. My points indicate that if they didn't do certain things ahead of time they should have.

First King posted something which led to questions. Then the NFL issued something more definitive (can't find the link on NFL.com anymore) which is copied at this URL: http://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2015/01/23/nfl-release-statement-on-investigation-into-deflategate/

Assuming they didn't already know and weren't gaming the system (which they probably were), the Patriots should have known because they should have done the tests earlier considering the NFL doesn't/can't/shouldn't account for the peculiar rubbing techniques of each team and its effects on football PSI. The Patriots assume that obligation when they rub their footballs.

That's what I was wondering yesterday. Then the NFL released a statement indicating that before this game the balls were inflated to 12.5-13.5.

If true about PSI loss due to rubbing and atmosphere, the Patriots knew or should have known that their footballs would have low PSI during play. They should have determined what would happen to PSI due to their proprietary rubbing process. They knew or should have known the refs cert process as there was at least a video on it dated as recently as 2013. Additionally, the Patriots acknowledged they requested the refs inflate to 12.5 PSI.

Per BB, Patriot's recreation found: 1. Pre-cert Patriot ball rubbing raised ball PSI by 1 PSI. I have no idea how rubbing could cause PSI to rise. Do they put the footballs in a clothes dryer? 2. Balls filled to 12.5 and moved outside lost 1.0-1.5 PSI due to atmosphere. Per the NFL's story the, balls were filled to 12.5 PSI during cert. Also, see King video. BB didn't put 2+2 together for us. I think he wants us to believe that the balls had an additional excited PSI when handed to the refs. The refs filled the balls to 12.5. He wants us to allow that the balls could have settled at 11.5 after cert regardless of atmosphere. Additionally, lower outside temperature caused 1.0-1.5 loss of PSI. That's a loss of 2.0-2.5 PSI total. Also,he wants us to think that this is all the NFL's fault (or at least out of the Patriots hands) for not considering atmosphere and settling. He's worried about pre-SB sanctions and wanted to get his shot in before the NFL does and without giving the media, the NFL, and other parties much time to prepare. That's why he had the conference today with one hour notice.