Prediction Time! What Will Tom Brady's Punishment Be?

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

The best punishment could possibly be, that he starts playing poorly in trying to salvage his reputation and suffers a confidence crisis which spirals him into retirement. His legacy will be tarnished, his GOAT status rescinded, the patriots will falter and people will question of cheating was the only reason he was so accomplished.

 

If he comes back after any number of game suspension and plays at the same level, this all goes for naught.

[Heitz]

As a Bills fan, I can't see him being suspended for week 2 vs us. 1 game

 

with our luck it'll be a two game suspension - games 1 and 3

[What a Tuel]

If it goes in the W column, it counts.

 

Some people argue we went 8-7 last year. I just don't want any qualifiers when we finally take the division and make the playoffs.

[Wing Man]

This is a difference between what should happen and what will happen to golden cheat, Tom Brady and his Cheatriots franchise overlords.

 

Recent history:

 

Cleveland Browns - GM Ray Farmer was accused of texting, or more specifically, "using electronic communications" with the sideline in violation of NFL rules. There is evidence he had been doing this nearly all season long. The Browns and Farmer cooperated with the investigation and quietly acknowledged their guilt and accepted their penalty. 4 game suspension for Ray Farmer, Browns are fined $250K.

 

Atlanta Falcons - Accused of pumping in fake crowd noise over nearly two seasons to create a less effective playing atmosphere for opposing teams. The Falcons cooperated with the investigation and quietly acknowledged their guilt and accepted their penalty. The Falcons were fined $350,000 and are stripped of a 5th round draft pick in 2016.

 

The New England Patriots [AFC Championship Game]

The game footballs are hijacked into a bathroom and 11 of 12 are obviously deflated to make them more amenable to Brady's preferences. This follows an email from the GM of the Colts alerting the league office to a consistent and well known practice of deflating footballs. A separate 2004 incident involving the same equipment manager was eerily identical to this one. Brady, Belichek, and Kraft all deny culpability in the matter on national television and are incensed that their integrity might be questioned even after the Spygate scandal that they still contend was no big deal. As a result, the league initiates a comprehensive investigation bringing in attorney Ted Wells and his law firm to lead the inquiry. The Patriots insist they are cooperating in every possible way with the league investigators. Nothing could be further from the truth. Brady refuses to turn over his electronic communications or documents related to the case and McNally who is believed to have deflated the footballs and refers to himself in texts as "the deflator," appears once before the investigators, but when Wells and his team want to ask him follow up questions, the Patriots say he can't appear because he's busy with his regular job. McNally wasn't even informed of the request by counsel for the Patriots, a violation itself under league rules. A clear cover-up is easily visible to even the most supportive Patriots defender within the league offices.

 

Unable to speak to McNally or receive a complete picture from Brady, Wells concludes in his report that it is "more probable than not" that Brady was "generally aware" of the deflation of footballs. The investigation concludes with a 243 page report compiled by Ted Wells' law firm. The NFL is billed $15 million for travel related expenses and legal fees. The Patriots organization, beginning with owner Robert Kraft down through Brady's agent and his dad, scream bloody murder that there is no direct evidence linking the deflation to Brady or members and staff of the Patriots organization. Brady's agent refers to it as a sting - which of course it was, durrrr.

 

It's not difficult to see where it's in the league's interest to "burn the tapes" again as it did in the Spygate scandal. The easiest way to do that is to fine the organization, issue a one or two game suspension and/or a fine to Brady, and see that the equipment managers are fired and black balled from the league. Then Goodell addresses the media giving answers that don't answer the questions asked and ride out the storm until the season restarts. The league gets to keep its golden boy largely untouched by scandal and retains the integrity of the recent Super Bowl win by the Patriots. I wouldn't be surprised to see Goodell using the same stupid defense used by the Patriots that the inflation of the balls had no material affect on the outcome of the Colts and Seahawks games to maintain the illusion of a pristine Super Bowl outcome.

 

Never mind the hammer that fell like an anvil during the Bountygate Scandal in New Orleans. Anything less than the same treatment in New England is going to make the Saints fans and the team livid as well they should be. The league is "generally" more than capable of getting it wrong and has proven that it is "more probable than not" that it will this time as well.

[Direhard Fan]

Don't forget Troy Vincent is the one handing down the punishment. Goodell walks away. Troy played for NE for how many years? Bill's also. He will be blamed for too much or too little punishment. He is a straight up guy. I feel bad for him. Money talks and Brady walks. 1 or two at the most.

[Iraq Vet]

$250K and 2 games suspension for TB

 

The Patriots get the lost of 1st round draft pick and a $14 Million dollar salary cap hit for 2016 and 2017. Real money fines don't mean anything to a billionaire who will write it off in his taxes. But reducing the salary cap by 10%.... oohh that hurts.

[BuffaloHokie13]

1) Don't forget Troy Vincent is the one handing down the punishment. Goodell walks away.

2) Troy played for NE for how many years? Bill's also. He will be blamed for too much or too little punishment. He is a straight up guy. I feel bad for him. Money talks and Brady walks. 1 or two at the most.

1) Goodell will have final say on the punishment one way or another. Either by review, or through an appeal from the Pats*

2) Troy did not play for the Pats*

[Metal Man]

I keep hearing how the Pats* are the NFL's "golden boys," but no one outside NE likes them. In fact, most NFL fans would love to see the Pats* get what they deserve for once. That said, I agree with your prediction and voted "fine." If there is no suspension, I hope people throw deflated balls onto the field during games like people threw sharpies (which I always thought was quite dangerous) onto the field when Bonds played.

 

That's a really good point. I'm not sure where that perspective comes from but it isn't just confined to this board.

 

My guess would be that it is more a reflection of how everyone views Goodell and Kraft's relationship.

[CodeMonkey]

There won't be any punishment in my opinion because if you look at the language in the report, it is all "likely he would have been involved", or "unlikely that he would not have known". Nothing definitive outside of the fall-guys, particularly when it comes to Brady. This was the loophole put into the report so that the NFL has an out and does not have to punish either Brady or the Pats. Maybe they will throw fines their way, maybe. But suspensions or loss of significant draft picks, not a chance in hell in my opinion.

Edited May 7, 2015 by CodeMonkey

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

He'll get suspended for all four preseason games.

[BobChalmers]

The correct answer is one game - IE he will return to action in time to beat the Bills on a late drive.

 

 

[Metal Man]

He'll get suspended for all four preseason games.

Boo, I made that joke 15 posts earlier.

 

(Not sure it was even funny then though)

 

[BobChalmers]

There won't be any punishment in my opinion because if you look at the language in the report, it is all "likely he would have been involved", or "unlikely that he would not have known". Nothing definitive outside of the fall-guys, particularly when it comes to Brady. This was the loophole put into the report so that the NFL has an out and does not have to punish either Brady or the Pats. Maybe they will throw fines their way, maybe. But suspensions or loss of significant draft picks, not a chance in hell in my opinion.

 

Knowledgeable media have discussed this on TV this morning - that seemingly weak language is actually the very threshold they need to achieve for punishment to be administered.

[PromoTheRobot]

If the NFL does nothing to the Pats* they will prove that cheating is worth doing because you will never be punished.

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

Boo, I made that joke 15 posts earlier.

 

(Not sure it was even funny then though)

 

I have brought shame upon myself, and my TBD family.

[What a Tuel]

 

That's a really good point. I'm not sure where that perspective comes from but it isn't just confined to this board.

 

My guess would be that it is more a reflection of how everyone views Goodell and Kraft's relationship.

 

I think it comes from the spygate situation, tuck rule, brady isn't allowed to be touched rules/penalties, and of course that he is a good quarterback. Oh and that isn't mentioning that the media actually calls Brady "the golden boy".

 

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2014/01/manning-vs-brady-whos-the-real-golden-boy/

 

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/01/tom-brady-hair-media-day-super-bowl

 

And plenty more, but deflategate is breaking an effective google search.

Edited May 7, 2015 by What a Tuel

[DrDawkinstein]

If the NFL does nothing to the Pats* they will prove that cheating is worth doing because you will never be punished.

 

Actually, all it will prove is what we already know: The Patriots get to play by a different set of rules than everyone else.

[Wacka]

Why not have the option for the death penalty?

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

I say they force Tom to play all 4 preseason games to the end. How great would it be. Some no-name practice squad 3rd string DE would be frothing at the mouth to get a hold of Brady.

[Canadian Bills Fan]

I got it!

 

No suspension or fine.

 

 

Brady must use CFL balls and then switch back to NFL when the other teams offense takes the field

 

 

CBF