Long-awaited deflate-gate investigation implicates Pats, Tom Brady

By gameboy1977
in The Sporting Arena

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

gameboy1977

Posted
Posted

Ted Wells' investigation into the possibility that the New England Patriots were involved in deflating footballs for the AFC championship game has found that it's more likely than not some of the Patriots were guilty.

With that line on Page 121 of the massive report, it again questions the validity of the Patriots' great dynasty, which included a Super Bowl victory this past February, the fourth for coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady.

"Based on the evidence developed in connection with the investigation and summarized in this Report, we have concluded that it is more probable than not that New England Patriots personnel participated in violations of the NFL Playing Rules and were involved in a deliberate attempt to circumvent those rules," the report, released Wednesday, said.

[Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football is back: Sign up for a league today!]

Brady was specifically implicated as well.

ESPN's Adam Schefter said the NFL is considering punishment for Brady.

"Based on the evidence, we also have concluded that it is more probable than not that Tom Brady was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities of [Jim] McNally and [John] Jastremski involving the release of air from Patriots game balls," the report said.

The report said that it doesn't think owner Robert Kraft or Belichick knew of what was happening.

The report said all 11 of the Patriots' game balls, when re-tested at halftime, were below the minimum level specified by NFL rules of 12.5 psi. The four Colts game balls that were re-tested were between 12.5 and 13.5 psi, so they were within the rules.

Jim McNally, a seasonal and part-time Patriots employee for 32 years, was responsible for delivering the game balls to officials. There are text messages between McNally and Patriots equipment assistant John Jastremski that discuss the inflation of footballs through last season and Brady's displeasure over the level following a game against the New York Jets last season. Included in the texts are messages in which McNally referred to himself as

Grand Master

gameboy1977

Posted
  • Author
Posted

They would have won either way.  Stupid controversy. 

 

yes, I agree with you too. I watched that super bowl 2015, Seahawks almost made it to be winner before end of the game.

Grand Master

gameboy1977

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Tom Brady probably isn't innocent in deflate-gate, but Wells Report fails to prove he's guilty 

 

 

The conclusion in the NFL's "Investigative Report Concerning Footballs Used During the AFC Championship Game on January 18, 2015" is damning for Tom Brady, very damning.

"Based on the evidence, it also is our view that it is more probable than not that Tom Brady was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities of [two New England employees] involving the release of air from Patriots game balls," the Ted Wells Report reads.

In other words: we're positive he cheated but we can't quite prove it.

For Brady, as much as he will be raked over the coals following the release of this report and be doubted by many forever, it actually could've been worse. The Wells Report is an opinion. While it's an opinion based on some strong evidence, some of the other evidence is a reach, more than enough for Brady to argue his innocence if/when he addresses it.

He has a real defense here (which is different than being innocent) even if most of the members of the Court of Public Opinion have immediately ruled against him.

 

View gallery

.
england-patriots-victory-parade-20150204

(Getty Images)

 

 

Before getting to that, it's worth noting that the conclusion of the report, led by prominent New York attorney Ted Wells, was expected. The conclusion of the 243-page report, one that included an exhaustive 67 interviews and myriad scientific experiments, was so easy to predict that many did way back when the story first broke in the days after New England's 45-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

The most likely scenario of what happened was always that a locker room attendant/equipment guy doctored the balls to the preference of the star quarterback. It was going to be an unspoken thing, or a long-time thing, maybe even a once innocent thing that got out of hand.

It was, however, the most plausible thing.

This didn't need to be a grand and vast conspiracy involving Bill Belichick. It needed just a guy or, in this case, two. It certainly didn't need to go past the QB, but it had to involve the QB. No equipment man in the NFL would ever go rogue and do anything the quarterback didn't want, especially against the wishes of Tom Brady, the (now) four-time Super Bowl champion and greatest player in franchise history who was about to take the field in the AFC title game.

This wasn't the only theory advanced of course.

Belichick later went with a detailed account of how the science of air pressure caused the balls to deflate. Others brought up chain of custody concerns, essentially accusing the Colts of rigging the evidence. Some reminded to not rule out the concept of referee failure. All sorts of unnamed sources repeated things that don't appear to have panned out as true.

There are plenty of Patriots fans, and apparently team owner Robert Kraft, who will continue to believe an alternative theory. Wells isn't one of them. His report offers the belief that two Pats equipment guys

Grand Master

gameboy1977

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

 

Shady Brady? Damning 'Deflategate' texts could force NFL to bench star

By Edmund DeMarche

Published May 07, 2015
 
Now Playing

NFL: 'Probable' that Patriots deliberately deflated balls

Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady could face a four-game suspension and his New England Patriots could be sanctioned as well, following a damning report by the NFL that found the star quarterback likely knew about the scandal known as "Deflategate," according to one former league insider.

Brady, one of the league's most recognizable players and a likely future Hall of Famer, won his fourth Super Bowl ring in February, but the pre-game hoopla was marred as he sought to deflect claims he had ordered game balls to be deflated against league rules. Critics say the deflated footballs, discovered during the Patriots' AFC championship game against the Indianapolis Colts, allowed the quarterback to get a better grip. A 243-page report commissioned by the league and released Wednesday determined that Brady was "at least generally aware" that team employees were doctoring the footballs.

"The question is: Did these deflated footballs affect the integrity of the game?" said David Cornwell, a former NFL attorney who specializes in representing athletes facing disciplinary measures. "And the answer is: Yes, they did."

"The question is: Did these deflated footballs affect the integrity of the game? And the answer is: Yes they did."

- David Cornwell, a former lawyer for the NFL

Cornwell, who does not represent Brady, predicted the star will be suspended between two and four games and the team will likely face a fine. He said there's also a possibility that Brady's actions could lead to the team losing future draft picks.

Brady's agent, Don Yee, called the report, by veteran attorney Ted Wells, a hit job and said it "reached a conclusion first, and then determined so-called facts later." He said the report left out much of Brady's testimony.

 

Related Image

David Cornwell talks to reporters in Florida with his client Jameis WInston. (Reuters)

 

It is the second time in the last decade that substantiated allegations of cheating by the Patriots have put pressure on the league to punish the team. In the scandal known as "Spygate," the Patriots were caught illegally videotaping the Jets

Edited by gameboy1977
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing