After reading your first paragraph, I couldn't help but be irate. I just can't fathom why Brady would give the NFL virtually a full win, when, A. you haven't done anything, B. there is no evidence that you DID do something, C. even under the narrow basis of the CBA, you have at least 3 major area that the Judge has already given some sense of agreement, and D. the judge hearing your case has shredded the other side at every turn.
Acceptance of even a fine for "non-cooperation would be a fraud, since it's been revealed that Brady has been more than open in this investigation. It would also seal his legacy. Never again would his name be mentioned without Deflategate being in the same sentence. Accepting a one game suspension or fine would be interpreted as an admission of guilt no matter what language they use.
This isn't about the money. Remember if Brady accepts ANY punishment, Goodell wins, no matter how you spin it. If he takes it to a judges ruling, in the WORST case, the Judge will excoriate the NFL for their unfairness, their manipulation of evidence, and their unjust punishment, and then on technical grounds not vacate the suspension. But even under that worst case scenario, the truth of this injustice will be laid bare to everyone who has even the smallest sense of justice.
Not only that, if will give Brady the impetus he needs to sue the NFL for defamation, and in that courtroom the case won't be judged on a narrow CBA clause, but on the merits of the evidence against Brady and the already evident maliciousness of the NFL's actions. It will also force the League offices to open up THEIR emails and cell phones to public revue, and further open them up to the public scrutiny that will bring them down.
Sup, Brady can't give in at this point. There is too much at stake now than just 4 games of a football season. I don't mean to be overly dramatic here, but Brady is the focal point in a fight for the hearts and minds of the future integrity of the NFL itself Do we want the NFL to be the ultimate competitive physical contest and the finest example of combining brains and brawn, or do we want it turned into a perverse overly produced version of the WWE. . (how's that for not being overly dramatic.
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I see articles like Sally Jenkins as being more important in the long run, and those types of articles are become more common. Articles without qualifications that expose what Goodell is doing as the corrupt actions of a delusional egomaniac who thinks he's above ANY oversight. No Sup, now isn't the time to "settle". Now is the time to take advantage of a strong position and take back the game we love. (.....he said undramatically )