Alan Millstein: Brady's chances of en banc hearing dramatically improved with latest amicus filings

[cmasspatsfan]

Exactly. People are talking about it. And nobody is actually doing it.

To be fair they're saying once TB retires and he hasn't yet.

 

[venecol]

This thread is 3 weeks old and 30 pages. Someone wake me up when something actually happens.

 

[Ivan]

OK. I'm confused.

As I read the rule, any judge who is not "senior" may vote on whether to grant the hearing, but if those two particular judges were not senior at the time of the vote and so could vote on whether to grant the hearing but are senior at the time of the hearing, then they would not be eligible to participate in the hearing. Is that right?

Parker is a senior judge. So, as I read the rule, he is not eligible to vote on whether there should be an en banc hearing but, because he was on the original panel, would be eligible to participate in the hearing itself. Is that right?

And, if both of those are right, then I could see how the discussions around this could be foggy and the internal court politics might be a little arcane for Katzmann to sort out. And maybe the fact that this is taking so long might not be all bad for Brady?

And, is it possible that the MCI actually stumbled on something useful for once?

I stay optimistic simply based upon reason but honestly have no idea how this is going to play out. I still don't see how the court could abide by an arbitration process wherein the arbitrator finds new grounds for sanctions within the appeal itself, and see that as the overriding issue for the court to remedy. They could take the sleazy way out and say it's unique to the NFL's CBA but that would sanction an unfair process simply to avoid the effort to decide the issue. Does that mean the court will fix their mistake? No. However it definitely means they should. Why would anyone agree to arbitration knowing they could come out of it worse than when they went in?

 

[Ivan]

To be fair they're saying once TB retires and he hasn't yet.

I get that but we still shouldn't have to hear their cries for another 10 years.

 

[XLIX]

To be fair they're saying once TB retires and he hasn't yet.

And what kind of principled stand is that?

"I hate the NFL so much I'm going to stop watching it!! ---- juuuuuuuuuuuuuust as soon as our glory days are over and we fall back to the pack for a while. That'll learn 'em..!!"

 

[BTTA]

I agree there are some egregious calls but I honestly don't think there are games being rigged. If this league office tried to fix games everyone would know it.

I agree about individual games.

This season, the Pats will be playing against teams that have an extra first round draft pick, for no reason other than the need to try and erode the advantage the Pats have due to their excellence. Every game the Pats play, the opposing team has that advantage.

Plus the advantage of knowing if their #1 QB will playing in the first four games, which is a significant opportunity cost for the Pats that the other teams don't have.

Every one of those teams could have acknowledged the unfairness of all this and protested. Every one of them could hold back their #1 QB and #1 draft pick from playing when they play the Pats. None of them will.

That is how the games will be "rigged" against the Pats this year. And the entire League is in on it.

 

[Plunkett2Vataha]

Some of the closest things I've seen to game rigging was that Jets game where they threw a flag on the Patriots (first time ever calling the penalty) after the Jets missed the FG in overtime to win it.. so they gave them another shot, 5 yards closer, and they won the game

Actually I believe it was a 15 yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. I had never seen it called before then, and don't recall if it has been called since. But the refs were definitely looking for it, and supposedly the Jets did the same thing in the first half of that game but it was not called.

 

[Galeb]

And what kind of principled stand is that?

"I hate the NFL so much I'm going to stop watching it!! juuuuuuuuuuuuuust as soon as our glory days are over and we fall back to the pack for a while. That'll learn 'em..!!"

If you would at least make an attempt at understanding the perspective against which you are arguing, you wouldn't make such dumb statements.

I personally love the game of football. The complexity and level of execution it requires at the highest level is both fascinating and entertaining. The hard work, mental and physical toughness required by players to maintain success something to be admired. The rich history of grit and sacrifice have built a tremendous legacy for today's players to both honor and strive for. It is a game that is often decided by inches, with a “win or go home” playoff format that leads to high drama. There is a lot to love about the game of football.

Beyond just the appreciation of the game is a fondness of our team. Not only has the team achieved some of the greatest success the NFL has seen, they’ve suffered and rebounded from the most heartbreaking loss in NFL history. Traditionally the strongest locker room in the NFL, the Patriots have a hard working, professional culture unmatched in the NFL. Without all the NFL BS, it is a more than worthy team to root for.

As impressive as the team’s achievements, the leadership and accomplishments by both the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are even more impressive. Not only do they win more than anyone ever has, they do so with class and a reverence for the game and it’s legacy. We are very fortunate to have been able to witness such greatness in our local sport.

As much as we love the game, the team and BB/TB, the NFL’s ********, corruption, hypocrisy and obvious agenda against our beloved team tarnishes our enjoyment of the game we love. The constant drive to make as much money as possible isn’t merely running the product on the field, the lies, deceit and corruption are gnawing at the very fabric and integrity of the game. Although there is no proof that the league is intentionally fixing games on the field, several owners and the league office are actively trying to affect who is successful through off the field measures; see deflategate/spygate/bountygate etc. etc… If they haven’t already tried to fix games on the field, it’s likely just a matter of time before they do.

For many of us, the constant ******** and all these negatives are beginning to outweigh the positives and it’s not worth watching the game anymore. For others, that threshold will likely be reached when the best coach of all time and the best player of all time leave the game. I always figured I wouldn’t reach that threshold until Brady and BB left, but I don’t think I’ll last that long. It’s fine if you disagree with this perspective, but your aggressive, rude mocking of this well-reasoned, commonly held perspective says a lot more about you than it does of those with which you are arguing.

 

[XLIX]

If you would at least make an attempt at understanding the perspective against which you are arguing, you wouldn't make such dumb statements.

You call my statement a "dumb statement" - then you wrote 450+ words echoing exactly what I said.

"I hate the NFL so much I'm going to stop watching it!! ---- juuuuuuuuuuuuuust as soon as our glory days are over and we fall back to the pack for a while. That'll learn 'em..!!"

 

[Galeb]

You call my statement a "dumb statement" - then you wrote 450+ words echoing exactly what I said.

"I hate the NFL so much I'm going to stop watching it!! ---- juuuuuuuuuuuuuust as soon as our glory days are over and we fall back to the pack for a while. That'll learn 'em..!!"

It's right here, all you have to do is drink. I can't do it for you.

 

[XLIX]

Some of the closest things I've seen to game rigging was that Jets game where they threw a flag on the Patriots (first time ever calling the penalty) after the Jets missed the FG in overtime to win it.. so they gave them another shot, 5 yards closer, and they won the game

That was an atrocious call. Absolutely atrocious.

However, an atrocious call is not evidence of a rigged game. We see them in all sports all the time. The Jets were the better team that day. If that game had indeed been rigged, it would have never even made it to OT in the first place.

 

[Jackson 2]

That was an atrocious call. Absolutely atrocious.

However, an atrocious call is not evidence of a rigged game. We see them in all sports all the time. The Jets were the better team that day. If that game had indeed been rigged, it would have never even made it to OT in the first place.

I absolutely believe that was a rig job. Never called before, never called since. And we've all seen it many times since without a flag. I don't know if it was rigged for $$/gambling or just to f### the Patriots for just being the Patriots. I don't care which, but it was a hose job, for sure.

 

[XLIX]

I absolutely believe that was a rig job. Never called before, never called since. And we've all seen it many times since without a flag. I don't know if it was rigged for $$/gambling or just to f### the Patriots for just being the Patriots. I don't care which, but it was a hose job, for sure.

I respectfully disagree. Ignoring the fact that the Jets played better that day, if the game was fixed, there were 1,000 opportunities to prevent it from going into OT in the first place. One conveniently timed holding call on the Patriots' final drive and it never gets into OT.

It isn't the crazy, never-seen-that-before endings that scream "fixed!" It's the run of the mill calls which we see all the time and are completely subjective.

 

[Koma]

That was an atrocious call. Absolutely atrocious.

However, an atrocious call is not evidence of a rigged game. We see them in all sports all the time. The Jets were the better team that day. If that game had indeed been rigged, it would have never even made it to OT in the first place.

I should be better than to quibble over the details of a 3 year old game, but the Jets did commit the same "illegal push" penalty on the Patriots game-tying FG attempt late in the 4th quarter. If they called the penalty, it would have been 1st and goal for NE from the 13 yard line with about 20 second left. That's plenty of time for 2 or 3 passes for a game winning TD. Of course, as you pointed out, if the refs were really trying to keep the Patriots from winning, they would have derailed the Patriots last drive in regulation with some phantom holding or OPI calls to keep them from even getting in FG range.

 

[XLIX]

I should be better than to quibble over the details of a 3 year old game, but the Jets did commit the same "illegal push" penalty on the Patriots game-tying FG attempt late in the 4th quarter.

I don't remember that play specifically, but you won't see me disagree with the idea that the game was poorly officiated. But unfortunately, poor officiating is just running rampant in all of professional sports and poor officiating does not imply rigged game.

 

[Jackson 2]

I respectfully disagree. Ignoring the fact that the Jets played better that day, if the game was fixed, there were 1,000 opportunities to prevent it from going into OT in the first place. One conveniently timed holding call on the Patriots' final drive and it never gets into OT.

It isn't the crazy, never-seen-that-before endings that scream "fixed!" It's the run of the mill calls which we see all the time and are completely subjective.

I appreciate your respectful disagreement, and I mean that, but your judgement that the Jets played better that day may be accurate, but that has absolutely no bearing on the FG call. In my 50 plus years watching the Patriots that call stands out in my mind as one of the three worst (Raiders roughing the passer in 76 and Gronk's assault by Kuechly in Carolina a couple of years ago are the others) porkings ever.

 

[XLIX]

I appreciate your respectful disagreement, and I mean that, but your judgement that the Jets played better that day may be accurate, but that has absolutely no bearing on the FG call. In my 50 plus years watching the Patriots that call stands out in my mind as one of the three worst (Raiders roughing the passer in 76 and Gronk's assault by Kuechly in Carolina a couple of years ago are the others) porkings ever.

It has no bearing on the FG call, but it has plenty of bearing on the notion of whether or not the game was rigged. My whole point is that if the game was rigged by the officials on the field, they had 1,000 opportunities to finish the Patriots off prior to what actually happened.

I just hate seeing Patriots fans sound like Raiders or Steelers fan, always complaining about the "rigged" officiating when we lose a close one.

 

[Tony2046]

I appreciate your respectful disagreement, and I mean that, but your judgement that the Jets played better that day may be accurate, but that has absolutely no bearing on the FG call. In my 50 plus years watching the Patriots that call stands out in my mind as one of the three worst (Raiders roughing the passer in 76 and Gronk's assault by Kuechly in Carolina a couple of years ago are the others) porkings ever.

Agree and I would like to add one.

FIRST DOWN.........OPI

I'll bet I don't even have to reference which game either.

 

[Jackson 2]

It has no bearing on the FG call, but it has plenty of bearing on the notion of whether or not the game was rigged. My whole point is that if the game was rigged by the officials on the field, they had 1,000 opportunities to finish the Patriots off prior to what actually happened.

I just hate seeing Patriots fans sound like Raiders or Steelers fan, always complaining about the "rigged" officiating when we lose a close one.

I don't think that I, or other Patriot fans to use your verbiage, are "always complains about 'rigged' officiating." I cited 3 screw jobs in 56 years. That's not "always complaining", at least not in my book.

 

[Jackson 2]

Agree and I would like to add one.

FIRST DOWN.........OPI

I'll bet I don't even have to reference which game either.

No, you don't.