WEEI: Florio - League does not have to accept ball boy's explanation

"that he was just relieving himself in the bathroom"

Is he serious ? Guilty without reason ?

Whether or not the attendant deflated the balls in the bathroom with or without the knowledge of anyone higher up, though it may be true, might not be of concern to the league. Florio noted that Spygate caused Roger Goodell to tell the owners that they “need to reduce the standard of proof in these types of cases,” that they “don’t need to have a smoking gun.” He also added that even if the attendant says he was just relieving himself, the NFL doesn’t have to accept his explanation.

Click to expand...

I think he's taking preponderance of evidence to mean, whatever I think. Beyond a shadow of a doubt would say, even if he was in that bathroom for ten minutes, that's likely not sufficient proof. But under either burden the idea that someone could be pissing at a 90 second stop on the bathroom as opposed to deflating 12 balls is almost certainly more than 51% likely.

I'd say it's more like beyond a shadow of a doubt likely that that bathroom break does not equate to evidence of tampering.

If he makes a decision based off that break as evidence it's a travesty.

This is a direct response to Kraft's statement basically saying, we don't need definitive proof to punish you. Salvos being fired, but if they try it, Kraft should take them to court.

I also interpret it as the league saying, "we got nothin'"

He's stated that in interviews and on PFT about 12 times since yesterday. It's starting to look like there's no good ending for this so why not just announce the Pats are guilty now then and get on with it. This is horse sh*t.

Admission by Ray Rice for beating and dragging wife and with video proof= 2 game suspension.

No evidence, or admission by anyone of tampering with the footballs and with video and scientific evidence the PSI can drop due to weather= The hammer coming down.

Bobsyouruncle said:

I think he's taking preponderance of evidence to mean, whatever I think. Beyond a shadow of a doubt would say, even if he was in that bathroom for ten minutes, that's likely not sufficient proof. But under either burden the idea that someone could be pissing at a 90 second stop on the bathroom as opposed to deflating 12 balls is almost certainly more than 51% likely.

I'd say it's more like beyond a shadow of a doubt likely that that bathroom break does not equate to evidence of tampering.

If he makes a decision based off that break as evidence it's a travesty.

Click to expand...

Yup, preponderance of evidence still means that you have the burden of arguing that it's more likely that he deflated a dozen balls in 90 seconds in the bathroom than it is that the temperature and rain did exactly what they always do. If Goodell decides that the Pats are guilty, the Pats will crush that on any appeal that's governed by a sane person.

Translated to Florio-ese

PFT HOPES LEAGUE KEEPS #DEFLATEGATE ALIVE FOREVER BECAUSE WE LIKE CLICKS

Unfortunately, any appeal will not be governed by a sane person. Proves it's nothing more than a witch hunt

Sfpat said:

Unfortunately, any appeal will not be governed by a sane person. Proves it's nothing more than a witch hunt

Click to expand...

Isn't that guy an NFL employee?

won't bother to post it but PFT has an article that says it is possible to deflate balls in 90 secs. I just can't even...

The kid in the bathroom is all they need if they can't find any reasonable explanation for the PSI decrease. As long as the physics work out then it shouldn't matter about the boy in the bathroom.

Reminds me of this all star thread..

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...ell-on-tinklegate.1115810/page-2#post-4099029

Do ANY of you people have ANYONE with a law enforcement background in your immediate family?

If so, get their opinion on the "90 second" gap in the bathroom. The point I'm making is, using the OJ case as an analogy, it was NEVER Colombian drug dealers, Kato Kaelin's drug connection, South Central Crips or any of the hundreds of preposterous smoke screens thrown up. It was the OBVIOUS.

The OBVIOUS in this situation is the guy went in the bathroom and took a leak. The ridiculousness of all this is a bunch of twittering little birdies trying to cram these friggin' moronic scenarios into some kind of half azzed explanation that casts more doubt and hurls more dirt on the Patriots organization.

So....if this is the case we could have reported the Ravens, Jets, and Giants for faking injuries and the league wouldn't have had to buy their explanations?

patsfanincleveland said:

Isn't that guy an NFL employee?

Click to expand...

Yes he is. Here's a picture of him.....

As I said before the ball attendant should hire a good lawyer and make it clear to the NFL that he will sue their asses off if they convict him without proof.

That would be correct but I don't think Mr. Kraft is going down without a fight. He has to protect his brand and fight for his employees.

grux said:

That would be correct but I don't think Mr. Kraft is going down without a fight. He has to protect his brand and fight for his employees.

Click to expand...

I hope not. he was a good soldier last time, still this feels different. Maybe because Brady's integrity has been called into question.

Joker said:

Do ANY of you people have ANYONE with a law enforcement background in your immediate family?

If so, get their opinion on the "90 second" gap in the bathroom. The point I'm making is, using the OJ case as an analogy, it was NEVER Colombian drug dealers, Kato Kaelin's drug connection, South Central Crips or any of the hundreds of preposterous smoke screens thrown up. It was the OBVIOUS.

The OBVIOUS in this situation is the guy went in the bathroom and took a leak. The ridiculousness of all this is a bunch of twittering little birdies trying to cram these friggin' moronic scenarios into some kind of half azzed explanation that casts more doubt and hurls more dirt on the Patriots organization.

Click to expand...

All due respect Joker, you're comparing the burden of proof in a criminal case (where OJ Simpson was found innocent) to that of a civil case (where OJ Simpson was found guilty).

This is basically a civil case with the new rules that Goodell created, thus lowering the standard of proof. It's total ******** to say the least, but that's what we're unfortunately dealing with.

The burden of proof is on the N.England Patriots--not the other way around. This is Goodell's doing, and was initiated 7 years ago back in 2008 when he wanted to have more power.

It's the old "51/49" rule in terms of percentage of people who think it's possible, often referred to in civil cases (as you know criminal cases are much different). At this point I don't think it's looking good with this idiot commissioner, but obviously hope I'm wrong. This is however, exactly what the reporters are speaking of when they say that Goodell doesn't need to buy either of the 2 stories. We need to hope that he buys them both, and I don't think that's likely to happen.

you missed my point...what I was trying to get across is the guy went to the bathroom to go to the bathroom, just like OJ murdered those two people because OJ murdered those two people. No bullshyt what ifs'/thens and the rest of this idiotic little two year old hater garbage.