Was Brady the real target?

What happened the prior week? Manning **** the bed! The practice of controlling your own balls is something that is practiced only in football (to my knowledge) and goes back to the Pop Warner level, mainly so your players can feel comfortable with the balls. Everyone in football knows this! However much the league tried, changing rules, imaginary pass interference penalties, docking draft picks etc. they could never elevate the golden boy Manning over the New England 6th round pick. At this point in time, Manning had completely played himself out of the GOAT debate. How would he be redeemed? By trashing Brady with something they all knew he did and no one cared. I even think they went after the Falcons and Browns just to avoid the appearance of selectively going after the Pats. How could they determine the Falcons pumped in noise yet never get those pesky Colts. Face it, the league is becoming more and more of a farce, and they have tried and are actively trying to change outcomes. How could this not have been a sting?

I've started reading the report, and it's actually alleging that Brady was supplying McNally with autograph memorabilia, even making note of a more expensive piece McNally received, presumably to deflate footballs. The report also uses the fact that Brady engaged in communication with McNally/Jastremski as evidence. Oh really, it's a surprise he spoke with McNally and Jastremski after accusations started? That's your evidence?

"The timing and frequency of the telephone communications between
Jastremski and McNally, as well as Jastremski and Brady, immediately
after suspicions of ball tampering were raised by NFL Security and in
media reports."

Reading the report so far, and trying to be as objective as possible, it really seems like there is an agenda behind it.

It also alleges that the Patriots were doing this for at least as long as this season, but maybe longer. Of course, it also cites Walt Anderson, who is his entire career never had trouble finding the game balls:

"Referee Walt Anderson‟s inability to locate the game balls at the start of
the game (for the first time in nineteen years) and the breach in standard
pre-game procedure when McNally removed the game balls from the
Officials Locker Room without the permission of the referee or other
game officials."

So the Patriots have been doing this (probably) for at least a year, but this is the first time Walt Anderson has seen such a thing, and this is another one of your bullet points of evidence?

This whole thing is really disgusting.

The next battle is going to be Brady appealing his 1 year suspension.

ChoWZa said:

The next battle is going to be Brady appealing his 1 year suspension.

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So being "probably"guilty of knowing about deflated footballs is the same thing as beating up a female, and getting caught 3 times with PED's?

Thats disgusting.

AzorianPats said:

So being "probably"guilty of knowing about deflated footballs is the same thing as beating up a female, and getting caught 3 times with PED's?

Thats disgusting.

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If I am Brady, I am saying Roger go pound sand. The League just lost it's best player because the Colts and you League office buddy ex-Jet set a B.S trap. "I got my four rings and I retire until the witch hunt is over." That's what I would do.

If he accepts punishment he admits guilt. If he accepts it than he is guilty. Fight this brother.

If he goes down suspended than that makes Brunnel and that stooge Mortensen look like gold. Rogers should be suspended the same because he admitted such.

How do texts like "My good Buddy Brady is going to give me a jersey". qualify a part time employee as being in Brady's "crew"...yea right....you and Tommy, qualify as gospel? Brady liking his footballs a little softer does not make him guilty.
DW Toys

ChoWZa said:

The next battle is going to be Brady appealing his 1 year suspension.

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No effing way the NLFPA doesnt take the NFL to town regarding this crap. There's no way Brady will be suspended. The NFLPA got Ray Rice, AP, Hardy essentially off. Hell even got Hernandez to keep his signing bonus. Theres no way they wont take Goodell and these morons to town.

AzorianPats said:

So being "probably"guilty of knowing about deflated footballs is the same thing as beating up a female, and getting caught 3 times with PED's?

Thats disgusting.

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agreed....it's not even close. if anything, this is a speeding ticket.
unreal if tb12 gets a 1 year suspension. he shouldnt be suspended at all but the nfl hates tom so he will get destroyed.
if im tom, im done doing interviews. just go marshawn lynch

Gronkowski123 said:

if im tom, im done doing interviews. just go marshawn lynch

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I think that goes for the whole team. Will BB instruct them that the only acceptable response to any question outside the coaching staff and ownership is "I prefer not to answer that question." Before Marshawn Lynch, there was Bartleby the Scrivener. Free Will.

Gronkowski123 said:

if im tom, im done doing interviews. just go marshawn lynch

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I want him to come out and say that anyone who has accused him of doing this is a LIAR.

That a "more likely than not" conclusion is NOTHING.

That Wells got it WRONG.

Anyone who believes that this report and it's inclusions weren't bought and paid for by Goodell and the NFL goon squad is NOT living in reality. This report's conclusions were decided before it even started, in the same way that Wells was told what to write in the Incognito investigation down to Miami.

The whole purpose of this "investigation" was to further tarnish new England, and especially Tom Brady. I hope that Brady sues the living heck outta the NFL for this "framegate" and that New England goes on another "take it out on the league" victory tour like they did after "spygate", but this time also win the darned superbowl.

I'd also point out that this report is a warning to the other 31 teams as well, that anyone getting outside the Commissioner's good graces ought to watch their back, because the knife could come at anytime with him and his crew.

ChoWZa said:

I've started reading the report, and it's actually alleging that Brady was supplying McNally with autograph memorabilia, even making note of a more expensive piece McNally received, presumably to deflate footballs. The report also uses the fact that Brady engaged in communication with McNally/Jastremski as evidence. Oh really, it's a surprise he spoke with McNally and Jastremski after accusations started? That's your evidence?

"The timing and frequency of the telephone communications between
Jastremski and McNally, as well as Jastremski and Brady, immediately
after suspicions of ball tampering were raised by NFL Security and in
media reports."

Reading the report so far, and trying to be as objective as possible, it really seems like there is an agenda behind it.

It also alleges that the Patriots were doing this for at least as long as this season, but maybe longer. Of course, it also cites Walt Anderson, who is his entire career never had trouble finding the game balls:

"Referee Walt Anderson‟s inability to locate the game balls at the start of
the game (for the first time in nineteen years) and the breach in standard
pre-game procedure when McNally removed the game balls from the
Officials Locker Room without the permission of the referee or other
game officials."

So the Patriots have been doing this (probably) for at least a year, but this is the first time Walt Anderson has seen such a thing, and this is another one of your bullet points of evidence?

This whole thing is really disgusting.

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I bet it is standard practice for NFL players (especially QBs) to give away memorabilia and swag to the equipment guys who care for their equipment. Brady owns part of Under Armour. I am sure he gets free shoes from him all the time. And I bet he signs stuff for all the employees.

My brother used to work for the Pats in there front office back in the 90s. He got me a Patriots helmet he had signed by Ty Law and Ben Coates and he has tons of signed merchandise including a signed Bledsoe football. It is standard practice for NFL team employees to get signed merchandise.

If getting free signed merchandise and swag is proof of cheating, most NFL teams' employees are cheating for their players.

Speaking of Brady giving McNally merchandise, from Dan Wexel:

Most intriguing is a text from McNally to Jastremski that the "needle" should be hidden in a bag surrounded by "cash and newkicks [sic] … or its rugby sunday," a joke/threat that without payment, the ball would wind up overinflated. It seems unlikely, however, that McNally would have the guts to do that to Brady … and if he did, he would likely be terminated for trying to sabotage the QB by over inflating the footballs. Wells, though, appears to take this mostly at face value.

It's also worth noting that memorabilia and autographs are how locker room attendants, equipment men and other staffers in professional sports make extra money. This is commonplace. It stands to reason Brady has signed and given away tons of stuff to all sorts of people through the years.

Was some of this particularly valuable? Absolutely. The most notable is a picture on Jastremski's phone of a football bearing Brady's autograph and "50,000 yards" written on it.

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http://sports.yahoo.com/news/tom-br...ort-fails-to-prove-he-s-guilty-223250553.html

Rob0729 said:

I bet it is standard practice for NFL players (especially QBs) to give away memorabilia and swag to the equipment guys who care for their equipment. Brady owns part of Under Armour. I am sure he gets free shoes from him all the time. And I bet he signs stuff for all the employees.

My brother used to work for the Pats in there front office back in the 90s. He got me a Patriots helmet he had signed by Ty Law and Ben Coates and he has tons of signed merchandise including a signed Bledsoe football. It is standard practice for NFL team employees to get signed merchandise.

If getting free signed merchandise and swag is proof of cheating, most NFL teams' employees are cheating for their players.

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It was also a running joke between the two because Brady didn't give him Uggs. So they were joking like, what is Brady going to give me?

Rob0729 said:

I bet it is standard practice for NFL players (especially QBs) to give away memorabilia and swag to the equipment guys who care for their equipment. Brady owns part of Under Armour. I am sure he gets free shoes from him all the time. And I bet he signs stuff for all the employees.

My brother used to work for the Pats in there front office back in the 90s. He got me a Patriots helmet he had signed by Ty Law and Ben Coates and he has tons of signed merchandise including a signed Bledsoe football. It is standard practice for NFL team employees to get signed merchandise.

If getting free signed merchandise and swag is proof of cheating, most NFL teams' employees are cheating for their players.

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It was also a running joke between the two because Brady didn't give him Uggs. So they were joking like, what is Brady going to give me?

Obviously emotions are pretty high right now, and of course we want to defend Brady vehemently as a method of reasoning.

But the most telling thing that bothers me is that in the report it states that Brady claimed to not know who McNally was, and had no idea of McNallys gameball responsibility. That flies in the face of Brady not only handing over autographed memorabilia on a regular basis - but also the text where Jastremski says that Brady specifically asked about McNally BEFORE the AFCCG.

Look, I want Brady as innocent of anything as much as the next guy. But I can't lie to myself and not acknowledge there is some blatant contradictions in what Brady told investigators and what the evidence shows.

I get that there is a lot of NY people involved in this report and investigation, but I am not ready to cry conspiracy theory yet. That kind of talk is what fans of other teams have screamed for years about why the Patriots have had so much success; I am not near ready to drape myself in the same form of perception they have.

The NFL tried to ruin the reputation of one of the leagues best...and outside of Pats fans..they won in doing so. It;s a shame so many watch the NFL

thewaylifeshouldbe said:

Obviously emotions are pretty high right now, and of course we want to defend Brady vehemently as a method of reasoning.

But the most telling thing that bothers me is that in the report it states that Brady claimed to not know who McNally was, and had no idea of McNallys gameball responsibility. That flies in the face of Brady not only handing over autographed memorabilia on a regular basis - but also the text where Jastremski says that Brady specifically asked about McNally BEFORE the AFCCG.

Look, I want Brady as innocent of anything as much as the next guy. But I can't lie to myself and not acknowledge there is some blatant contradictions in what Brady told investigators and what the evidence shows.

I get that there is a lot of NY people involved in this report and investigation, but I am not ready to cry conspiracy theory yet. That kind of talk is what fans of other teams have screamed for years about why the Patriots have had so much success; I am not near ready to drape myself in the same form of perception they have.

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I hear you, but as someone else has pointed out many times at work I have said "hey the boss is seeing your work," or whatever it took to get the result I needed, when nothing of the sort took place. Aside from that, my main point is that from Pop Warner on up there is always gamesmanship in regards to the balls. Hell, this is the only sport where you provide your own balls. Could you imagine the Yankees playing the sox at Fenway and telling the umps, no thanks we'll use our own balls. Why does this league tend to pursue only allegations leveled against the Pats, yet let the Jets investigate themselves, or absolve the Colts of the piped in crowd noise accusations in one day.

Agreed on there being gamesmanship. And not only do I fully support gamesmanship but utilized it at many times myself.

I guess what has me irked is that if Brady did lie to investigators about who he knew and/or what he knows, that just doesn't work for me in this post-spygate era of success. Belichick never denied a thing during spygate and turned over everything, and likewise he wasn't caught in any contradictions.

If Brady had more association - and the report clearly shows evidence he at least knew McNally better than he claimed - and knowledge than he said, then it's not gamesmanship; it's lying to save his own hide with no regard to the team and/or us the fans.

I think I may have misread the text exchange between McNally and Jastremski wrong. I thought the exchange was in October and before the AFC divisional, but ti looks like it was before the AFCCG.

I just want to see what Belichick says when he gets home. I'm with him.

If they suspend TB I am done watching football.

IMHO if Tom was talking to a sane group of people and not a mob of NY based reporters with pitchforks before the biggest annual event in the world he would have said, sure I had them do it, I've been doing it this way since 3rd grade, everyone does it. It's as much cheating, as looking at porn on the internet.