Talk with Judge - Labor lawyer who deals with Unions every day

1960Pats said:

I just heard two game suspension for Brady.

Click to expand...

heard where?

When Brady wins the arb, he should sue the NFL and Wells, for the irreparable harm done to his reputation and brand.

Where does he go to get his reputation back.

fnordcircle said:

From a legal standpoint that is my understanding too. But from a PR standpoint Kraft and the Patriots could be engaging in all-out war on behalf of the most important player in the history of the franchise. Kraft is a businessman but I don't think he's as gutless as people have been assuming. I really want to believe that there is a behind the scenes hand shake deal that has been made to get everyone out of this uninjured.

Click to expand...

Except Brady's legacy...

1960Pats said:

I just heard two game suspension for Brady.

Click to expand...

Source?

At this point, if I were Brady and there was even just a monetary punishment much less suspension, I would appeal it and expose those frauds. If he accepts ANY sort of punishment, it would be a signal of guilt. Even if you've already lost in the court of public opinion, sometimes it's about your principals and integrity. So for his Dad, his family, friends, teammates, even for the haters, and most importantly for himself, accept nothing and fight on!
"It's about honor! It's about respect!"

so I'm no fan of costas but he said he suspects 1 game, shefter said 1-2, between those two guys I would guess they are close to being right. Shefter I have respect for. There is no possible way Brady isn't getting a suspension, it is happening so folks need to deal with it.

Brady will go to arbitration, probably win, be branded a cheater by fans that don't know football, which means a lot of them. FYI everyone in my office a Broncos fan, they know me well, no one thinks Brady is a cheater by the way, except for one dumb women that has no significance on this planet. Same women that said the beat seattle because they must have stolen their signal...my god.

We have to get over the cheater thing, it isn't going away but it's like knowing who you are, we know the truth and to me that is all that matters, I don't care what other folks say.

Wow.Well done and precisely what I was thinking. Seriously though, is Goodell and the NFL that careless in this entire thing? As much as I despise the guy, he can't be this dumb in regards to having himself and the Wells' investigation splayed open for all to see should it come to a civil lawsuit. I would think that Goodell knows he has to bury this as quickly as possible. Am I missing something?

Like everyone else, this story bugs the hell out of me. Don't believe Brady is culpable of what the PAID report claims. Also believe Brady and his supporters should fight to protect his integrity and personal principles. He does have a strong legal argument, which IMO he would easily win.

Feel horrible for Brady, yet truly believe he has an incredibly strong support system behind him. He has given our region many incredible moments. Undoubtedly he is the best professional athlete our city has ever had!

luuked said:

I wouldn't be surprised if the full transcript of the meeting between Brady and the four lawyers actually includes a line where they say his name, he doesn't know who they are talking about and then somebody gives the nickname and he clears up that he knows who they are talking about. I am sure Yee will clear it up.

Click to expand...

I would be surprised if Wells permitted either a recording or a transcript of the Brady interviews to be made. Without a transcript or recording, he can claim Brady said whatever he wants. Even if there is a transcript, I doubt it will be released, for the same reason. It's how they convicted Scooter Libby: agents refused to allow a recording or transcript during an interview, then prosecuted him for lying based on their own notes. Libby had no recourse. Very common legal tactic.

fnordcircle said:

From a legal standpoint that is my understanding too. But from a PR standpoint Kraft and the Patriots could be engaging in all-out war on behalf of the most important player in the history of the franchise. Kraft is a businessman but I don't think he's as gutless as people have been assuming. I really want to believe that there is a behind the scenes hand shake deal that has been made to get everyone out of this uninjured.

Click to expand...

I would've thought that a secret handshake deal would've happened before the report came out. That's the most puzzling aspect of this all. Being a lawyer and experiencing how his "screw-ups" have gone recently, why would Goodell allow it to go this route?

Dr Pain said:

It was also though if Brady is suspended for the first game that instead of raising the championship banner the first night without Brady there, that a black banner or a pirate flag be raised instead after a minute of silence. The banner could be raised when Brady returned.

Click to expand...

The more I think about this....the more I love it. Absolutely love it.

Opening Night...THE night the league kicks off it's 96th season. Gillette Stadium buzzing. 1000s of press credentials given. All the major networks there...BSPN, NFL Network, etc.

Kraft makes a speech. Says how great last season was but would be inappropriate to celebrate without our QB who was unjustifiably suspended for this game. As they pull the banner- which the entire world is assuming is the SB 49 banner...they see this.

A great way to kick off the 2015 New England Patriots FU campaign.

robertweathers said:

The more I think about this....the more I love it. Absolutely love it.

Opening Night...THE night the league kicks off it's 96th season. Gillette Stadium buzzing. 1000s of press credentials given. All the major networks there...BSPN, NFL Network, etc.

Kraft makes a speech. Says how great last season was but would be inappropriate to celebrate without our QB who was unjustifiably suspended for this game. As they pull the banner- which the entire world is assuming is the SB 49 banner...they see this.

A great way to kick off the 2015 New England Patriots FU campaign.

View attachment 9231

Click to expand...

I'd rather see a banner with an image of a hand with Superbowl rings on the thumb and three fingers and the unadorned middle finger extended vertically.

robertweathers said:

The more I think about this....the more I love it. Absolutely love it.

Opening Night...THE night the league kicks off it's 96th season. Gillette Stadium buzzing. 1000s of press credentials given. All the major networks there...BSPN, NFL Network, etc.

Kraft makes a speech. Says how great last season was but would be inappropriate to celebrate without our QB who was unjustifiably suspended for this game. As they pull the banner- which the entire world is assuming is the SB 49 banner...they see this.

A great way to kick off the 2015 New England Patriots FU campaign.

View attachment 9231

Click to expand...

Do you really, really think Bob "Thank you sir! May I have another?" Kraft would do this?
The guy who without preemption said he'd accept whatever penalty Goody's goons decided on?

He's always been about Kum-Bye-Ah with the league.

luuked said:

And why would Brady be suspended for that ? If all he wants is the balls to be at the legal minimum and he told the guys to go to the refs with a copy of the rule in question during checkups, I don't see how you can come to the conclusion that he is the mastermind of some conspiracy here.

For all he knows the balls got better after he asked the two stooges to do that and never had to think about ball pressure again until January. I seriously have no idea where in the report there is even a little bit of evidence that indicates that a) somebody manipulated the balls after a ref inspection and b) Brady was aware that the balls were not deflated to 12.5 by the refs.

Click to expand...

Dude, in no way shape or form do I believe that Brady is some sort of mastermind. My point is that I bet each QB has guys that make sure the balls are to their liking. No one has ever cared except for now. Because the pssy Irsays have cried, Brady becomes the fall guy.

With that said, this report clearly shows that they have it out for Brady. And Brady has shown no fight in any of this.

PatsWickedPissah said:

Do you really, really think Bob "Thank you sir! May I have another?" Kraft would do this?
The guy who without preemption said he'd accept whatever penalty Goody's goons decided on?

He's always been about Kum-Bye-Ah with the league.

Click to expand...

He wouldn't. I'm just trying to make myself feel better.

fair catch fryar said:

Wow.Well done and precisely what I was thinking. Seriously though, is Goodell and the NFL that careless in this entire thing? As much as I despise the guy, he can't be this dumb in regards to having himself and the Wells' investigation splayed open for all to see should it come to a civil lawsuit. I would think that Goodell knows he has to bury this as quickly as possible. Am I missing something?

Click to expand...

Unfortunately, no. It appears Goodell is that dumb. He should have put an end to it the morning after the AFC championship game. As soon as he allowed an investigation, he lost.

1960Pats said:

I just heard two game suspension for Brady.

Click to expand...

The Ray Rice punishment. Possible slight deflation of footballs by someone you know = beating the **** out of a woman on videotape.

Dr Pain said:

Goodell won't do the smart thing and he will go after Brady big time. The crowd wants Brady's blood and Goodell is too weak to not give it to them. When it gets overturned, he can say he tried. The biggest risk to Goodell is if Brady does not win arbitration and Brady seeks legal action and starts discovery.

Click to expand...

I agree 100% but actually, that IS the smart thing by Goodell.

He gets to tell the nation of haters that he did all he could and came down hard on Brady, it was just the NFLPA won their appeal. He'll make the suspension penalty unduly harsh so that it will be more probable that the NFLPA wins Brady's appeal.

For that reason, I'll be shocked if Goodell hands Brady a light penalty. Goodell will make it unduly harsh in order to assure an arbitration loss.

Ironic, I know.

fnordcircle said:

This was a great read, thanks for posting it.

More and more I'm beginning to think that there is a backroom deal in place about all of this.

Kraft agrees to comply with the league.
The league exonerates the Patriots and lays the blame at the feet of Brady.
Goodell hands down a hefty punishment on Brady.
Brady, through the arbitration process gets the punishment overturned.

The league gets to say they did their best but at the same time one of their greatest players of all time doesn't get suspended. Brady has a black mark in the public eye but doesn't lose any playing time or money. The Patriots don't give up any draft picks or anything and Belichick does not have his reputation further stained.

Click to expand...

I could go with this scenario up until 'brady gets a black mark' brady i don't think brady would accept that.

Agree that there should be no banner raised without Brady present. Duh. However Kraft, while a nice guy who's done well hiring the right people, would never do this. He's an NFL guy all the way. Too bad I don't own the Patriots, the NFL elite would definitely not like me.