Freeman: Goodell will Hear Brady's Appeal

A little off topic, but does anyone have a transcript of ALL the text between TB and the "ball boys" ? I keep getting snippets of them. I've yet to read the "Deflater" being mentioned. And another thing, even if the word was used for McNally losing weight, is anyone going to believe it? Couldn't he have just been called that because he inflates and deflates the balls BEFORE the refs get them? ...And was that mentioned during the joking part of the conversation, which it clearly was. Anyway, I'd like to see ALL of the texts, without reading the whole WELLS report.

So does the NFLPA have to accept this or can they challenge that Goodell is not an independent arbitrator?

I mean how can the guy who signed off on the punishment arbitrate the appeal?

Does anyone know what the standard of review is for Goodell on appeal? If it's abuse of discretion, brady and the pats are in trouble .

So much for "the integrity of the NFL" .

This might not actually be a terrible thing for the Pats. In the end, Goodell will vote in such a way as to help the league and himself the most. If it looks like Brady will sue the NFL, and thereby allow the NFLPA more power and the league less power, Goodell will wipe this all under the rug. He is more than slimy enough to double back. Plus, it might save him some face with Kraft and help him keep his job.

The question is, by divulging their case on the Internet, has Brady scared them enough about power loss in a court of law that he is willing to relent. I'm guessing yes since otherwise Goodell would have appointed someone else to be the fall guy here. Goodell knows this is an all-or-nothing decision. Lessening the punishment does nothing to prevent court. I imagine he will take that into consideration as well.

So my guess : Goodell shaves off a game or two. who knows, but I know he wont rescind the whole thing. Then what? This goes to court, right?

IF Goodell shows subjectivity as a neutral arbitrator and then gets roasted in court - doesn't that make him look REALLY bad, if a judge says he did not act with "integrity"?

Just thinking out loud but I feel like he will get his way initially (Brady/Pats still punished) but it could come back to bite him long term?

It will remain 4 games and will have to go to court.

This isn't about deflation of balls it is about the Patriots and Tom Brady defying the NFL during the investigation. The NFL is stomping their feet and pounding on the walls in a raging tantrum that Brady didn't turn over his phone records. How dare Brady defy the nfl and not do what we say. This is why it is and will become very interesting when this goes to court. Goodell and tne NFL think their the government and you have to do what they say or your getting fined,suspended and whatever else they can come up with.

Either way the pats are screwed. It is just beyond comical that that the guy who hired wells, read the report then made a historical penalty against Brady and the team gets to hear the appeal. This is whole ordeal looks like it was ripped from the WWE.

Anteros said:

That is really, really creepy.

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That it is...That it is.

Jackson 2 said:

In my opinion, no one should be looking at any of this with the hope that either media opinion or public opinion will be changed regardless of the final outcome. Everyone's minds are made up forever. Verdict: guilty, no matter what happens going forward.

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That's why it's important to win and have everything reversed. THEN YOU GO AFTER THEM FOR DEFAMATION. TBs brand and right to earn have been destroyed forever. TB will be retiring in a few years. They've tarnished his image, BIG TIME. His post football career is all but ruined. From leaks from the NFL and punishing TB with innuendo and assumption, without facts. Brady has been the ideal face of the NFL. And having all of his fellow players, that are all overflowing with "INTEGRITY" pointing their hypocritical, jealous fingers at him. If I were Brady I would settle for nothing less than total exoneration and monetary reimbursement. An apology wouldn't hurt either.

... i keep hearing Brady's phone brought up ... NFL/Wells had those 2 poor souls phones, why do they need Brady's. DO people understand how phones work, send/receive the whole thing!??! People can't be this stupid can't they!?!?!? Unreal

I have a bad feeling about this, Goodell is backed up by the owners, he must have something under his sleeves.

ensoul said:

Either way the pats are screwed. It is just beyond comical that that the guy who hired wells, read the report then made a historical penalty against Brady and the team gets to hear the appeal. This is whole ordeal looks like it was ripped from the WWE.

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Agree 100%. There is no way the Pats win on this. The only thing Brady can do is sue for defamation of character. I think the Pats should also, as a team, boycott the Indy game. Plain and simple.

Goodell will probably add two games.

Silver Blue&Red said:

That's why it's important to win and have everything reversed. THEN YOU GO AFTER THEM FOR DEFAMATION. TBs brand and right to earn have been destroyed forever. TB will be retiring in a few years. They've tarnished his image, BIG TIME. From leaks from the NFL and punishing TB with innuendo and assumption, without facts. Brady has been the ideal face of the NFL. And having all of his fellow players, that are all overflowing with "INTEGRITY" pointing their hypocritical, jealous fingers at him. If I were Brady I would settle for nothing less than total exoneration and monetary reimbursement. An apology wouldn't hurt either.

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I agree and would like nothing better than to see all of that happen. And if it does, no one's mind will be changed.

If Goodell wanted this over, he would have appointed an independent arbitrator who would have looked at the NFL's case and overturned the suspension.

He is going to uphold the suspension, because he has to. He is stuck now, Brady will sue and win in court, I don't know what the pats will do.

This whole thing is a completely avoidable mess that is going to tarnish the NFL, Brady, and the Pats forever.

One thing for sure, Goodell must go. I highly doubt he is commissioner this time next year.

Deadspin nailed it:

Goodell’s decision to overhear Brady’s appeal will anger the union, Patriots fans, and anyone who sees the absurdity of a commissioner empowered to be cop, prosecutor, judge, and jailer. But there was a non-zero chance that the Wells report, which found Brady “generally aware” of the deflation schemes, would be found seriously lacking by a third-party arbitrator. Goodell is so afraid of looking bad by having another suspension overturned, he’s willing to look bad by resorting to petty tyranny. At least it’s familiar ground.

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http://deadspin.com/roger-goodell-reserves-the-right-to-screw-over-tom-brad-1704685730

robertweathers said:

If the Brady camp agrees to Goody being the arbitrator

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The Brady camp has no choice in the matter. Goodell has the unilateral right to name the arbitrator.

This is the classic "I dare you to cross that line" scenario...on both sides. And it all started back in January when the NFL exercised poor judgment in how they handled the complaint from the Colts. And they've been covering their backside ever since. That's why Goodell had to name himself, otherwise they'd lose control in this process. And there are recent cases where that loss of control led to unfavorable rulings that embarrassed the NFL.

The NFL's only hope: that Brady will accept his punishment and go away. In that regard, Roger will come out with a carefully worded finding which upholds the basis of the punishment, but reduces it to 2 games. Failure to soften the blow at all (i.e. the 2 game reduction) just invites 3rd party involvement, and thereby loss of control by the League. Let's face it, they absolutely know that the Wells Report is flimsy, hence the use of "lack of cooperation" and SpyGate as the underpinnings to their punishment. But even those underpinnings would be invalidated if the process gets away from NFL control.

Tom Brady's only hope: he must stay the course....beyond Roger's ruling (whatever it may be) and continue this process until a truly independent finding can be assured. Only in that manner, can the Wells report (and the concurrent behavior of the League) be seen for what it is....a sham. And a resultant ruling will reflect that.

Patriot fans only hope: that both TB and Kraft keep the pressure on the NFL...and don't back down. The curtain must be pulled back...so the "Wizard of Oz" can be seen for what he truly is! The owners will be faced with the NFL becoming a mockery under Goodell's leadership....ultimately leading to the necessary "business decision".

I guess people in espn, nfl network is saying "if theres nothing to hide goodell must hire an independent judge for the appeal" right?
Or you are afraid or hiding something only if you are part of the patriots.