EDIT: Schefter Patriots get taken through the back channel by NFL

JMC00 said:

They don't fear a Kraft lawsuit? If they didn't fear it there wouldn't be any talks right now.

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Talk is cheap. Let's see what he brings us.

I wonder if Wells is adding some pressure to settle. He comes out of this investigation looking like the league's lapdog and the sooner this goes away for him and his firm the better. No way he wants this to play out in court and have his report held up to scrutiny. Also hard to see how the league can sell him as an independent investigator in any future actions. He made his money but I doubt he comes away unscathed, and watch how quickly another team or the NLFPA objects when the league wants to turn a Wells led investigation on their team. That will really tell you what teams around the league feel about the independence and objectivity of Mr. Wells.

Sue. The. League.

Is Brady really suspended if it came from Vincent and not Goodell?

Mack Herron said:

Talk is cheap. Let's see what he brings us.

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Us?

blackglass3 said:

Its BS. No way is Robert Kraft "negotiating". I imagine this was a feeler put out by someone in the NFL front office to see if they can open the lines of communication.

Oh, and FXXK negotiations. Since the penalties last week came out more and more media are rounding into " Wait a sec, this doesn't make sense..." territory. Every step of this the NFL has done wrong, and some lawyer is starting to realize that and praying to get out of it.

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Not sure where you're seeing this huge turning of the tide in the media... pretty much everyone in the media has been, and continues to take a giant dump on the Patriots over this... someone taking a fart in the woods where no one is around to smell or hear it doesn't count as the tides turning.

RelocatedPatFan said:

Is Brady really suspended if it came from Vincent and not Goodell?

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This really may be Goodell get out jail free card, if push comes to shove he could technically just overule Vincent..

Freeman fabricated that whole story. He is just piling on Schefter's hit on the back channel story. He don't know jack ****.

A unnamed source told me Mike Freeman has no pen^s. See how easy it is? Didn't even leave my chair or make a phone call. Just threw it out there and now half the people reading this know the truth. No research or reporting skills needed.

TheBeers said:

I honestly don't see how the league backs out of this. You all read Troy's letter.. can they really go "oops, our bad.. nevermind"? or "we initially thought you were guilty as f**k, but now in light of all this new ****.. we realize you like.. didn't do anything wrong and stuff". The mediots would eat them alive! I actually think this might be fun to watch.

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None of this has been fun for me, I really just want it to go away so that we can put our focus back on football. I don't trust the league of owners, I don't trust Goodell and the front office and I don't trust the media.. so the sooner this is over with the better IMO

RelocatedPatFan said:

Is Brady really suspended if it came from Vincent and not Goodell?

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Legally no the punishment handed out by Vincent to Brady should not stand because Vincent can't hand out a punishment for anything other than unnecessary roughness penalties per league rules. But goodell has appointed himself arbitrator which means he ensured that the punishment will be upheld even though Vincent couldn't give it out.

ausbacker said:

Things I want:

1. Brady's suspension overturned.
2. The fine tabled against the Patriots dismissed.
3. The return of the Patriots draft picks.
4. A full and unreserved apology from Roger Goodell.
5. An independent investigation into the sting operation.
6. Roger Goodell being removed from office.

Missed anything?

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7: Troy Vincent demoted to a lesser position
8: Mike Kensil removed and banned from any NFL league office position.
9: Grigson forced to stand in front of NFL offices for a day with a binky in his mouth.

JarOfMayo51 said:

Not sure where you're seeing this huge turning of the tide in the media... pretty much everyone in the media has been, and continues to take a giant dump on the Patriots over this... someone taking a fart in the woods where no one is around to smell or hear it doesn't count as the tides turning.

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Florio and King. They are two of the biggest voices in sports media and they, at best, have questions about the Wells Report, the punishment, and the procedures the NFL uses.

Patriot Missile said:

Freeman fabricated that whole story. He is just piling on Schefter's hit on the back channel story. He don't know jack ****.

A unnamed source told me Mike Freeman has no pen^s. See how easy it is? Didn't even leave my chair or make a phone call. Just threw it out there and now half the people reading this know the truth. No research or reporting skills needed.

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Ya I tend to come to this conclusion too. In the age of social media all someone has to do is tweet out a story like this and in no time it is considered as the truth.

DW Toys said:

Kinsel, anyone?
DW Toys

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At the very least!

Brady2Moss said:

I assume that will be part of any deal if it were to be reached. That's the starting point because both sides know Brady will win in court AND expose some nasty electronic communications in the league office

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As well as teams bein exposed opening a can of worms and we can start with Ravens and Colts.

IcyPatriot said:

7: Troy Vincent demoted to a lesser position
8: Mike Kensil removed and banned from any NFL league office position.
9: Grigson forced to stand in front of NFL offices for a day with a binky in his mouth.

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10. Colts have to replace Andrew Luck with Mark Sanchez

The only deal Patriots should accept is an appeal hearing in front of an "independent arbitrator" with NFL agreeing to put up a weak defense. Full exoneration by a neutral party is the only acceptable outcome. Followed by resignation of Kensil and other conspirators. And Goodell's contract allowed to expire at the end of his term.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

mike freeman · @mikefreemanNFL
19th May 2015 from TwitLonger

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I knew the 1.21 gigawatts while driving 88mph on the Delorean will come in handy.

The NFL owners are like 'Mean Girls' on 'Survivor'. They lie to each other, they lie to the league, and they definitely lie to the press.
If the Pats want fair, they are not gonna get it from these NFL Bytches! They wouldn't know fair or integrity if it was dripping out their back channel!

ausbacker said:

Things I want:

1. Brady's suspension overturned.
2. The fine tabled against the Patriots dismissed.
3. The return of the Patriots draft picks.
4. A full and unreserved apology from Roger Goodell.
5. An independent investigation into the sting operation.
6. Roger Goodell being removed from office.

Missed anything?

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Yep you missed something.

7. After outer, he is the guest "speaker" at the first annual PatsFans.com national meeting.