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

Nunchucks said:

This is a negotiation, if you go scorched earth, it is going to be bad for everybody. This is a billion dollar business, you folks are acting like it is Bobby-Sue and Jessie from down the street trying to resolve their differences.

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And it's looking like a profoundly f*cked up billion dollar business. Kraft can't continue to make the Patriots the "sacrificial lambs" for some misguided notion of promoting "parity" in the league. He went along with that in 2007 and it backfired on him severely.

The NFL has given us no out here. It's either fight or admit you're all a bunch of cheaters. Period.

YOUGOTMOSSED said:

And it's looking like a profoundly f*cked up billion dollar business. Kraft can't continue to make the Patriots the "sacrificial lambs" for some misguided notion of promoting "parity" in the league. He went along with that in 2007 and it backfired on him severely.

The NFL has given us no out here. It's either fight or admit you're all a bunch of cheaters. Period.

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Not really, the patriots can take a fine for noncompliance and Brady can appeal and win on the grounds of no evidence. I think it is a win win.

However, I think Goodell is committed to being an are on this.

RIP#40 said:

So you're buying the "deflator " moniker was because he was trying to lose weight? Glad you weren't on the Boston bomber's jury.

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Well there was context to show that it was in reference to weight. And plenty of internet proof to back that.

Not sure what the Boston Bomber has to do with text message jargon but I guess that is a place you want to go and I will refrain from.

Nunchucks said:

Not really, the patriots can take a fine for noncompliance and Brady can appeal and win on the grounds of no evidence. I think it is a win win.

However, I think Goodell is committed to being an are on this.

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Spin it how you like, but you know how everyone else is going to interpret "noncompliance": you cheated but we just couldn't catch you.

To make matters worse, it adds to that insane, delusional narrative that the NY superfan commissioner who has been consistently screwing the Patriots in the ass since his 1st day on the job is really BFF's with Kraft and, once again, is protecting him.

ensoul said:

Well I doubt Goodell will budge at all because if he does he will go back to looking incompetent.

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Reiss agrees with you.

It would be surprising if Goodell significantly alters the penalties against the Patriots that he already approved,

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http://espn.go.com/blog/new-england...aft-and-roger-goodell-to-air-their-grievances

Seems to suggest that if Goodell simply apoligizes for spreading false information they can kiss and make up.

by acknowledging some of the league’s missteps and taking accountability for them, it would be a conciliatory act that goes a long way....
For Kraft, that might be enough for him to end the fight and extinguish the threat of taking this to the courts or appealing to the league to reduce the penalties (he has until Thursday to do so). Kraft was already begrudgingly ready to concede May 6 when the Wells report was released -- he didn’t agree with the findings yet was thinking "greater good" at the moment -- but changed course when the league handed down such a harsh punishment five days later.

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Difficult to see this ending well for Patriots fans.

Shed83 said:

Wow there appears to be a few patriots fans that think the pats are guilty!

It can be the only reason they'd accept a reduced penalty rather than fight to get exoneration!

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No, we realize that Kraft is an incredibly successful businessman. Even if he is 100% sure that we are innocent of everything and 99% confident that we's win a legal battle, he might be faced with the following options:

1) a protracted legal battle that will cost him 50 million dollars to fight, but that will end in complete victory

2) a settlement that will cost him 0.5 million, no draft picks, nothing else, with an accompanying statement from the NFL that, based upon added information, there is no convincing evidence that any tampering occurred and that the fine is merely for less than 100% cooperation with the investigation

As a fan I would hope that he would pick A.

I could not fault him, though, for wondering whether the 50 million dollars would be worth it, that the haters are going to hate anyway, and picking B.

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

No, we realize that Kraft is an incredibly successful businessman. Even if he is 100% sure that we are innocent of everything and 99% confident that we's win a legal battle, he might be faced with the following options:

1) a protracted legal battle that will cost him 50 million dollars to fight, but that will end in complete victory

2) a settlement that will cost him 0.5 million, no draft picks, nothing else, with an accompanying statement from the NFL that, based upon added information, there is no convincing evidence that any tampering occurred and that the fine is merely for less than 100% cooperation with the investigation

As a fan I would hope that he would pick A.

I could not fault him, though, for wondering whether the 50 million dollars would be worth it, that the haters are going to hate anyway, and picking B.

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I can understand why he would go option B (or 2) but as a fan I would feel betrayed. I would feel even more betrayed if I were one of the players.

The success of this league is all about fans and players, not greedy owners and bullsh*t commissioners and league officials. I suggest it may be in the best interest of the owners and league to think of us for once.

IllegalContact said:

exactly.....if the pats did nothing wrong, why would they negotiate? in that case, they could tell the NFL "throw everything out, or we will proceed with lawsuits"

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Sometimes it comes down to principles no matter the price to be paid. If you know you're in the right, sometimes you have to take a stand.

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

2) a settlement that will cost him 0.5 million, no draft picks, nothing else, with an accompanying statement from the NFL that, based upon added information, there is no [convincing ]evidence that any tampering occurred and that the fine is merely for less than 100% cooperation with the investigation
.

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Delete the convincing. In law there are three standards of proof, the highest for criminal cases is "beyond a reasonable doubt" with which we're all familiar. The lesser standard used in certain probate and contract cases is "clear and convincing" which is lower than the criminal standard but higher than the lowest standard, "by a preponderance of the evidence" a "more likely than not" which is what Wells alleges.
Wells' report uses the lowest standard possible while yours actually uses a higher standard....I know you didn't intend it but the implication if they used that term would be that the Pats were guilty..

How about," there's no evidence the Patriots did anything wrong, we ran a sting, the Wells witchhunt was a joke, here are your draft choices back, forget about the fine and there is no suspension for your QB. Are we okay then?"
My response..

YOUGOTMOSSED said:

Spin it how you like, but you know how everyone else is going to interpret "noncompliance": you cheated but we just couldn't catch you.

To make matters worse, it adds to that insane, delusional narrative that the NY superfan commissioner who has been consistently screwing the Patriots in the ass since his 1st day on the job is really BFF's with Kraft and, once again, is protecting him.

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That ship has sailed, people who believe the Patriots are cheaters are going to believe that, no matter what the outcome of any court battle.

As the for the second part, who cares?

If I were Kraft I’d demand:

1) no suspension for Brady
2) no loss of draft picks for the team
3) no fine for the team
4) a denouncement of the Wells report’s scientific conclusions
5) an acknowledgement of and apology for the series of false leaks from NFL employees that escalated this dispute and falsely implicated the Patriots.
6) the firing of the NFL employee that lied to Chris Mortensen about the pressure readings
7) a $25,000 fine to the Indianapolis Colts for illegally checking the pressure of a football on the sidelines with a gauge and needle, which only refs are allowed to do.
8) Roger Goodell, Troy Vincent, Mike Kensil, and Ryan Grigson are required to take and pass a high school physics class covering the ideal gas law.

In exchange, Goodell can keep his job, for now.

As Kraft says, a fair settlement leaves both sides somewhat unhappy.

The pig stays in office, but he's a neutered pig who admits to his piggish ways.

Didn't read the whole thread but I hope they work something out, let's be clear, both sides do not want things going to court, we want Kraft to sue the hell out of Goodell but it's too much time and money wasted on this already failed operation, someone will order Goodell to cut the crap and put all the blame in Wells.

Wells at this point is not going to do any other job for the NFL, that report stinks and even thought the other fan bases are happy with the outcome everyone who did read that **** and follow the news and feeds realizes this whole thing is a little smelly to say the least. He made 4 Million on the Miami investigation and 5 on this one. Goodell can say "Thanks Ted, I made you a rich man, I don't need your services anymore but I hope you keep things internally". There will be some talk and bashing but we are 2 months away from football, when the season starts no one will ever remember who the fuk is ted wells.

Patsfanin Philly said:

Sometimes it comes down to principles no matter the price to be paid. If you know you're in the right, sometimes you have to take a stand.

Delete the convincing. In law there are three standards of proof, the highest for criminal cases is "beyond a reasonable doubt" with which we're all familiar. The lesser standard used in certain probate and contract cases is "clear and convincing" which is lower than the criminal standard but higher than the lowest standard, "by a preponderance of the evidence" a "more likely than not" which is what Wells alleges.
Wells' report uses the lowest standard possible while yours actually uses a higher standard....I know you didn't intend it but the implication if they used that term would be that the Pats were guilty..

How about," there's evidence the Patriots did anything wrong, we ran a sting, the Wells witchhunt was a joke, here are your draft choices back, forget about the fine and there is no suspension for your QB. Are we okay then?"
My response..

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I don't even think Well has met the preponderance standard. At best, he established a "reasonable suspicion" or maybe a "good faith basis" for further investigation, but the "preponderance" standard, contrary to popular belief, is still a standard. You need to produce SOME evidence to support your findings and I don't think Wells even accomplishes that here.

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

If I were Kraft I’d demand:

1) no suspension for Brady
2) no loss of draft picks for the team
3) no fine for the team
4) a denouncement of the Wells report’s scientific conclusions
5) an acknowledgement of and apology for the series of false leaks from NFL employees that escalated this dispute and falsely implicated the Patriots.
6) the firing of the NFL employee that lied to Chris Mortensen about the pressure readings
7) a $25,000 fine to the Indianapolis Colts for illegally checking the pressure of a football on the sidelines with a gauge and needle, which only refs are allowed to do.
8) Roger Goodell, Troy Vincent, Mike Kensil, and Ryan Grigson are required to take and pass a high school physics class covering the ideal gas law.

In exchange, Goodell can keep his job, for now.

As Kraft says, a fair settlement leaves both sides somewhat unhappy.

The pig stays in office, but he's a neutered pig who admits to his piggish ways.

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Too lenient in my opinion, but I guess I could live with it. Mostly because I doubt Roger Goodell, Troy Vincent, Mike Kensil, and Ryan Grigson could pass HS chemistry.

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 3m3 minutes ago
Roger Goodell and Patriots owner Robert Kraft already have met, spoke and even hugged, per an industry source who witnessed it.

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 2m2 minutes ago
The fact that Goodell and Kraft are on amicable terms could help cool tensions between the two sides and help lead to truce on Deflategate.

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 3m3 minutes ago
Goodell-Kraft attended Sean McManus’ 60th birthday Sat in NYC; they were spotted “on a couch, talking by themselves for quite a long time."

Chiuba E. Obele said:

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 3m3 minutes ago
Roger Goodell and Patriots owner Robert Kraft already have met, spoke and even hugged, per an industry source who witnessed it.

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Just great..

Did he do the ass out hug like when you really arent into someone or was it like a "Hey Brah" hug where its like real and good.

I need to know these things.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 3m3 minutes ago
Roger Goodell and Patriots owner Robert Kraft already have met, spoke and even hugged, per an industry source who witnessed it.

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Chiuba E. Obele said:

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 3m3 minutes ago
Roger Goodell and Patriots owner Robert Kraft already have met, spoke and even hugged, per an industry source who witnessed it.

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NNNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

(need michael scott gif)

Shefter tweeted a pic of the hug between Kraft and Gooddell. Ok, now I get it. Its all about context