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

Koma said:

The flip side is, if the league thinks their case is solid, why would they be willing to negotiate?

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How could it possibly be solid if the more of the Colts balls were, percentage wise, underinflated?

Froob said:

Somebody should find Goody's mailing address so we can send him a bunch of Physics books.

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...or a metric ton of dog turds.

Galeb said:

Self made billionaires tend not to. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the majority of those raised by billionaires that inherited billions. Far too many owners fall into the latter category.

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But Kraft isn't one of them. He's of the self-made variety.

PatriotsReign said:

Hey, a LOT of our own members are acting like this is one of the most important issues going on in their lives too. It's football and will never be anything but football.

And if you disagree, you need to state why you disagree.

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Football is a way for me to pass the time, I do not consider it worthy of ever having "back channel" discussions and around the clock leaks to make sure we KNOW of these discussions.

The problem with all this is Goodell was so eager to reassert himself as competet he overdid the punishment and now he painted himself in a corner trying to get out.

He cannot reduce the punishment because he looks like a fraud if he does so now he is forced into a seemingly all out battle against the pats and Brady.

This thought comes to mind, an arbitrator is supposed to be a neutral/unbiased person.

How can Goodell be neutral as he sat with Kraft and apparently discussed the outcome of the teams' penalty??

An appearance of impropriety(conflict of interest) has never been more evident... he should have recused himself from any private discussions with Kraft..

He should have not discussed this case with Kraft during these proceedings..

Maybe let Roger dodger clean the bathrooms instead of getting canned completely?

DarrylS said:

This thought comes to mind, an arbitrator is supposed to be a neutral/unbiased person.

How can Goodell be neutral as he sat with Kraft and apparently discussed the outcome of the teams' penalty??

An appearance of impropriety(conflict of interest) has never been more evident... he should have recused himself from any private discussions with Kraft..

He should have not discussed this case with Kraft during these proceedings..

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And it gives 31 other fanbases an easy excuse if he does reduce any penalties or, ultimately, Brady's suspension: 'Kraft's buddy protects him again, going soft on the Pats!'

Short of bringing criminal charges against Brady, Goodell couldn't have possibly handled this thing--from day one until now--any worse. Like this string of events, from the leaks to allowing the media to run rampant to giving the situation so much weight with a 100+ day investigation to the penalties to this latest misstep, every single thing that Goodell or people in his office have done has been WRONG. What a ridiculously incompetent buffoon he is.

hambone1818 said:

And it gives 31 other fanbases an easy excuse if he does reduce any penalties or, ultimately, Brady's suspension: 'Kraft's buddy protects him again, going soft on the Pats!'

Short of bringing criminal charges against Brady, Goodell couldn't have possibly handled this thing--from day one until now--any worse. Like this string of events, from the leaks to allowing the media to run rampant to giving the situation so much weight with a 100+ day investigation to the penalties to this latest misstep, every single thing that Goodell or people in his office have done has been WRONG. What a ridiculously incompetent buffoon he is.

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I felt all along that the outcome and outcry was not expected, and the NFL misjudged all of the subsequent brouhaha regarding this.. decisions were made prior to any investigation.. the NFL lost complete control of the whole matter..

The perverse result of unintended consequences..

Just got an alert that said Kraft is accepting then penalty and wont fight it.

supafly said:

Yes, that's an excellent point that should be clarified. I think I may envision some sort of "behind the scenes" agreement to reduce the suspension (I highly doubt that any deal would include the removal of the entire four game suspension). Of course, it wouldn't be likely to include both pieces all at once.

Perhaps it would include the understanding that Brady will appeal and seek comfort on his own, although as we know, we don't exactly need an agreement to assume that's coming. Of course, there's another place that one may go here, but I'd rather leave that to the imagination for fear of pissing anyone off. Let's just say that it may include the fact that both sides would like to avoid litigation for various reasons.

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LOL, yea, I read between the lines and agree. People here ain't going to like it, however, the chances are tangible the league, Kraft and Brady want to avoid a protracted fight.
I understand pragmatism but this whole damn thing, everything with this whole deflategate, sucks the big one to a massive degree.

Will Belichick walk?
I have a feeling BB and Brady walk and in all honesty it's going to be very difficult to remain a fan being from Philly and living in the Lancaster Philly area.
I've been a Patriots fan for 20 years it's going to be very difficult to get past the cheating crap at work this is inexcusable.
If I'm Belichick I want out of my contract and I go and coach a team with a owner who will stand up for their fans as well as his team's. Him accepting punishment tarnishes every player who wears the uniform every coach every equipment guy media person for this team.
It's disgusting I respect AL Davis for having the guts to stand up for his team and what he believed to be right. Here's hoping this team gets sold to a owner who gives a crap Kraft should walk away I don't know much about Jonathan but I've said it before and I'll say it again I hope Belichick buys the Patriots when Kraft steps down he deserves the team more than Kraft does. Today is the worst day to be a Patriot fan and I'd rather Malcolm never intercepted that ball I'd rather have a Superbowl loss then the whole world think the team I've given so much money time energy and effort for dirty cheaters the stigma will never go away and it sad I can't send my son's to school with Patriots Jerseys fearing they will be called cheats and harassed. Here's coming around to my new team wife is a Cowboys fan and I live in Eagles country.
Kraft what you just did is unforgivable if another shoe doesn't drop I'm done with this team and I think anyone with self respect should be to.
Damn you for what you did to this team these players these coaches these fans. Damn you.

Goodell must be a great sweet talker.

Talked kraft right into taking it on national tv no less.

What a tool

Froob said:

Maybe let Roger dodger clean the bathrooms instead of getting canned completely?

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I think we can finally put this thought to bed once and for all. Goodell's power within the league did not diminish from the Patriots and their current scandal. That has been proven several times, and even the great and powerful Bob Kraft himself caved today, which was met with applause and positive comments from the other 31 owners.

Goodell has done some great things for the league and its owners. He has increased their revenue, increased global interest, made it a 24/7 worldwide brand, included outside cities for SB hosting, and also even moved the draft around. Many feel that he's made the game safer, as well. The owners and the league itself are absolutely fine with Roger Goodell as the commissioner. It's the fans and the media who don't like him, and rightfully so--but those are 2 very, very different groups.

I guess the back channel was a euphemism for where Goodell was going to shove it when Kraft bent over.

So this report by Schefter turned out to be nothing?

So this all got started by an incorrect report by Mortenson and concludes with an incorrect report by Schefter?

Edited thread title to reflect the events of today. Schefter got his wording wrong

ChrisR2223 said:

Will Belichick walk?
I have a feeling BB and Brady walk and in all honesty it's going to be very difficult to remain a fan being from Philly and living in the Lancaster Philly area...

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We're living in Hershey now and it's the same here too.
But hey it could be worse: we could be living in Bal'more, Indianapolis, Sewer York or PitsDirt,
like poor Supafly does.
Our names are Mudd throughout the world outside New England, and it never, evah should have
come to this.

captain stone said:

We're living in Hershey now and it's the same here too.
But hey it could be worse: we could be living in Bal'more, Indianapolis, Sewer York or PitsDirt,
like poor Supafly does.
Our names are Mudd throughout the world outside New England, and it never, evah should have
come to this.

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Anyone that feels sorry for themselves needs to get over it now. If you feel embarrassed, good for you...no one cares. Feeling embarrassed can only be blamed on you....If you feel embarrassed, it's because you feel shame.

I feel zero shame and nothing anyone can say will make me feel shame.....people can only bet embarrassed by choice....it's not a victim thing. So make up your mind to feel embarrassed.

I feel the same pride I've felt for the last 15 years.