How would we feel if Brady accepts reduced penalty?

If Brady accepts any type of suspension, I'll have no choice but to assume that he did in fact engage in illegal ball manipulation*. The only other option I would have is to lose all respect for him, because an innocent man does not accept punishment unless he is a coward, and Tom Brady is not a coward.

* not that I think it affects his play (see home vs. road splits)

I would be very disappointed in Tom. I might be holding him to an unachievable virtue standard but that's kinda the image he has shaped for himself.

With that said, he will not accept a single minute of a suspension.

I'd be disappointed but this is just one bad nightmare this whole joke of a scandal.

I think Brady has a tough decision to make. What happened to Bledsoe must bother him because it could happen to him. If Jimmy Garoppolo plays really well, Brady knows there is a possibility (even if slim) that he may never get back on the field. If Belichick thinks that if Garoppolo plays well and he can win with him this year, then it might think that it is in the best interest for the Patriots in the long term to play Garoppolo the rest of the season. He knows that if Garoppolo gets injured or falters, he will have a fresh Brady to take over. I can see Brady accepting a reduced suspension if he thinks that if Garoppolo plays well he might not get his starting position back. I would still support Brady no matter what he decides although it would be hard to stomach what the haters would be saying.

Before SB49 Brady said this was about honor and integrity and our families and I will think he will fight to the bitter end to preserve it. To accept the suspension means defeat and Brady never ever accepts defeat until time expires. Right now we are in the 4th quarter and we are behind, it's time for Brady to do his thing. Even if he loses, he sure isn't going to let Garoppolo take over without a fight.

Canuck said:

I think Brady has a tough decision to make. What happened to Bledsoe must bother him because it could happen to him. If Jimmy Garoppolo plays really well, Brady knows there is a possibility (even if slim) that he may never get back on the field.

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Early on I posted a conspiracy theory that Kraft needed a pretext to move Brady before he declines like Manning did. Brady is already showing disturbing signs of uncharacteristic Favre like interception throws.
Remember Kraft and Bellichick are cold calculating businessmen as part of their winning strategy.How to let Brady go early without the outrage from fans?
I could easily see Goodell returning favors to Kraft by cooking up a scandal out of thin air that gives cover to the Brady removal scheme. Remember Bellichick was hated in Cleveland for benching an extremely popular QB and he didn't hesitate to replace Bledsoe at the first opportunity. I thought the loss of draft picks negated that theory but if we trade Brady we can get those picks back for him. If this theory is true it remains to be seen how this will play out and they must really like Garoppolo. Notably the Wells report stayed away from Bellichick.
Brady may ask to be traded if he realizes they stuck a knife in his back.

This scenario is highly unlikely. Why should I contemplate how I would feel if that happened? The NFL are going to get exposed! Can't wait!

I trust and hope that Tom would not accept any kind of suspension. I don't know what is going through his head but if he is indeed innocent like we feel almost certain of there is no reason to give in. Take it as far as it needs to go, win or lose.

I would be heart broken to see him accept a reduced suspension and I do not expect him to. But you can never be entirely sure.

What I would like to see is Goodell standing pat, keeping the four game suspension, and thus making further legal action a guarantee. It will also make the NFL look even worse with Brady having the same sentence as Hardy.

I believe that Tom knows full exoneration (or striving for it) is far far more important than four games. Garoppolo isn't going to take his job, however well he may perform.

****ty + pissed off

I think I would lose my mind.

I have to have faith that Brady will be Brady and not stand for this **** though.

If I was Brady I'd take any deal that included the NFL saying that he did nothing wrong but was being censured for not providing his cell phone or whatever.

Because a few games or game checks is not as important as getting the NFL to admit he did nothing wrong - in terms of his overall legacy.

I can stomach Brady taking one game if the NFL makes it clear it's for the non cooperation issue and he is explicitly cleared of cheating. His legacy will stay 100% intact. To be honest I don't equate this to the Favre fine, I think you can argue that non cooperation - if that is what this was - is more egregious when it comes to investigating whether cheating occurred vs something off the field.

Brady is not nor ever was a cheat and there's no reason for him to put that perception out there by accepting anything more than what I said above. Even if Kraft encourages him to do it.

1 game, having the option to serve in any of the first 4 games so they pick the Jaguars for Garopollo play in week 3 if i'm not mistaken, with a "deal" that Brady would clear himself in a harsh way in the press without lube and NFL would not reply or initiate another debate or punishment. This way take the 1 game, Brady go nuclear in a press conference and we move on.

PatsFanSince74 said:

Thanks for the chronology. It was painful to read, but it's useful to remember the many twists and turns this absurd saga has taken over the last six months.

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Thanks...absurd is right.

Tony2046 said:

I would rather Brady continued to fight this thing even if it meant he would miss four games. If he lost every battle he would still be able to claim that he was innocent.

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Totally agree. The principle here, to me, is much more important. And for Brady too, I hope/think.

disappointed but fine at the same time. get it over with, his reputation will never be the same no matter what.

- Brady gets one or two games and has to decide his odds of winning in court, his decision.
- None of the idiots out there will exonerate him no matter what happens, even if Goodell said nothing happened the idiots will still call Brady a cheater forever, this is done deal and will never change
- a game or two ends this thing and we get on to playing football
- im not convince Brady takes it to court if its one game or a fine
- an option to serve his game(s) as his discretion will never happen.

then again i dont think Goodell changes this to less than 2 games and then I think Brady tries to take this to court...if he wins or not is crystal ball stuff.

If he accepts any suspension, unless he fesses up to wrongdoing, then he will be just as full of **** as kraft and goodell.......and I will begin counting the days to the garoppolo era......

I think with the support of teammates and other people he has gotten, he owes it to them to either fight to the end or fess up

Would want Brady to go distance and clear his name/rep. More Probably Than Not, Mediots and Haters outside of Patriots Nation will form their negative opinion anyway. For TB and what he stands for, it's important to his committed hard work ethics & take down Goodell*, NFL*.

obgod3 said:

disappointed but fine at the same time. get it over with, his reputation will never be the same no matter what.

- Brady gets one or two games and has to decide his odds of winning in court, his decision.
- None of the idiots out there will exonerate him no matter what happens, even if Goodell said nothing happened the idiots will still call Brady a cheater forever, this is done deal and will never change
- a game or two ends this thing and we get on to playing football
- im not convince Brady takes it to court if its one game or a fine
- an option to serve his game(s) as his discretion will never happen.

then again i dont think Goodell changes this to less than 2 games and then I think Brady tries to take this to court...if he wins or not is crystal ball stuff.

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I don't see it. As someone else already stated, "it's about honor!" "Your families are honored!"

No way #12 wants an asterisk next to everything he has accomplished.

The Brandon Five said:

I don't see it. As someone else already stated, "it's about honor!" "Your families are honored!"

No way #12 wants an asterisk next to everything he has accomplished.

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I just dont know what to expect anymore, there have been so many things happen with this I guess im waiting for anything to happen and wont be surprised by any of it.

I would be devastated. "It's about honor! It's about respect!"

He would lose both.