PFT: Steven A. Smith doesn't seem to realize he was used by the NFL.

Six months after the NFL apparently leaked false information to Chris Mortensen of ESPN regarding the PSI readings for 11 of 12 Patriots footballs used in the AFC title game, the NFL expertly leaked true information to Stephen A. Smith of ESPN regarding the allegation that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady “destroyed his cellphone.”

Smith broke the news (sort of) four hours before the Brady ruling was issued, priming the pump for the headline that the NFL wanted the court of public opinion to be repeating like a sitcom catch phrase: “Tom Brady destroyed his cellphone.”

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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...s-used-by-the-nfl/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

Florio.

Thoughts:

When a Spygate thumping Steeler fan as prominent as Florio is repeatedly on our side, it brings me back to reality, where Tom Brady's legacy as the GOAT will be completely fine. People worried about this **** take internet homer-trolling too seriously. The NFL Films will tell the story. Tom Brady, with 4 rings, 6 Superbowl games and 9 AFC Championship appearances, is just too prominent in our era. With those kinds of championship games, 2001~OnGoing can accurately be called "the Tom Brady era." It's just too dominant a quarterback presence in the biggest games for the sport.

People need to get off the ledge. Brady is eternal so long as there exists an NFL.

The ****ing GOAT.

Internet **** (which is what it is, with an emphasis on the second word) is ultimately irrelevant.

When Br4dy has yet another great season, with an even greater spotlight on him from Deflate-Hate, you'll see how sorry this **** sounds.

The offseason is where Bronco fans and Jet fans and Colt fans live. Once November rolls around, they're football fans who hate football and hate Sunday.

Patriot fans love Sundays.

Read that earlier. That was a ballsy article by Florio.

The problem is people like to be used by the NFL. It gets them talked about.

The last couple of days were almost surreal with how obvious it was to anyone who had seen first take before.



Stephen A Smith is a basketball guy, he's on first take and at espn because of his basketball connections and knowledge and he's one of the best basketball reporters today.

He is not a football reporter. There is no way Stephen A. Smith was the first to get his hands on the leagues biggest secret in deflategate. Not Mort, not Schefter, Rapport, Breer, Glazer or any number of the strongest connected football reporters. The guy who broke the big three joining together in Miami somehow got his hands on the NFL's version of the decision, brought to you of course by ESPN.

The next day the rest of the cast congratulates him on breaking the news. And he threatens that "some of the things with the way spygate was settled might come out of Brady is in court if he's not careful"

Brady had nothing to do with Spygate...

VectorPrime said:

Brady had nothing to do with Spygate...

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i disagree, he was more probable than not, at least generally aware that someone on the stadium is taping something.

ESPN has lost Cowherd, Olberman, and Bill Simmons who all in one way or another had their own shows. SAS might have just been the next man up with a show and he was thrown a bone to make him into something larger.

Mort, Shefter, Glazer etc are more reporters(inside mouthpieces) with sources.

Thankfully for the first time in 20 years ESPN is feeling the squeeze from actual competition. 5 years ago it was what, ESPN and Versus? They had a monopoly on sports for the longest time and now all of a sudden you have Fox Sports 1, NBC Sports, and CBS Sports edging them out.

In Smith's and ESPN's defense, at least the story was actually right this time

Mort got his story exactly correct too, just ask Kensil, Pash, or Roger - they could barely contain themselves.

Rusty Coupe said:

ESPN has lost Cowherd, Olberman, and Bill Simmons who all in one way or another had their own shows. SAS might have just been the next man up with a show and he was thrown a bone to make him into something larger.

Mort, Shefter, Glazer etc are more reporters(inside mouthpieces) with sources.

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Old use 300 words when 3 will suffice. As the kids like to say, yeah nah.

SAS doesn't seem to realize he is an INBRED MORON..........

This piece of s##t hates the PATS more than any E*PN commentator our there. Dont believe me? Go to youtube>Search for the FIRST TAKE show the day after SB, Look at SAS's face when the show starts . I am pretty sure he wont look half as sad at his MOMMAS funeral

Kravitz, Mort, Steven A Smith and to a lesser extent King have all been used by the NFL in this underinflated football narrative..

They get a call from someone in the league and believe they have an exclusive "scoop" in this five minute news recycling world..

As time goes on the NFL has made the myth fit the narrative, have to always remember that this whole thing is about footballs losing pressure probably due to the weather... not the hand of man.

@Tony Cahncuhd--what, exactly are you disagreeing about?

The attempt at humor and emoji obviously went over your head, as the comparison was to their last ESPN report from Mortenson, which was completely butchered.

Ultimately, I personally believe that it will expose certain levels of corruption and nepotism under Goodell, but no matter how it eventually shakes out I have come to realize how this whole phucking pile of sh!t debacle only further endears Brady to the NE faithful and galvanizes him to a level that may take him above Orr, Russell, Bird, and Williams in the pantheon of the greats. Brady has not only brought us the Superbowls and glory that comes with it, but he has personally shoved both middle fingers in the face of one of the biggest douchebags to walk on two legs. Long live TB12!

supafly said:

@Tony Cahncuhd--what, exactly are you disagreeing about?

The attempt at humor and emoji obviously went over your head, as the comparison was to their last ESPN report from Mortenson, which was completely butchered.

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I stand corrected. Way too early in the morning to be clicking icons

supafly said:

In Smith's and ESPN's defense, at least the story was actually right this time

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It's not accurate. That's the problem. What does destroy mean?

I upgraded to the iPhone6 from the iPhone5 a few months ago. I transferred all my stuff and wiped the old phone clean and gave it to my 8 year old to play with.

Did I destroy it?

...and Stephen was a good boy for the NFL* and will likely let himself be used again. He thinks he's the new Adam Shefter. Its like if I suddenly found myself being seduced by SI swimsuit babes and didn't stop top ask myself, why me? what are they up to? but no Stephen A Smith would be like "they must know a real hunk when they see one"

Stephen A is from Philly. Troy Vincent played in Philly. Hmmm I wonder who called Steph??