NFL, NFLPA quickly accept invitation to use Magistrate Judge for settlement talks

SVN said:

Wasnt there a rumor that brady was willing to take 1 game if all records were sealed ? Wonder how much was it true vs league spin to make him look bad.

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An unfounded rumor from some nfl.com writer. Meaning it was nothing but nfl spin. Atallah said that their offer was a fine but no suspension.

SVN said:

But for the media nationaally it is bad pr. I was listening to some show on cbs while driving to work with tiki barber and some guy and he was asking is tom brady arrogant or not taking it too seriously to first ask if attending on a phone ? Has the hands of the NFL PR machine all over it.

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With the exception of the White House, there is no better organization at controlling the narrative and the messaging in the Western Hemisphere than the NFL.

NJPatsfan26 said:

The Nfl will not settle on this. They will push for 4 games and nothing less.

Wouldn't be surprised if they push for more games because of the damage he has brought to the league.

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I don't even think that Goodell is dumb enough to try that....though we can hope.

SVN said:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...use-of-magistrate-judge-for-settlement-talks/
I really hope the PA doesnt settle anything oter than having another independent arbitrator appointed at the most. Would hate if brady is cornered to accept a 1 or 2 game deal.

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After developing a long-held firm conviction that viewed Florio with disdain, I'm finding it difficult to adapt to viewing him as the best source of information on what is happening (whether I always agree with his interpretation is another matter), but it seems that he has linked one way or the other to sources that are on top of this.

For those of you who might have missed it (and with apologies to those who have already seen it), here is the link to his take from Saturday on Berman: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/08/01/judge-berman-takes-full-control-of-brady-case/

For what it's worth, it's a similar view to the one I posted independently in other threads. Normally, I would be inclined to think that meant I was wrong, but in this case, I think he's on target, right down to the sentence: "Eventually, Judge Berman may have to privately inform the side against which he’s inclined to rule that it will either accept the best deal it can get, or it will get nothing and like it."

My bottom line, as I have maintained since Berman was appointed, is that he is the most friendly judge for whom the NFLPA could have hoped; that's not to say how he's going to rule, just that I think his appointment was more disconcerting to the NFL than it was to Brady.

raduray said:

Forget Brady for a second. There's no way the NFLPA accepts this. It would create an awful precedent.

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I really don't think Brady would either for the same reason. Remember Tags said no one in the history of NFL has been suspended for non-compliance - think Brady wants to the first? If I were Brady, I would be pushing for no fine either. The previous fine to Favre was for non-compliance, but in that case, the phone was central to the accusation and Goodell stated that Favre was not truthful, or something similar to that. When SD got dinged for the towels, I thought that they were dinged for not handing them over, not for what was found on them, so for non-compliance. But again, the requested item was central to the accusation. Neither Favre or SD answered the number of questions that Brady has, nor did they offer the help that Brady has. I think acceptance of the non-compliance accusation on Brady's part will be enough to hang him in public opinion, not that he's not dangling already.

adam941 said:

The previous fine to Favre was for non-compliance, but in that case, the phone was central to the accusation and Goodell stated that Favre was not truthful, or something similar to that. When SD got dinged for the towels, I thought that they were dinged for not handing them over, not for what was found on them, so for non-compliance. But again, the requested item was central to the accusation.

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I tried making this case to someone on another board once, but they were having none of it.

But the phone!!!!!!!!

SVN said:

But for the media nationaally it is bad pr. I was listening to some show on cbs while driving to work with tiki barber and some guy and he was asking is tom brady arrogant or not taking it too seriously to first ask if attending on a phone ? Has the hands of the NFL PR machine all over it.

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You work with Tiki Barber?

Brady should not have to agree to anything that implies "guilt" in relation to the underlying fabrication. In order to "play nice," he might agree to a fine for not co-operating, but the baseline for that should be the $50,000 that Favre paid. Otherwise, I don't see why he should "settle" for anything other than going to an Independent Arbiter, which I imagine is the last thing the NFL wants.

PatsFanSince74 said:

Brady should not have to agree to anything that implies "guilt" in relation to the underlying fabrication. In order to "play nice," he might agree to a fine for not co-operating, but the baseline for that should be the $50,000 that Favre paid. Otherwise, I don't see why he should "settle" for anything other than going to an Independent Arbiter, which I imagine is the last thing the NFL wants.

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Personally I think he should walk in and profess his 100% innocence, say that he believes nothing happened, and regardless of that has no knowledge of it if it did.
He should say that being publicly called a liar and a cheater is something that he cannot get back, but will agree to not pursue any further action if they get this right and set aside any punishment.
If the NFL is going to continue to try to consider him guilty of something he didn't do, then based upon a plethora of reasons cited in his filing, the appeal verdict should be set aside and he is willing to agree to a neutral arbitrator to hear the case.

I think it is wrong to volunteer to accept a fine for something you didn't do, and I don't see how that makes any difference to the league and makes them any more likely to settle.

ProFootballTalkVerified account‏@ProFootballTalk
Per source, Judge has directed NFL-NFLPA to submit paperwork not under seal. It means Brady transcript eventually will be public

SVN said:

ProFootballTalkVerified account‏@ProFootballTalk
Per source, Judge has directed NFL-NFLPA to submit paperwork not under seal. It means Brady transcript eventually will be public

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Good. I don't care which side it makes look bad, it is in the public interest that the NFL's disciplinary proceedings are made fully transparent.

Why did Goodell want Favre's phone, couldn't he just get it off the girl's phone? Does he not understand how phones work?

Well i'm pretty sure this is a loss for the nfl. They wanted the transcripts to be sealed

JMC00 said:

Well i'm pretty sure this is a loss for the nfl. They wanted the transcripts to be sealed

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trey wingo ( espn blowhard ) made it seem like it was a bad thing for brady...

Gronkowski123 said:

trey wingo ( espn blowhard ) made it seem like it was a bad thing for brady...

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Ya if it was so bad for Brady why was it the nfl that wanted them sealed? Man espn is hand in hand with the nfl on this one.

I would really like to know who wanted them sealed...who said the NFL wanted them sealed.

obgod3 said:

I would really like to know who wanted them sealed...

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nfl.

JMC00 said:

nfl.

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I cant find this, do you have a link by any chance?

Fencer said:

Surely. The law isn't THAT stupid.

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"The law is an ass" - Oliver Twist

Gronkowski123 said:

trey wingo ( espn blowhard ) made it seem like it was a bad thing for brady...

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That's a shocker...