Tom E Curran is on fire: Hangs Wells with his own words on his defiance about being independent

Rob0729 · Aug 9, 2015

Great article bringing back the Wells defiant press conference on how he was independent and the league has no influence on him whatsoever.

Especially with Professor Bluster going off on everyone in May as to how independent he is, was, always has been and that accusations otherwise offended his honor.

Exhibit A.

“I would like to start out by responding to criticisms by Mr. Brady's agent, Don Yee, about my independence and his suggestions that the conclusions of the report were somehow influenced by persons in the league office who wanted to find wrongdoing by the Patriots and Mr. Brady.

The conclusions of the report represent the independent opinion of me personally and my team. And those conclusions were not influenced in any way, shape or form by anyone at the league office. We made a fair and reasonable review of the evidence and we reached conclusions based on the preponderance of the evidence standard, which I was required to apply based on the league's rules.”

We have since come to find out, though, that the league did indeed have a hand in the Wells Report. Pash – the NFL’s No. 2 man behind Goodell (and much savvier than Goodell) who’s not an attorney – edited the Wells Report.

Wells told folks at the appeal hearing that Pash edited the report.

On his conference call, what did Wells have to say about Pash’s involvement?

“The only role Jeff Pash had was as what I'll call a facilitator in terms of process issues. If I needed to get access to somebody, I would call Pash. There's things of that nature. Jeff Pash did not participate in any of the interviews. He did not participate in the evaluation of any of the evidence or our deliberations within our team.

“I will tell you, when that press release was issued and I saw it, I didn't know that statement was going to be in there. I called Jeff and just asked to clarify what was meant by that. And he confirmed that he was there to help in terms of process. And we agreed up front, and I made it clear, that this is my investigation and I'm going to run it the same way I did the Dolphins investigation, and I did.”

Jeez, that’s a pretty big detail for Wells to leave out during the conference call, that Pash actually edited the report prior to its release. Oversight by Wells? Memory lapse? Or a willful omission of a fact because he knew how Pash’s direct editing of the report would play on a conference call with reporters.
Nobody would have known of Pash’s involvement if it hadn’t been brought up during the appeal. And nobody would have really known what was said during the appeal if the seal on that transcript hadn’t been popped.

http://www.csnne.com/new-england-patriots/will-nfls-lie-about-wells-independence-even-hurt

Rob0729 · Aug 9, 2015

BTW, everyone who convicts Brady as guilty and uses his press conference when he said "I don't think so" when asked if he cheated or that Brady has never defiantly come out and defended his innocence as some of the reasons why they believe that he is guilty should be forced to listen to Well's press conference and read this article.

After the Wells Report was attacked by Don Yee and the Wells Report In Context, Wells gave the type of press conference that these people who think Brady is guilty are killing Brady for not giving. Wells was firery (insane would be a better word) and passionately defended that he conducted an investigation that was truly independent, but also, that Jeff Pash and no one else in the league had any input on. We now know they were all lies.

farn · Aug 9, 2015

That conference call was all that needed to be known about this whole circus.

robbomango · Aug 9, 2015

In short "we were telling the truth when we lied"

XLIX · Aug 9, 2015

I wrote a post like that just yesterday, with the identical quotes from Wells' phone call press conference!! Curran is stealing my material!!!

fgssand · Aug 9, 2015

It amazes me that Goodell gets away with promising an independent, transparent investigation and then says, per CBA rules, he does not have too....seriously??

And nobody in the media cares (with a few notable exceptions, hello Tom Curran)??

borg · Aug 9, 2015

Curran has grabbed the Free Brady baton and never let go. Next Kentucky Derby, Brady needs to make room on the private Jet for his #1 defender. TC is relentless.

Mack Herron · Aug 9, 2015

Rob0729 said:
BTW, everyone who convicts Brady as guilty and uses his press conference when he said "I don't think so" when asked if he cheated or that Brady has never defiantly come out and defended his innocence as some of the reasons why they believe that he is guilty should be forced to listen to Well's press conference and read this article.

After the Wells Report was attacked by Don Yee and the Wells Report In Context, Wells gave the type of press conference that these people who think Brady is guilty are killing Brady for not giving. Wells was firery (insane would be a better word) and passionately defended that he conducted an investigation that was truly independent, but also, that Jeff Pash and no one else in the league had any input on. We now know they were all lies.

The many people who have already convicted Brady are not going to cloud their opinions with facts. They know he cheats because the Patriots are a bunch of cheaters, a reputation Goodell established when he took office and Kraft confirmed for all. It is at least mildly interesting to me that people who have demonstrated they have read the Wells report as well as the material on Wells context can easily see that Goodell has built a house of prejudice, lies, and media manipulation. The more interesting thing is how few people are actually informed about the facts. This is the main reason I do not expect much to change for the Patriots or the NFL. I'm not sure it is possible for Kraft to get out in front of the PR curve, and I'm not sure he wants to.

Froob · Aug 9, 2015

I'd almost say the integrity of the report was violated. Kinda like they cheated the report.

ChoWZa · Aug 9, 2015

Not to defend Goodell (please don't think that) or split hairs here, but the NFL arguing that they're not required to be independent, is on the surface, atleast to me, no more of an admission that the investigation was biased than the NFLPA arguing there is no precedent for the suspension is an admission of Brady's guilt. That being said the investigation was obviously biased, I'm not disputing that. I just don't think we can so strongly look at this as the NFL admitting the investigation was biased as it is trying to avoid the Judge making a decision on it. The NFL is just treating it as the fewer fights they have to take on the less likely they are to lose.

JoeSixPat · Aug 9, 2015

borg said:
Curran has grabbed the Free Brady baton and never let go. Next Kentucky Derby, Brady needs to make room on the private Jet for his #1 defender. TC is relentless.

It's a pretty easy baton to grab given how blatantly unfair Goodell is

I know Curran is a Homer - but he's more energized from just how unfair this whole thing is and the injustice being accorded to Brady, the Patriots and all of New England over this.

He looks at colleagues with no journalistic integrity and isn't about to let them slide either

Even though the Haters will never drop their insistence that they know for SURE what happened (heck, not even Ted Wells can say more than Brady maybe knew something about something that maybe happened) more in the media are beginning to speak out - and if the pressure can keep up, hopefully each and every owner is called on to explain why they continue to back a known liar in the office of the commissioner

Here's another sports columnist calling for Goodell's firing

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2015/08/06/roger-goodell-nfl-deflategate-dez-bryant-fight-chip-kelly

It's tough to argue with the fact that there's no proof Brady did anything but there's a growing list of proof that Goodell consistently lies when it comes to player discipline issues

Ras-IR Dowling · Aug 9, 2015

Wells must've gotten his defensive tactics from this guy

Rob0729 said:
BTW, everyone who convicts Brady as guilty and uses his press conference when he said "I don't think so" when asked if he cheated or that Brady has never defiantly come out and defended his innocence as some of the reasons why they believe that he is guilty should be forced to listen to Well's press conference and read this article.

After the Wells Report was attacked by Don Yee and the Wells Report In Context, Wells gave the type of press conference that these people who think Brady is guilty are killing Brady for not giving. Wells was firery (insane would be a better word) and passionately defended that he conducted an investigation that was truly independent, but also, that Jeff Pash and no one else in the league had any input on. We now know they were all lies.

mrscruff · Aug 9, 2015

Independent or not independent ... Integrity is very important to the NFL!

JoeSixPat · Aug 9, 2015

ChoWZa said:
Not to defend Goodell (please don't think that) or split hairs here, but the NFL arguing that they're not required to be independent, is on the surface, atleast to me, no more of an admission that the investigation was biased than the NFLPA arguing there is no precedent for the suspension is an admission of Brady's guilt. That being said the investigation was obviously biased, I'm not disputing that. I just don't think we can so strongly look at this as the NFL admitting the investigation was biased as it is trying to avoid the Judge making a decision on it. The NFL is just treating it as the fewer fights they have to take on the less likely they are to lose.

There's a lot here and many valid points about the NFL's tactics here

If this were a normal union CBA then the employer (NFL) would conduct an investigation, impose a penalty and that would be challenged by an arbitrator of some sort - one that's truly independent though sometimes there are biases in the real world too

But in the case of the NFL, the CBA gives them/Goodell the ability to decide and arbitrate the appeal

And while the question of procedure is technically what's before the judge, there's also the legal aspect whether the NFL, as judge, jury and executioner, has ANY obligation to conduct a fair investigation and impose sanctions on anything more than whim

My hope is that by forcing the release of the transcripts over the wishes of the NFL (and let's remember, they leaked the OPPOSITE assertion just a week ago - yet another lie of a leak) the Judge has laid the foundation for over-ruling the NFL - already showing the world what the NFL truly is

he's using the truth of the transcripts to send a message to the NFL to end this on their own terms or he'll be forced to do what he may feel obliged to do as a Judge - correct, or at least illustrate, when he sees injustice that has occurred

I think the Judge would prefer to NOT have to rule on this but if Goodell doesn't settle, the NFL may force his hand

Now, the dynamics in which Goodell or Brady would settle - whether either would "give" in any way - is a different discussion entirely. And if I'm Brady I'd STILL be willing to take a chance Berman sides with Goodell on procedure (and yes, that means sitting 4 games) but fully clear his name via other legal measures on an ongoing basis

I think the NFL has already lost the next CBA battle on this measure - it truly seems to me if the owners are smart, they will send a message, fire Goodell, and give the next commissioner 5 years to improve relationtions with the NFLPA

Unless the owners are completely stupid, Goodell will be gone LONG before the next CBA

I'd make that change sooner than later if I were them - Goodell will never recover his credibility after being caught as an habitual liar

Tony2046 · Aug 9, 2015

XLIX said:
I wrote a post like that just yesterday, with the identical quotes from Wells' phone call press conference!! Curran is stealing my material!!!

Or you are Curran.

ChoWZa · Aug 9, 2015

JoeSixPat said:
I think the NFL has already lost the next CBA battle on this measure - it truly seems to me if the owners are smart, they will send a message, fire Goodell, and give the next commissioner 5 years to improve relationtions with the NFLPA

Unless the owners are completely stupid, Goodell will be gone LONG before the next CBA

I'd make that change sooner than later if I were them - Goodell will never recover his credibility after being caught as an habitual liar

I agree with you. To me if Brady cares more about his reputation than playing the games (as I and most of the fans here seem to agree) than the best outcomes for him are:

1) Win via judge decision (vacate)
2) Lose via judge decision
3) Settle for reduced suspension

Even though 3 results in playing more, and more money for him it's going to be a substantial difference than #2 to his reputation (or "brand", if you will).

If he cares about playing ASAP more than his reputation, which he very well may, then clearly:

1) Win via judge decision (vacate)
2) Settle for some reduced suspension
3) Lose via judge decision

I think the order of preference between settling and losing in court which comes down to Brady's preference of reputation vs playing is going to be the biggest influence in settlement talks. If Brady values his reputation, as we all think he should, there's no chance of a settlement unless the NFL thinks they're going to get crushed in court and feel they have absolutely no leverage.

h0c2000 · Aug 9, 2015

borg said:
Curran has grabbed the Free Brady baton and never let go. Next Kentucky Derby, Brady needs to make room on the private Jet for his #1 defender. TC is relentless.

From everything I've read from TC during this fiasco, he hasn't come across as being a TC defender as I understand a defender, which is an advocate. I've read TC as not believing the horse **** the NFL has been feeding everyone unquestionably. My view is that Curran has done his homework and come to his own beliefs and conclusions, which is the NFL is full of ****, convicted the Patriots before the investigation started, and has used the investigation as cover for that finding of guilt.

RayClay · Aug 9, 2015

Goodie promised over and over an entirely independent investigation. He is now admitting it was a custom made smear job.

The NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith called it, they got the report they asked for. This has nothing to do with any CBA rules, they decided guilt and ordered a report with preordained results and now admit it.

Unbiased arbitrator? What, are you ****ting me?

RayClay · Aug 9, 2015

h0c2000 said:
From everything I've read from TC during this fiasco, he hasn't come across as being a TC defender as I understand a defender, which is an advocate. I've read TC as not believing the horse **** the NFL has been feeding everyone unquestionably. My view is that Curran has done his homework and come to his own beliefs and conclusions, which is the NFL is full of ****, convicted the Patriots before the investigation started, and has used the investigation as cover for that finding of guilt.

TC has been an honest reporter. he just seems like a homer, because he's reporting on a bag job from those in power.

SVN · Aug 9, 2015

Even PFT mentioned this today citing curran's article
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...lls-wasnt-independent-but-that-doesnt-matter/

problem is that the nfl is shameless enough to ignore and address this, doest matter how many scathing articles you write.

Tom E Curran is on fire: Hangs Wells with his own words on his defiance about being independent

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