Deflategate is not about PSI, NYJ, CBA...etc

It's about Concussions in the NFL, in particular - the movie "Concussion". While Pats fans have been rightfully consumed with the fiasco, and NFL fans in general being duped with manipulation, the multi-billion business of the NFL has been playing the distraction card for the sheeple. I have to admit I was just as distracted as anyone being a Patriots fan - but reading this article makes a few things seem much clearer:

http://news.nationalpost.com/sports/nfl/the-nfl-is-starting-to-look-like-the-tobacco-industry

"Monday was the first time most Americans had heard about the movie, but the NFL has been fully aware for more than a year now. Back in December, BuzzFeed’s Lindsey Adler, after weeding through documents leaked from the Sony hack, found Sony Pictures already preparing for an NFL attack on its film. One of Smith’s publicists emailed the Sony Pictures crew saying, “CONCUSSION is going to piss off the NFL. We should not try to pretend otherwise. Moreover, there is no concession we could make short of agreeing to cancel the project entirely that could possibly satisfy them. Our strategy should thus be based on the assumption that we are going to be facing a powerful adversary that may try to prevent the movie from being made — and, failing that, to ensure that as few people as possible see it or take it seriously.” He also argued that the NFL would attempt to use its partnerships with ESPN and Nike to fight the film. "

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What better way to make sure that a film that exposes the NFL cover up machine, the health risks involved in the game, and the possible lessening of a future crop of players, than to get everybody looking over here at the best player in the game hung up on a "cheating" scandal. Too perfect.

The billionaires and the league make money on the backs of young men putting their bodies in harms way. Sure, thats the nature of the game - but a film that might see a trove of mothers no longer letting little Jimmy play the sport, school districts shutting down their high school programs, and activist movements to strip state universities of funding and tax breaks if they don't squash the perpetuation of brain damage, would be the worst of blows to the leagues future. Smaller pool of gifted athletes and coaches, lesser product. Lesser product, less interest. Less interest, less money$$$

How many months now have people been saying things like " All of this over fractions of air?" or, "Why is this such a big deal and not just a fine?" or, "How did this get so crazy?"...etc. When that became somewhat stale the new mantra has become "It's about the CBA and Goodell's power" or, "This is a labor and management issue". At the end of the day the NFL doesn't care what headlines show or what the people think it's about - as long as you stay tuned here and ignore THAT over there.

Why is Kraft saying one thing out one side of his mouth, and then something else out the other?

Why is there so much extremes coming out of the ESPN mouthpieces - and why the leaks?

Why is the league letting this mess take center stage?

Why is the NFL being so stubborn in refusing to earnestly settle?

How does such a mess serve fans or the game?

I am not a tinfoil hat conspiracy theorist - but things are starting to make a lot more sense as this drags on. It ain't about Brady and the Pats, it ain't about the CBA, it ain't about the "integrity" of the game - it's strictly first class top of the line home cooked shadow games.

Nope.

Losing credibility is not good for the NFL, precisely because of the concussion issue.

If a decision comes down tomorrow, how did that distract anyone from a movie that people only learned about yesterday?

supafly said:

If a decision comes down tomorrow, how did that distract anyone from a movie that people only learned about yesterday?

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This is exactly where I am at as well. How many of us, fans of football, were discussing this movie during last season? We talk abd read NFL daily.

Would a movie about concussions stop you from watching NFL football? We won't even stop watching because if the hate for the league or Bob Kraft.

Fencer said:

Nope.

Losing credibility is not good for the NFL, precisely because of the concussion issue.

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You think the NFL went into "deflategate' expecting to lose credibility? I still think it was initially an attempt by league minions to try and catch the Patriots doing something wrong so they could hang Belichick and by the time they realized that wasn't going to happen they were so deep into it that they needed to stay the course and f.ck them as hard as they could to justify the millions spent on it. The fact that it has all backfired on them was never expected by them, they are far too arrogant to have gone down this road expecting to end up looking like Mort.

Brewskies said:

Would a movie about concussions stop you from watching NFL football? We won't even stop watching because if the hate for the league or Bob Kraft.

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There are already many parents who think tackle football shouldn't be legal until after high school. This movie will likely bolster their numbers significantly. This issue could eventually mean the death of the NFL. Look how hard they fought over .23 PSI. How hard do you think they'll fight over something that threatens their very existence.

As much as I love football, the rampant corruption in the NFL is driving me away. I used to watch 5 games a week. Now I watch one. When BB and TB are done, I'll probably rarely ever watch at all.

Deflate Hate certainly about the NFL and its jets connections

Ivan said:

You think the NFL went into "deflategate' expecting to lose credibility? I still think it was initially an attempt by league minions to try and catch the Patriots doing something wrong so they could hang Belichick and by the time they realized that wasn't going to happen they were so deep into it that they needed to stay the course and f.ck them as hard as they could to justify the millions spent on it. The fact that it has all backfired on them was never expected by them, they are far too arrogant to have gone down this road expecting to end up looking like Mort.

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I basically agree with you.

What I'm objecting to is a different theory, namely that this was some kind of a "Wag The Dog" crisis the NFL made up to distract the public from the concussion issue. There were multiple motivations:

• "Get the Patriots" was a big part of it. (Duh.)
  
• I agree with the idea that Goodell saw an opportunity for a kind of Stalinist purge/show trial.
• People wanted to keep their jobs, get paid, etc.
• Eventually the screw-ups just felt they had to ride the tiger.
• Somebody, somewhere, in some small way probably actually thought they were preserving the integrity of the game.

But I don't agree with the "Distract folks from the concussion problem" explanation.

I'm not sure the best way to combat the image that you're an out of control, conspiratorial corporation that pays it's own experts to deny existing science on head trauma, is to let a tiny equipment violation turn into an out of control conspiracy where you pay your own experts to deny the ideal gas law.

Haven't talked about a movie starring will smith since the 90s, mib, Independence Day, enemy of the state.

Fencer said:

I basically agree with you.

What I'm objecting to is a different theory, namely that this was some kind of a "Wag The Dog" crisis the NFL made up to distract the public from the concussion issue. There were multiple motivations:

• "Get the Patriots" was a big part of it. (Duh.)
  
• I agree with the idea that Goodell saw an opportunity for a kind of Stalinist purge/show trial.
• People wanted to keep their jobs, get paid, etc.
• Eventually the screw-ups just felt they had to ride the tiger.
• Somebody, somewhere, in some small way probably actually thought they were preserving the integrity of the game.

But I don't agree with the "Distract folks from the concussion problem" explanation.

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I agree it wasn't a grand plan to distract but I do think they see anything that distracts from the concussion issue as a good thing.

Ivan said:

I agree it wasn't a grand plan to distract but I do think they see anything that distracts from the concussion issue as a good thing.

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Putting a bullet through Jeff Pash' head would distract from the concussion issue, but I don't think they'd favor that.

Fencer said:

Putting a bullet through Jeff Pash' head would distract from the concussion issue, but I don't think they'd favor that.

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They may not, I would.

the concussion thing is huge.........the brady thing is a bug on the windshield

the NFL screwed up.........they never had a thing to gain from deflategate, and they should have been happy rolling along quietly raking in the bucks......the noise created by deflategate will have negative ramifications for years

the jealousy and envy of egomaniacal owners are going to hurt the league

they better hope Kraft doesn't decide to take a contradictory to the NFL stand on concussions.......being the first owner to make a stand on behalf of the players would be the ultimate payback (unless another owner has already done that)

Galeb said:

There are already many parents who think tackle football shouldn't be legal until after high school. This movie will likely bolster their numbers significantly. This issue could eventually mean the death of the NFL. Look how hard they fought over .23 PSI. How hard do you think they'll fight over something that threatens their very existence.

As much as I love football, the rampant corruption in the NFL is driving me away. I used to watch 5 games a week. Now I watch one. When BB and TB are done, I'll probably rarely ever watch at all.

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I fully understand your point about "until after high school" and I understand your position re: "rampart corruption" and when BB and TB are gone so are you. IMO, as of today, you are in the minority leaving with BB and TB. I sincerely hope you fond something to replace the NFL elsewhere. I am a NFL and NHL fans and couldn't imagine what might replace them, maybe professional soccer. Good luck

Brewskies said:

I fully understand your point about "until after high school" and I understand your position re: "rampart corruption" and when BB and TB are gone so are you. IMO, as of today, you are in the minority leaving with BB and TB. I sincerely hope you fond something to replace the NFL elsewhere. I am a NFL and NHL fans and couldn't imagine what might replace them, maybe professional soccer. Good luck

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I agree, at this time, I'm probably in the minority, but a shrinking pool of young athletes and fans is a real threat to the long term well-being of the league. Also, given how corrupt the league is, it is only a matter of time before evidence comes to light about fixing games or worse. Mark Cuban was right, unless there is a major change, the NFL will eventually crumble under it's own weight.

TBH, I view this as a blessing in disguise. There are much more meaningful things to pursue that watching sports. Besides, I think the spirit of competition is best experienced first hand. Once I'm done with watching football, I'll have very few "vices" left.

IllegalContact said:

the concussion thing is huge.........the brady thing is a bug on the windshield

the NFL screwed up.........they never had a thing to gain from deflategate, and they should have been happy rolling along quietly raking in the bucks......the noise created by deflategate will have negative ramifications for years

the jealousy and envy of egomaniacal owners are going to hurt the league

they better hope Kraft doesn't decide to take a contradictory to the NFL stand on concussions.......being the first owner to make a stand on behalf of the players would be the ultimate payback (unless another owner has already done that)

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Sony and the movie's producers probably can't believe their good luck.

They release a movie portraying the NFL as a giant evil corporation that doesn't care about the players and viciously attacks anyone getting in their way.

....And, a few weeks before the movie release, by releasing the court transcripts Judge Berman has shown the NFL to be a giant evil corporation that doesn't care about their most successful player and is in the process of viciously attacking him because he is in their way.

The movie producers are probably uncontrollably breaking out into happy dances every few minutes.

And yet if Berman vacates the award, it will if anything amplify interest in and exposure of the movie.

Rising athletes should refocus on baseball. My god, Fat Panda and Hanley the Horrible are cashing $20 mill/year checks and no one is aiming for their heads. Masterson gets $9 mill for having a pulse.