Showtime 60 Minutes Sports: Criminal Law Professor Robert Blecker Attacks NFL on Deflategate

Showtime also has "Inside the NFL", I highly doubt this clip even gets broadcasted.

The only way to clear the Pats and get the picks back is to file a defamation lawsuit and compel discovery.

Imagine if its on the real 60 minutes and it got teased every ten minutes during the 4:00 CBS game as " law professor says that the Patriots are innocent and were set up by the NFL" tonight on 60 minutes immediately following the game ( except on the West Coast).

We can all dream.......

FreeTedWilliams said:

Showtime also has "Inside the NFL", I highly doubt this clip even gets broadcasted.

The only way to clear the Pats and get the picks back is to file a defamation lawsuit and compel discovery.

Imagine if its on the real 60 minutes and it got teased every ten minutes during the 4:00 CBS game as " law professor says that the Patriots are innocent and were set up by the NFL" tonight on 60 minutes immediately following the game ( except on the West Coast).

We can all dream.......

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You're right, that was stupid of me.

There is no way in hell CBS ever touches this piece, given that they vie for their NFL contract every 5 years or so and compete for game of the week each week.

NFL controls the media by having so many different networks and packages.

True but America also loves seeing evil, greedy, big companies be exposed.

Not sure when this train will stop.

Can we share this? I do not want to copy that link and share it unless I'm told it is okay.

maryk said:

Can we share this? I do not want to copy that link and share it unless I'm told it is okay.

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Sure, I don't see why not.

IMHO, this should be shared as widely as possible.

Certainly rehashes many of the issues in the investigation, but if proof of actual innocence is desired then all he actually gives is "I don't think" and "in my opinion." In his opinion, there was not enough evidence to prove Brady did it. That does not completely eliminate the possibility that something nefarious happened here.

Even in criminal cases, the law treats "actual innocence" and failure to meet an evidentiary standard differently. The former is given huge deference (e.g. DNA from the crime scene does not match convicted person, with 99.999% probability of accuracy) and the latter basic appellate review (e.g., no reasonable jury could find under facts offense was committed beyond a reasonable doubt). Actual innocence claims are extremely uncommon because the scenarios meriting that argument simply are not there.

In Brady's case, we all believe he did not have anything to do with it. A rational, objective mind will likely look at all this and say there simply is no evidence to support the claim he did break the rules. The claims and investigation are objectively a hatchet job, but provide perfect fodder for conspiracy theorists in the media and every other fan base. Why? Because the footballs are not being filmed 24/7 or have internal gauges and computer chips installed recording continuous PSI over time that might prove actual innocence.

I know it sucks, but barring presentation of evidence that apparently does not exist we are left with opinions. And opinions will never shut this garbage down at a national level. Too many fans want to believe the Pats do cheat to win, and the media is more than willing to paint the Pats as cheaters and cater to that group.

If I were Kraft, I'd screen this at the next NFL Owners meeting and lay it on the table that if there isn't an apology to Brady and the team, completely admitting to the frame up, as well as vacating the picks and money fine, he will file charges against Goodell and the NFL for a variety of violations that this expert has identified. The gloves need to come off and this is a true independent report.

Actually, what the ESPN and CNNSI stories also show is the lack of knowledge other teams seem to have regarding the various rules and regulations of the NFL. In stead of going back and reading a particular section of the regulations to verify what is actually legal, other teams start yelling and crying (wolf). ESPN also has a very superficial knowledge of the regulations, apparently. Regarding videotaping, or more accurate, the acquisition of videomaterial, the NFL will need to thoroughly re-assess the rules. With smartphones nowadays, everyone can make video images from any location, at any time. And smartphones are around since 2010 at least. And we know that the rule regarding the required pressure of gameballs needs to be revised as well. At least provisions regarding ambient temperature, ambient pressure, air humidity and the requirements for the gauge need to be put in.

I've always felt the strongest argument of innocence is that there was never reason to be suspicious in the first place.

Before studying gauges, watching video of a guy going into a bathroom, building transient curves, studying effects of rain, interpreting text messages filled with friendly banter...

The balls measured as expected using the gauge the ref said he used. They dropped an average of 1.01 while a normal assumption of a 70 degree indoor temp says they should have dropped 1.1. That is no different than the balls losing zero air in a 70 degree game.

There never should have been an investigation. It should have ended the night of the game before the Pats even handed over the surveillance footage with McNally. The rest has been nothing but conjecture at best, lies and manipulation at worst.

I took a criminal law class with this professor in law school! Glad to see him on the case!

Joker said:

wow...what a clip...Goodell needs to be indicted

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I don't need to watch it to come to come to that conclusion.

old 55 said:

If I were Kraft, I'd screen this at the next NFL Owners meeting and lay it on the table that if there isn't an apology to Brady and the team, completely admitting to the frame up, as well as vacating the picks and money fine, he will file charges against Goodell and the NFL for a variety of violations that this expert has identified. The gloves need to come off and this is a true independent report.

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Uh, OK.
So, what do you think the odds are that Bob Kraft does something, anything like this?

Bob is always there to bask in the team limelight and occasionally talks big, but he has yet to act in any substantive way whatsoever.

ViperGTS said:

Jesus. That was awesome! I've been saying for years, if the Feds got involved....ooooh boy.

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I have a liberal bend to my politics, but It would be fun to see Trump as a president looking into this! The league office will be shaking in their shoes.

PatsWickedPissah said:

Uh, OK.
So, what do you think the odds are that Bob Kraft does something, anything like this?

Bob is always there to bask in the team limelight and occasionally talks big, but he has yet to act in any substantive way whatsoever.

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0.0000% chance.

Wow.....just wow. Yet, as blatantly apparent this whole mess is to us and very well put in this piece, I am very pessimistic that justice will prevail as long as the NFL owners turn a deaf ear to it and Robert Kraft sits on his thumbs.

Mack Herron said:

Corruption exposed, and owners are fine with it. What would happen to you in your job if you behaved this way?

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Of course they're fine with it. They are part of it.

shmessy said:

You're right, that was stupid of me.

There is no way in hell CBS ever touches this piece, given that they vie for their NFL contract every 5 years or so and compete for game of the week each week.

NFL controls the media by having so many different networks and packages.

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I kinda hate to say it. But that's almost a verbatim definition of a monopoly. Being able to control the market and other companies just by virtue of their size.

old 55 said:

If I were Kraft, I'd screen this at the next NFL Owners meeting and lay it on the table that if there isn't an apology to Brady and the team, completely admitting to the frame up, as well as vacating the picks and money fine, he will file charges against Goodell and the NFL for a variety of violations that this expert has identified. The gloves need to come off and this is a true independent report.

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but he won't, because Kraft is a 'company man'
the league comes before the Pats in his world.

It would be great if something like this picked up steam in the media, because it could generate enough impetus to drive a re-evaluation of the punishment of the NEP for the 1st and 4th round picks. The NFL relied on the two premises:

1. The NEP footballs were deflated during the Colts game by deliberate illegal manipulation
2. The vague text messages

#1 above is proven false and in turn creates contra-evidence for the NFL's claim. The sting resulted in evidence that the NEP are NOT illegally manipulating the game balls' PSI.

The punishment now rests solely on #2 and is discredited by the failed sting operation's results.

Wow, I just watched that. I'm just stunned. I really hate the NFL. Love my Pats, but I hate this league.
I would sue.