The Published Wells Report.

Patriot Missile said:

He is the troll under the bridge. He only comes out when he thinks he can pile on when things are at their darkest. To you Mr Borges the plagiarizer. The one who still has a vote after being a plagiarizer. The one who....never mind.

There is just no more room for you in Boston. The losing days are over. Dan Shaughnessy and Ron Borges made a living off of negative sports energy in Boston. It's over dude, the coffers for all Boston sports are full. They are no longer needed to cast their dark gloomy articles in outdated newspapers. They write articles to turn the region against their sports teams and scoff at the fans that come and support their team.

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"Dan Shaughnessy and Ron Borges made a living off of negative sports energy in Boston"

Borges? Yes. Shaughnessy? No. Shaughnessy says what he thinks. Sometimes he doesn't think too well, but he isn't an *** like Borges.

Deus Irae said:

Yes. Given Kraft's response, I'd guess that most likely, we're looking at a Patriots team fine for not producing McNally more than 4 times when Wells wanted 5, suspensions or firings for the two 'needle' guys, and a very interesting future with regards to NFL v. NFLPA when it comes to the Brady punishment.

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Honestly i am torn Re the Brady situation. Do I want it to be a fine and it go away? Yes. Do I want him to go out and fight this all guns blasing in court and have some attourney rip this case to shreds? Yes.

Option 1 is more likley in my opinion.

Deus, you know that I have been firmly of the opinion that the Pats would burn on this "gate" since it first came up. My opinion from the start was that the NFL didn't need to PROVE anything. All they needed to do was place blame, deny any ulterior motives and let their decision play out on ESPN, NFLN and CNN.

YOU saw this coming too. My question to you, in your jurist opinion, does Tom Brady and/or the Patriots have any recourse in U.S. District Court. Can he/they ask for any sort of relief from NFL Offices? Is there any chance an investigation into NFL Offices, Roger Goodell, Mike Kensil and Ted Wells that includes all communications in any relevant media be tasked to federal investigators?

I, as a citizen and a taxpayer, would certainly like to see if there was prior and subsequent evidence of collusion by these parties to abridge Tom Brady's rights by the use of libel and slander. It is impossibly naive to believe that Wells' printed report of "more likely than not" is proof of anything. What is to stop anyone from "reporting" that it is "more likely than not" that you are a child molestor because you were seen with your grand daughter at the park and had to change her diaper?

I actually took the time to read this POS "report".How can something like this even be legal in our country?

What I figured.

Hell, if I can see the numerous holes in this "report," I'm sure a lawyer could destroy it. I almost hope Brady goes after an I'll conceived defamation suit simply to trash the reputation of Wells. Still can't believe the Columbia bate and switch, holy ****. And those criminals still said nothing could be conceived either way...I haven't read their part, but Jesus, two gauges come up three tenths to four tenths off of one another (when Blakeman is one of those guys...like he doesn't have a bone to pick with Brady chewing him out for costing him a game), and the scientific LAW is thrown out over a few balls being off by about the deviation?

How Kraft hasn't pulled an Al Davis already is mind numbing.

Brady isn't going to court. Brady isn't going to sue anyone. He's going to pay the price, sit for a game, whatever, and then go back to playing QB. Case closed. Time to move on.

tom444 said:

Brady isn't going to court. Brady isn't going to sue anyone. He's going to pay the price, sit for a game, whatever, and then go back to playing QB. Case closed. Time to move on.

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I agree he's not going to file any no-hope defamation case. I wouldn't be so sure he wouldn't fight any suspension or excessive fine, though.

The report is what you get when you come to a conclusion and then do an investigation after. The only evidence of wrongdoing is McNally going into the bathroom with the balls. They should have asked for video of other home games to see if he did the same thing. If not, then there's not much evidence of anything. One trip to the bathroom with some balls. Per the report the game balls were not conclusively tampered with (according to the "scientists" on pg. 112).

This report should have been one page with the only evidence that exists, the balls in the bathroom, and no conclusive evidence via texts. Then some penalties for McNally not following procedure.

Joker said:

Deus, you know that I have been firmly of the opinion that the Pats would burn on this "gate" since it first came up. My opinion from the start was that the NFL didn't need to PROVE anything. All they needed to do was place blame, deny any ulterior motives and let their decision play out on ESPN, NFLN and CNN.

YOU saw this coming too. My question to you, in your jurist opinion, does Tom Brady and/or the Patriots have any recourse in U.S. District Court. Can he/they ask for any sort of relief from NFL Offices? Is there any chance an investigation into NFL Offices, Roger Goodell, Mike Kensil and Ted Wells that includes all communications in any relevant media be tasked to federal investigators?

I, as a citizen and a taxpayer, would certainly like to see if there was prior and subsequent evidence of collusion by these parties to abridge Tom Brady's rights by the use of libel and slander. It is impossibly naive to believe that Wells' printed report of "more likely than not" is proof of anything. What is to stop anyone from "reporting" that it is "more likely than not" that you are a child molestor because you were seen with your grand daughter at the park and had to change her diaper?

I actually took the time to read this POS "report".How can something like this even be legal in our country?

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Just my $.02, and I won't take into account some of Brady's other interests beyond this situation:

Brady would need to find evidence of that collusion, so he'd need his own investigation. I don't see that bearing fruit.

There's not really enough in the report to support a defamation claim, because Wells was so wishy-washy with his wording and Brady is a public figure.

That really leaves Brady with a best judicial avenue of waiting until after the 'punishment' and then letting the appeals process proceed. As we saw with the Peterson case, that can be taken up in front of Judge Doty, if it gets to that point.

rlcarr said:

I agree he's not going to file any no-hope defamation case. I wouldn't be so sure he wouldn't fight any suspension or excessive fine, though.

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Yeah, maybe. It might be almost automatic to fight a suspension.

well, there is definite damage to the Brady brand that's been done here today. FWIW anyone who thinks any of this is going to blow over is living on Mars. This will hound the Pats and Brady until he retires unless they DO step up and fire back with as much legal firepower as Giselle's and Tom's combined fortunes can muster.

ChoWZa said:

Then some penalties for McNally not following procedure.

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Some here found it difficult to imagine a scenario where the Pats wouldn't receive some type of fine or punishment, based on this alone. The fact that he disappeared into the bathroom, unattended, on his route to the field was sufficient reason for the NFL to hand down a fine for an equipment violation or not following procedure. It is what it is.

Unfortunately, it came at a very inopportune time due to the Colts already raising their concerns prior to the game, AND the fact that the balls were measured and recorded at halftime and found to be low. This was simply too much coincidence for the NFL to overlook, in my opinion.

This is why I stated that I would have been more than happy with a 25k fine. The concern was that it could have been a lot worse, and now it seems to be just that. A small equipment violation fine was the safe choice to go as a fan. Public opinion had already found us guilty anyway

Everyone relax. This is nothing, a grain of sand in a meaningless timeclock. All this means is the well established hatred of the Patriots will expand and boil over for a month or two or maybe three, have on going reverberations for sometime, but the story will tire in plenty of time for the next story/the next outrage which will then meld quite nicely into the season opening with nary a mention of any of it. Camera-Placement-Gate's roadmap is a well established model for this kind of un-seriousness.

IMHO the only truly interesting angle to this largely foolish story is TB and Kraft's reaction. Kraft has stated they have no recourse -- he is absolutely wrong for that (he has to know that). Maybe he is signaling they will be the good franchise and bend over (or maybe it was an off the cuff remark). It must be one of those two because there is most definitely recourse. Now the question is will TB feel the same way or go rouge (go rouge, please go rouge!)? Because they have a fine recourse and it isn't about getting a judge to stand up and say "you're out of order! this whole 'thing' is out of order". No, the recourse if about the court of public opinion as well as firing a shot across the bow of the NFL to think long and hard about a third rat-f#ck of the Patriot franchise.
Kraft or TB are more than affluent enough to go, right now, right this minute to the finest law firm out there. They can have that firm take the report and go over it with a fine toothed comb using the finest investigative and scientific teams out there that a simple minded public would eat up as god's own experts. Start ripping the report apart in a way that feeds easily in to the simple minds of the media and public. And, if need be, file a suit in order to start discovery (no need for a serious winning suit, just discovery). Probably not needed as I am sure that Wells/the NFL consider integrity to be such an important goal they will welcome additional reports/findings . Let's get all the interactions and proceedings of the Wells report into the Kraft/TB investigative team's hands. But! let's make sure it is known that TB and Kraft will be doing it to reinforce the NFL's protection of "integrity" (The Patriots being a part of the NFL it must show it has integrity, right?). Make sure it is known that Kraft and TB consider this to be all about integrity.

I for one would look forward to TB's or Kraft's legal team coming out with their own follow up report to help reaffirm the NFL's shining efforts to thwart dastardly deeds that undermine the integrity that the NFL otherwise toils at tirelessly to ensure on a minute by minute, day by day, week by week basis.

Joker said:

well, there is definite damage to the Brady brand that's been done here today. FWIW anyone who thinks any of this is going to blow over is living on Mars. This will hound the Pats and Brady until he retires unless they DO step up and fire back with as much legal firepower as Giselle's and Tom's combined fortunes can muster.

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Brady gathering together legal firepower for a fight of some kind? That depends on whether or not he feels it will beneficial for him to do that. I'm not so sure he'll feel that it will be.

Joker said:

well, there is definite damage to the Brady brand that's been done here today.

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To me, it looks like Brady liked his footballs a bit on the underinflated side (something that we've all known for awhile now), and made that desire known to the ball boys. Much like Aaron Rodgers, Brady had a preference that was well known. This most likely happened in a "Tom Brady-like" way where he *****ed and moaned about it, getting on them when the balls weren't right. As we know, Tom is a perfectionist, and does not allow anything to get in between him and winning.

Does this mean that he's a "cheater?" Hell, no--at least not to me, anyway. This means that the Pats' practices had no longer become a secret, and that all it would take is a whining team like Irsay and the Colts to bring this to the attention of the league. Unfortunately, in the era of Commissioner Goodell, this had "bad news" written all over it from day one. As noted, had this been Tagliabue or Rozelle, we'd never have heard about this minor issue.

The kicker is this = it probably really didn't give him that much of an advantage, if any, other than the right kind of feel in his hand. Now once again, reputation and punishment comes into play. It's a terrible shame.

TheBostonStraggler said:

Kraft has stated they have no recourse -- he is absolutely wrong for that (he has to know that).

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So what recourse are you so certain that he has?

Edited:

Or are you talking about non-league "recourse" like a PR blitz or something?

TheBostonStraggler said:

I for one would look forward to TB's or Kraft's legal team coming out with their own follow up report to help reaffirm the NFL's shining efforts to thwart dastardly deeds that undermine the integrity that the NFL otherwise toils at tirelessly to ensure on a minute by minute, day by day, week by week basis.

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Judging by Belichick's past history and Kraft's "we'll accept whatever punishment" statement, I am guessing that it will be quite opposite. I think they'll want to try and move on as soon as possible from this.

Joker said:

well, there is definite damage to the Brady brand that's been done here today. FWIW anyone who thinks any of this is going to blow over is living on Mars. This will hound the Pats and Brady until he retires unless they DO step up and fire back with as much legal firepower as Giselle's and Tom's combined fortunes can muster.

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Kraft could grow a pair and just sit down with Costas (who said on national tv if it wasn't the Pats it would be no big deal) and point out the numerous flaws of the report that have been pointed out on this board alone. Hell, while he's at it he could thoroughly trash goodell on national tv, Ray Rice, AP, tampering. NJ trash wrecking the leagues integrity.

If NBC wants some god damn ratings, they'll jump on it. It isn't a lawsuit, no reprimands from league should be forthwith, so long as he doesn't openly criticize GAME officials. Goodell and kensil would be on the chopping block, as well as trashing Wells report.

Once again, the GOAT seems to have gone ballistic after discovering a lapse in ref/ball boy attention. Was kensil at that jets game?

After he rips the equipment guys. Some **** back n forth, relative radio silence until Christmas. Games get big and Brady starts checking in on the higher of the two about protocol.

Wells: they're all guilty!

The only thing about taking the legal route is Brady's texts would be subpoenad, not sure Brady/anyone wants that.

Joker said:

well, there is definite damage to the Brady brand that's been done here today. FWIW anyone who thinks any of this is going to blow over is living on Mars. This will hound the Pats and Brady until he retires unless they DO step up and fire back with as much legal firepower as Giselle's and Tom's combined fortunes can muster.

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Joke,
Someone who 'more likely than not' was part of a murder has a statue in his honor. Rapists, wife beaters, assaults of all kinds, extremely serious things compared to this silly underinflated ball nonsense have not necessarily stuck to the guilty/alleged. If you win then most is usually forgotten.
I know this report sticks in your craw as it comes from F#ckF@ce Goodell. Completely understand that. But never underestimate the simplicity of the minds of the general public. If their favorite TV shows were taken off TV tomorrow, 'deflategate' would barely even be thought of again.

supafly said:

Judging by Belichick's past history and Kraft's "we'll accept whatever punishment" statement, I am guessing that it will be quite opposite. I think they'll want to try and move on as soon as possible from this.

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Agreed Sup. My post was stating what could be done and how much I would enjoy it.