Does this anti-Patriot agenda warrant a government investigation?

[PATS16N0]

Someone in another thread mentioned Kraft's connections to guys like John Kerry. While I'm expecting nothing from Kraft, and will happily eat crow if I'm wrong, it's a great idea.

But ideas on message forums don't mean anything.

We all know what happened. There's really no reason for me to take the time to create a long winded OP.

The league, lead by a bunch of people from rivals and ex-rivals, have railroaded our team with an unprecedented punishment based on their speculations (want) that something happened, with no evidence.

Would you support the federal government getting involved in this in the same way that it did the MLB's PED scandal? How many snakes are hiding under the Wells Report?

 

[Ring 6]

A smart attorney could argue the flimsy evidence and ridiculous punishment is retribution against Brady for the Anti-Trust class action lawsuit that he was the first named plaintiff in.
There is also what appears to be a labor law violation with suspending him based upon not turning over his phone when they collectively bargained no subpoena power.

 

[FrodoBagginz]

No. Let's take this to Court where it belongs. The Wells report itself is enough to damage the league and hopefully convince people to start firing some people.

Government should stick to REAL issues plaguing our country. It was wrong for whatever congressman to get involved with spygate too.

 

[captain insano]

yes yes and yes.

 

[fnordcircle]

No, I would not support my tax dollars going to the government investigating a sports league. I love football, I've actually been feeling pretty upset about all of this and I do think that the Pats are being used as a convenient distraction from the objectively repulsive handling of the Ray Rice situation.

But that doesn't mean I want tax dollars going towards investigating entertainment when we've got trillions in debt, failing school systems and a failing economy.

 

[ralmat55]

our government might be the only institution more corrupt and petty than the nfl.

 

[Froob]

I'd rather my tax dollars go towards this than the Jets to honor soliders they should already be honoring for free.

 

[Bobsyouruncle]

The only people who could f*** this up worse than the NFL is the government.

 

[SoCalCPA]

You honestly believe the government would be any help at all - They are so inept they would side with the League and wonder what we are complaining about - that would be a huge mistake

 

[Big-T]

Yes it does warrant government intervention.

Isn't the whole point of the antitrust exemption to make it so every team is treated equally? As soon as you show bias against a team, the senators could step in and revoke the status.

 

[Kdo5]

our government might be the only institution more corrupt and petty than the nfl.

Amazingly I'm starting to question that. NFL is rotten to the core.

 

[Spiral]

No. Yes, this is an outrage, but it's still only a game.

 

[PATS16N0]

No. Yes, this is an outrage, but it's still only a game.

Nah. It's a multi-billion dollar business.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Basically would give Congress the ability to withdraw the NFL's anti-trust exemption.



http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/ne...ust-exemption-for-professional-sports-leagues

Years, Conditioned On Leagues Acting Consistently With Public Trust

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today introduced the Sustained Promotion Of Responsibility In Team Sports (SPORTS) Act, which would sunset the four major professional sports leagues’ (NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA) permanent anti-trust exemption, and replace it with an every-five-years reauthorization conditioned on the leagues acting consistently with the public trust their special status requires. Largely unchanged since 1961, these exemptions have provided significant financial support and other benefits for the leagues regardless of their actions.

http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/ne...ment-on-nfl-decision-to-end-tax-exempt-status“

I plan to reintroduce the SPORTS Act (Sustained Promotion Of Responsibility in Team Sports), which would demand periodic review of the antitrust exemptions provided to the NFL, NHL, NBA and MLB for the purpose of jointly negotiating television contracts. Congress would have the opportunity to decide whether to reauthorize the exemptions every five years, based on whether the leagues can make a showing that they provide a public benefit.”

The SPORTS Act would sunset the four major professional sports leagues’ (NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA) permanent anti-trust exemption, and replace it with an every-five-years reauthorization conditioned on the leagues acting consistently with the public trust their special status requires. Largely unchanged since 1961, these exemptions have provided significant financial support and other benefits for the leagues regardless of their actions.

 

[Joker]

Federal Judge Doty ripped the NFL's nuts off in the Vilma case and squashed the three remaining brain cells possessed by Rogerloid Mongodell in the Petersen case...he'll "more likely than not" imprison Roger "Yucking It Up" Goodell for public braindeadedness.

 

[ralmat55]

Just s thought. If the nfl's officials were intentionally over inflating Patriot footballs such as inlast years Jets game would this constitute a crime? if so, then the nfl is a possible criminal enterprise which should be investigated by the appropriate law enforcement agency.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I believe we'll see this taken to Court first. However if there are certain things the Court can't address but leaves an opening for the government to step in, I don't see why it wouldn't happen. Football is a multi-billion dollar industry that affects the economy on a National level. Therefore the Interstate Commerce clause allows the government to intervene if absolutely necessary. Not to mention that anti-trust exemption is the achilles heel to all major sports organization. That weakness should be pressed if deemed necessary. At the VERY LEAST, Goodell should be FIRED or FORCED TO RESIGN!

 

[hambone1818]

Come on...we saw the dog and pony show that Congress turned cameraplacementgate into, we don't want to be the ones pushing for another one of those, do we?

This is akin to everyone calling for blood here, when the Pats are on top and everyone wants them knocked down a rung. In ten years it may be their team that's under investigation for bogus claims.

We shouldn't want what we wouldn't support if the shoe was on the other foot. As much as I want Goodell and the NFL to burn over this I'd never, ever call for a government investigation.