Charles Pierce: Goodell and the art of stepping on hidden rakes.

[h0c2000]

I thought others might enjoy a very good read.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/patriot-games-deflategate-and-the-golden-boy-that-never-was/

Favorite quote:

"Why in the name of Baal would you trust these people with your personal phone records? Why would you believe any of their assurances concerning your privacy?"

 

[Deus Irae]

Interesting to note that this is another Pro-Brady, anti-NFL article from an ESPN employee.

 

[XLIX]

I like how he writes:

"and leaks occur that make the situation seem worse than it is."

While it is a tremendous understatement, that's the closest any ESPN source has come to acknowledging the Mort debacle.

 

[Galeb]

The tide is turning.

 

[SVN]

Iam sure volin will google this and say pierce wrote a book on brady

 

[Rob0729]

The tide is turning.

We need to stop kidding ourselves on this. We get suckered by this every time. How many times have we felt the tide is turning only for the NFL to leak something out that is damaging spin to make the Patriots look bad and we start this process all over again.

For the most part, the tide will never turn. The general belief around the country will be that Brady and the Pats are cheaters and their titles are tainted. Nothing will ever come out to change this. It could come out that Mike Kensil fudged all the PSI levels and the Patriots' footballs didn't lose any PSI and the rest of the country would still believe that 11 of the 12 balls lost 2 PSI or more and Brady smashed his phone with a sledgehammer. The damage is done.

The only hope we have is the rational fans and media figure out the truth. But unfortunately, they are minority in both areas.

 

[RayClay]

Not sure Chuck is an ESPN "employee." He's pretty much a loose cannon. Writes regularly for esquire.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

The tide is turning.

Let's please stop using this term. It seems to end badly when we do. Thanks

 

[Rob0729]

BTW, our only hope is that the owners wake up to this sham and how Goodell and his soldiers have tarnished the reputation of one of their biggest stars and most successful franchise for pettiness and Goodell's pissing contest with the NFLPA. At some point, Goodell's ability to make every bad situation media Armageddon will force the owners to pull the plug on the worst commissionership in sports history.

 

[Galeb]

We need to stop kidding ourselves on this. We get suckered by this every time. How many times have we felt the tide is turning only for the NFL to leak something out that is damaging spin to make the Patriots look bad and we start this process all over again.

For the most part, the tide will never turn. The general belief around the country will be that Brady and the Pats are cheaters and their titles are tainted. Nothing will ever come out to change this. It could come out that Mike Kensil fudged all the PSI levels and the Patriots' footballs didn't lose any PSI and the rest of the country would still believe that 11 of the 12 balls lost 2 PSI or more and Brady smashed his phone with a sledgehammer. The damage is done.

The only hope we have is the rational fans and media figure out the truth. But unfortunately, they are minority in both areas.

Peter King and multiple "Analysts" from ESPN are now criticizing the NFL. If that isn't a sign that the tide is turning, nothing is.

 

[nabwong]

Am I the only one not bothered about what anyone thinks of MY team? I have friends convinced Brady cheated. All I can say about that is I'm thankful I know who the yahoos are in my phone book.

 

[Rob0729]

Peter King and multiple "Analysts" from ESPN are now criticizing the NFL. If that isn't a sign that the tide is turning, nothing is.

So 94% of the country will think that Brady is guilty and the Deflategate scandal is the worst form of cheating since the Black Sox scandal than 95%?

I think you are way overstating it. And I think you are are in for a bitter disappointment.

BTW, Peter King has been on the Patriots' side since all the information about how the science in the Wells Report was junk and how Wells disregarded Walt Anderson's best recollection of which gauge he used to measure the balls because the other gauge made the Pats look more guilty. He didn't wake up this weekend and have an epiphany. He has been against Goodell and the League for a while. And it has done nothing for public perception.

 

[Rob0729]

Am I the only one not bothered about what anyone thinks of MY team? I have friends convinced Brady cheated. All I can say about that is I'm thankful I know who the yahoos are in my phone book.

I wish I could share your enjoyment, but I still burns me that we are 5 weeks before the start of the regular season and we are still talking about the fallout of an alleged equipment violation rather than real football.

 

[Galeb]

So 94% of the country will think that Brady is guilty and the Deflategate scandal is the worst form of cheating since the Black Sox scandal than 95%?

I think you are way overstating it. And I think you are are in for a bitter disappointment.

BTW, Peter King has been on the Patriots' side since all the information about how the science in the Wells Report was junk and how Wells disregarded Walt Anderson's best recollection of which gauge he used to measure the balls because the other gauge made the Pats look more guilty. He didn't wake up this weekend and have an epiphany. He has been against Goodell and the League for a while. And it has done nothing for public perception.

Criticizing the Wells report is different than criticizing the league. The tide is turning in the media, whether you can admit it or not. I don't know if that will have much effect on the masses, but it will likely have an effect on the owners.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

We thought the tide had turned before Goodell made his decision to have an "investigation"
We thought the tide had turned before Wells released his report.
We thought the tide had turned before Goodell made his suspension decision.
We thought the tide had turned before Goodell made his appeal decision.

Maybe the tide has been turning all along, but we no longer are relying on idiots like Wells and Goodell to decide anything.

I have more faith in judge Berman's fairness than I have in any other person who has been in a position to decide anything in this case so far.

 

[Rob0729]

Criticizing the Wells report is different than criticizing the league. The tide is turning in the media, whether you can admit it or not. I don't know if that will have much effect on the masses, but it will likely have an effect on the owners.

You are kidding yourself. And Peter King has killed the league on this issue for months. He trashed Goodell for trying to tarnish the legacy of one of the greatest players of all time on "More likely than not" being "generally aware" and science that is easily refutable.

And no, the tide is not turning like you think. The owners are upset that this dragging out like it is. I think the worst they will do is double the punishment they gave to Goodell for totally botching the Ray Rice thing. Anyone know what double is of a $44 million salary. They may give in on an independent arbitration for appeals, but that won't help the Patriots or Brady. Just the next guy who is railroaded.

 

[Deus Irae]

We thought the tide had turned before Goodell made his decision to have an "investigation"
We thought the tide had turned before Wells released his report.
We thought the tide had turned before Goodell made his suspension decision.
We thought the tide had turned before Goodell made his appeal decision.

Maybe the tide has been turning all along, but we no longer are relying on idiots like Wells and Goodell to decide anything.

I have more faith in judge Berman's fairness than I have in any other person who has been in a position to decide anything in this case so far.

It's been an ebb and flow, with the NFL, as expected, having the edge.

It also doesn't really matter. What matters is the final result.

 

[Canuck]

Even though he thinks the NFL has blown this thing way out of proportion and thinks Goodell is incompetent, the author still thinks Brady is guilty but the offense is minor.

 

[PatsWSB47]

At first though it was like a pinhole in a dam. The hole has grown ever so slowly and it feels like its now a steady stream that's about to gush. Too little too late?

 

[Deus Irae]

Even though he thinks the NFL has blown this thing way out of proportion and thinks Goodell is incompetent, the author still thinks Brady is guilty but the offense is minor.

Re-read it.