{"id":882,"date":"2015-09-06T05:00:34","date_gmt":"2015-09-06T09:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=882"},"modified":"2015-09-06T11:49:44","modified_gmt":"2015-09-06T15:49:44","slug":"new-england-patriots-news-9-6-and-notes-around-the-afc-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2015\/09\/06\/new-england-patriots-news-9-6-and-notes-around-the-afc-east\/","title":{"rendered":"New England Patriots News 9-6 and Notes Around the AFC East"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cAnd you will know the truth, and that truth will set you free.\u201d<\/p>\n

John 8:32 and etched on the wall in CIA HQs<\/p>\n

Good morning, here are Sunday\u2019s Patriots news notes<\/strong> and what\u2019s happening around the division:<\/p>\n

Integrity of the Game Wins\u2026 after all: <\/strong>After nearly eight months and millions of dollars of legal fees, the truth won out and has been ruled upon by Judge Richard Berman. Tom Brady\u2019s four-game suspension has been vacated.<\/p>\n

In what was always much ado about nothing, the judge shot the NFL\u2019s case full of holes questioning their allegation that Brady was \u201cgenerally aware\u201d of a rules violation.<\/p>\n

\u201cBased upon the foregoing and applicable legal authorities, the Court hereby denies the Management Council\u2019s motion to confirm the Award and grants the Players Association\u2019s motion to vacate the Award, thereby vacating the four-game suspension of Tom Brady, effective immediately,\u201d<\/em> Berman said in his decision.<\/p>\n

Brady is now able to partake in all normal practice activities and play in the regular season opener on Thursday night against the Steelers. He would have been banned from the facility starting this weekend had the suspension been upheld.<\/p>\n

Berman cited three specific points in determining his outcome:<\/p>\n

The Court is fully aware of the deference afforded to arbitral decisions, but, nevertheless, concludes that the Award should be vacated. The Award is premised upon several significant legal deficiencies, including (A) inadequate notice to Brady of both his potential discipline (four-game suspension) and his alleged misconduct; (B) denial of the opportunity for Brady to examine one of two lead investigators, namely NFL Executive Vice President and General Counsel Jeff Pash; and (C) denial of equal access to investigative files, including witness interview notes.<\/em><\/p>\n

Berman also cited the league\u2019s linking of \u201cgeneral awareness\u201d to steroid use, and the refusal to turn over his telephone as unworthy of facing a four-game suspension, basically calling the punishment arbitrary\u2026which they were.<\/p>\n

He also took exception to Commissioner Roger Goodell changing the \u201cgenerally aware\u201d scenario to one of \u201cinvolvement in a scheme\u201d where no such evidence was clear for the former and was patently ridiculous for the latter.<\/p>\n

Brady\u2019s lawyers were denied the opportunity to question NFL lead attorney Jeff Pash during the appeal which also led to the unfair argument, which was further augmented by the role of \u201cindependent\u201d investigator Paul Weiss. Berman cited that Weiss\u2019 involvement changed from independent investigator to NFL retained counsel at Brady\u2019s appeal hearing.<\/p>\n

It was a farce from Day 1, in what the NFL said was to be a few weeks \u201cindependent\u201d investigation by Ted Wells turned into a four-month fishing expedition where Wells admitted that no proof existed that a rule violation took place but declared Brady guilty anyway.<\/p>\n

And that vigorous defender of the integrity of the game? Goodell\u00a0has decided to skip the opening of the NFL season where the commissioner always attends the home opener for the Super Bowl champions. There is your integrity\u2026or lack of it.<\/p>\n

Patriots Cut Down To Initial 53-man Roster, Wayne Asks For Release: <\/strong>The Patriots cut the roster down to the 53-man limit on Saturday afternoon and there were a few surprises. RB Jonas Gray was cut loose, and seemed poised to be the lead back on opening night with LaGarrette Blount serving a one-game suspension.<\/p>\n

Robert McClain\u2019s release was a mild surprise; the former Atlanta Falcon cornerback was a physical, presence during the preseason and seemed to have a good handle on the slot.<\/p>\n

But perhaps the biggest surprise was that WR Reggie Wayne asked for, and was given his release. It appears Wayne didn\u2019t take well to the Patriots way of practicing. He apparently told someone that the team practiced \u201ctoo hard\u201d and the workouts were \u201cno fun\u201d.<\/p>\n

Well now you know Reggie why this team under Brady and Belichick has been to six Super Bowls and it had zero to do with air in the footballs or a bug in an opponent\u2019s locker room. No magic elixir\u2026just plain old hard work. Bill Belichick took the high road with his comments on Wayne\u2019s release, but inside he can\u2019t be happy about this.<\/p>\n

“Obviously, Reggie’s time here was brief but it only confirmed what I already thought – he is a true professional who represents every positive attirbute a player should emulate,” <\/em>Belichick said. “Our parting was mutually agreed upon and I am personally grateful\u00a0to have worked with one of the great NFL players of the past two decades.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Looking at the Roster Today: <\/strong>As the roster now stands, the Patriots will have one big running back (Brandon Bolden), and three third down types in Dion Lewis, James White and Travaris Cadet.<\/p>\n

Only four healthy wide receivers are ready to go with Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Aaron Dobson and Chris Harper. The team carried four tight ends with Rob Gronkowski, Scott Chandler, Michael Williams and Michael Hoomanawanui. Look for a lot of \u201c12 \u2013 personnel\u201d with 1 RB, 2 TEs and 2 WRs sets at least early, although the team did experiment with some 2 RB sets with Cadet split wide during the summer.<\/p>\n

The team is loaded at the edge with six DEs (Rob Ninkovich, Chandler Jones, Jabaal Sheard, Geneo Grissom, Trey Flowers and Rufus Johnson), on the roster. This is perhaps with safety (six also), as the deepest unit on the team. The pass rush should have plenty of fresh legs this season.<\/p>\n

Look for them to mix and match and get a lot of these guys on the field as much as possible. Coupled with an outstanding trio of linebackers in Jamie Collins, Jerod Mayo and Dont\u2019a Hightower, the team will be able to bring plenty of options this season. Eric Martin who flashed early in camp and was injured, came back in time to make the squad. He was impressive in one-on-one pass rushing drills this summer.<\/p>\n

With only four CBs on the roster, (Butler, Brown, Fletcher and Ryan), they\u2019ll probably add two to the practice squad immediately. Justin Coleman and Dax Swanson are two very good candidates for that.<\/p>\n

East Bound and Down\u2026Notes Around the AFC East: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Jets trim 19 players, including QB Matt Flynn, DE\/LB Jason Babin: <\/strong>The Jets released 19 players to reach the 53-man roster limit on Saturday. Included in the cuts were QBs Matt Flynn, Josh Johnson and DE\/LB \u00a0Jason Babin, LB Joe Mays and TE Arthur Lynch.<\/p>\n

The team has two players that will start the season on suspension and don\u2019t count against the 53-man roster, DL Sheldon Richardson and OL Oday Aboushi. Additionally RB Stevan Ridley will start the season on the PUP list.<\/p>\n

Bills Axe QB Matt Cassel, E.J. Manuel wins backup QB: <\/strong>In a slightly surprising move, the Buffalo Bills cut QB Matt Cassel as E.J. Manuel turned up his play a notch in the final two preseason games to win the backup QB job to Tyrod Taylor.<\/p>\n

But perhaps the biggest issue came down to money; Cassel was set to earn $4.15 million dollars in 2015. With several big names needing to be resigned in 2016, the Bills decided to part ways with both Cassel and RB Fred Jackson. That frees up $6.7 million in salary cap space and now the team may get to work on a new deal for DL Marcel Dareus among others.<\/p>\n

Dolphins Cut QB Josh Freeman, both veteran kickers:<\/strong> The Miami Dolphins also trimmed their roster to 53 on Saturday and the biggest moves were the release of former 1st<\/sup> round draft pick QB Josh Freeman as well as both incumbent, punter Brandon Fields and kicker Caleb Sturgis.<\/p>\n

Fields was a former Pro Bowl punter but lost his training camp battle with UDFA rookie Matt Darr. Sturgis who has battled inconsistency at times in his tenure with the Dolphins was replaced by rookie Andew Franks. So the Dolphins will begin 2015 with UDFA rookies at both kicker positions.<\/p>\n

Follow me on Twitter\u00a0<\/em>@SteveB7SFG<\/em><\/a>\u00a0or email me at\u00a0<\/em>stevebpatsfans@gmail.com<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Listen to our\u00a0<\/em>Patriots 4th<\/sup>\u00a0and 2<\/em><\/a>\u00a0podcast on blog talk radio as the writers Russ Goldman, Derek Havens and I from\u00a0<\/em>PatsFans.com<\/em><\/a>\u00a0discuss the latest Patriots news Wednesdays at 12 noon.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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