Tom Brady suspended 4 games

[Mikey Ram]

Just saw on the local news that some Patriots fans organized a "Free Tom Brady" rally. A couple was interviewed that actually postponed their honeymoon to attend the rally. The devotion to Brady up here in the northeast is utterly incomprehensible to me. One guy compared him to God! :eek:

I read about that silly rally...Apparently the guy who set it up said that he had 600+ people committed to showing up...Oops, the police said the estimated rally dumb asses numbered about 150...

 

[Tron]

That is just beyond delusional and pathetic. I don't mean to speak ill of the dead but damn that's just sad.

Doubt she actually wrote that. Bet it was her kids or whoever wrote the obituary. She might of wanted something like that so who knows.
Sad though i agree either way.

 

[Tron]

I read about that silly rally...Apparently the guy who set it up said that he had 600+ people committed to showing up...Oops, the police said the estimated rally dumb asses numbered about 150...

I was expecting 15,000 for this event. not 150 lol. looks like some fans know he is a cheating fktard.

 

[PressureD41]

Too all those Dumbass's rallying to free tom brady can

 

[Prime Time]

http://mmqb.si.com/2015/05/28/patriots-fan-deflategate-giving-up-on-football/

Pats Fan: Why I’m Giving Up on the NFL
A beleaguered Patriots fan explains how the circus surrounding Deflategate has allowed him to see the NFL for what it is—and set him free

David Goldman/AP
BY JAMIE CONWAY

I’m out. I’m done with the NFL.

I hate the owners—Robert Kraft included—who clearly don’t care about fans like me. I hate the media covering the NFL, even the media who are deferential to the Patriots or at least to due process. I hate the draft. I hate the playoffs. I hate the Super Bowl. Most of all I hate the NFL, DirecTV, ESPN, CBS, Fox, NBC, fantasy football and every platform that has made the NFL a religion.

Mark Cuban predicted the NFL would implode over its own greed and arrogance and drive away fans, and in my case he was right. I’ve reached my saturation point. I’m tired of caring about this dumb set of 32 corporations.

My favorite team won the Super Bowl on one of the most exciting plays in NFL history, but that play that has barely been viewed as a success of the Patriots and largely seen as a failure of Pete Carroll, because the media love counterintuitive angles. And now the Patriots have been dismembered and destroyed by the media and the league for one of the most absurd accusations of all time.

The only positive note for Pats owner Robert Kraft outside the Boston bubble has been praise for his capitulating to the league’s disciplinary process. Fans around the country take glee in his decision not to pursue an appeal rather than seeing it for what it was—a savvy business decision in an unwinnable scenario. Those same fans are trying to reinforce false narratives about both Spygate and Deflategate. It’s like arguing with climate change deniers—I can’t fight someone who refuses to listen.

I’m open-minded and considered the Wells report a disaster for the Patriots until I read past page 20. But the truth is, it doesn’t matter. In the grand scheme, none of it matters. No writer is winning a Pulitzer for covering America’s most popular sport, no network is winning Emmys. The NFL is just an ATM machine. I’ve invested in rooting for a corporation I have no monetary interest in.

I’m disenfranchised.

I have scheduled the canceling of DirecTV for the day before this NFL season, after having it my entire adult life and getting comped the football package a half dozen times. I am shuttering the fantasy football league that I’ve commissioned for a decade. I’m opting out of two Vegas leagues that I won thousands on last year. I’m tired of caring about something that’s meaningless. Very fun, but meaningless.

I’m out.

Now I no longer have to hate anything: the NFL or Roger Goodell or the money-grubbing owners or the media. I no longer have to hate the constant rules changes put in place to keep up with smart teams.

I hope this is Roger Goodell’s legacy. He’s freed an obsessive fan from a trap. Like any addict, there will be bumps along the road and people trying to enable my return. (For instance, DirecTV’s last-ditch offer of an enticing array of free programming including the NFL package, or NFL.com doing an about face to praise the Pats dynasty.) Maybe if someone like Adam Silver helms the NFL at some point, I’ll return. But as of right now, I’m out.

(I hope?)

Jamie Conway is a lifelong Patriots fan from Marion, Mass.

 

[CodeMonkey]

Wow. Bravo Jamie Conway!!! Can't say I haven't been tempted to quit the NFL either.

 

[Rmfnlt]

Boo f'ing hoo.... at least his team won the super bowl this year... aw... but it's being picked on... boo f'ing hoo...

Try facing the relocation of your team, dude! Try no winning seasons since 2004!! Try the worst three year stretch in NFL history!!!

THAT will test your loyalty!!

Not some negative media reports (most of which are true, because your team was found to have cheated).

Cry me a river!!!

Adios, MoFo... one less Patriots fan makes the world a better place!

(I feel better now)

 

[Memento]

In Jamie Conway's case? Good riddance to bad rubbish.

 

[Faceplant]

http://mmqb.si.com/2015/05/28/patriots-fan-deflategate-giving-up-on-football/

Pats Fan: Why I’m Giving Up on the NFL
A beleaguered Patriots fan explains how the circus surrounding Deflategate has allowed him to see the NFL for what it is—and set him free

David Goldman/AP
BY JAMIE CONWAY

I’m out. I’m done with the NFL.

I hate the owners—Robert Kraft included—who clearly don’t care about fans like me. I hate the media covering the NFL, even the media who are deferential to the Patriots or at least to due process. I hate the draft. I hate the playoffs. I hate the Super Bowl. Most of all I hate the NFL, DirecTV, ESPN, CBS, Fox, NBC, fantasy football and every platform that has made the NFL a religion.

Mark Cuban predicted the NFL would implode over its own greed and arrogance and drive away fans, and in my case he was right. I’ve reached my saturation point. I’m tired of caring about this dumb set of 32 corporations.

My favorite team won the Super Bowl on one of the most exciting plays in NFL history, but that play that has barely been viewed as a success of the Patriots and largely seen as a failure of Pete Carroll, because the media love counterintuitive angles. And now the Patriots have been dismembered and destroyed by the media and the league for one of the most absurd accusations of all time.

The only positive note for Pats owner Robert Kraft outside the Boston bubble has been praise for his capitulating to the league’s disciplinary process. Fans around the country take glee in his decision not to pursue an appeal rather than seeing it for what it was—a savvy business decision in an unwinnable scenario. Those same fans are trying to reinforce false narratives about both Spygate and Deflategate. It’s like arguing with climate change deniers—I can’t fight someone who refuses to listen.

I’m open-minded and considered the Wells report a disaster for the Patriots until I read past page 20. But the truth is, it doesn’t matter. In the grand scheme, none of it matters. No writer is winning a Pulitzer for covering America’s most popular sport, no network is winning Emmys. The NFL is just an ATM machine. I’ve invested in rooting for a corporation I have no monetary interest in.

I’m disenfranchised.

I have scheduled the canceling of DirecTV for the day before this NFL season, after having it my entire adult life and getting comped the football package a half dozen times. I am shuttering the fantasy football league that I’ve commissioned for a decade. I’m opting out of two Vegas leagues that I won thousands on last year. I’m tired of caring about something that’s meaningless. Very fun, but meaningless.

I’m out.

Now I no longer have to hate anything: the NFL or Roger Goodell or the money-grubbing owners or the media. I no longer have to hate the constant rules changes put in place to keep up with smart teams.

I hope this is Roger Goodell’s legacy. He’s freed an obsessive fan from a trap. Like any addict, there will be bumps along the road and people trying to enable my return. (For instance, DirecTV’s last-ditch offer of an enticing array of free programming including the NFL package, or NFL.com doing an about face to praise the Pats dynasty.) Maybe if someone like Adam Silver helms the NFL at some point, I’ll return. But as of right now, I’m out.

(I hope?)

Jamie Conway is a lifelong Patriots fan from Marion, Mass.

Cool story bro, now piss off. Pats fans don't know suffering. They ARE, however, insufferable and so the less the merrier. Go eat a lowabstah, or eat a Dunkin Donut or whatever the fuck you New England dwelling douchnozzles do with your spare time. No Rams fan wants to hear your whining.

 

[Stranger]

The NFL is just an ATM machine. I’ve invested in rooting for a corporation I have no monetary interest in.

yup

 

[A55VA6]

View: https://twitter.com/ESPNNFL/status/604399541937422337

 

[CGI_Ram]

My favorite team won the Super Bowl on one of the most exciting plays in NFL history, but that play that has barely been viewed as a success of the Patriots and largely seen as a failure of Pete Carroll

But isn't that exactly what happened?

But as of right now, I’m out.

Yeah, okay. See you tomorrow.

 

[DaveFan'51]

Latest word from NFLN is the hearing on the Brady suspension is set for " June 23rd " I hope that the end of having to read about him! Until his 4game suspension is up!!

 

[-X-]

View: https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/605805378811523073


View: https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/605806240527060992

 

[-X-]

View: https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/605806693633515520


View: https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/605807028234153984

 

[-X-]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ially-tells-nflpa-he-will-not-recuse-himself/

Sepp Blatter might step down, but Roger Goodell will not.

According to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports, the NFL commissioner has officially told the NFLPAhe would not recuse himself, and would in fact hear Tom Brady’s #DeflateGate appeal.

Goodall told the union he hadn’t already made his decision, saying: “My mind is open.”

“Because protecting the integrity of the game is the commissioner’s most important responsibility, I decline to rewrite our Collective Bargaining Agreement to abrogate my authority and discretion to hear any appeal in a conduct detrimental proceeding,” he wrote.

That’s hardly a surprise, given the fact Goodell said he wanted to hear from Brady himself regarding the four-game suspension for having more probably than not been aware of the deflating of footballs.

Now the stage is set to see if Brady offers up any “new information,” as Goodell has fairly openly suggested he wants to see what may or may not be in Brady’s phone.

 

[-X-]

Here is commissioner Roger Goodell's full letter denying the union's request that he recuse himself from the Brady appeal:

"Our Collective Bargaining Agreement provides that “at his discretion,” the Commissioner may serve as hearing officer in “any appeal” involving conduct detrimental to the integrity of, or public confidence in, the game of professional football. I will exercise that discretion to hear Mr. Brady’s appeal.

I have carefully reviewed the NFLPA’s recusal motion of May 19 as well as Mr. Nash’s response of May 22. (Neither party requested to be heard on the matter.) Based on the unambiguous language and structure of the CBA, as well as common sense, I conclude that none of the arguments advanced by the NFLPA has merit. First, the NFLPA argues that I may not serve as hearing officer because Mr. Brady’s discipline letter was signed by NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent rather than by me. I disagree. The identity of the person who signed the disciplinary letter is irrelevant. The signatory’s identity does not influence in any way my evaluation of the issues; any suggestion to the contrary defies common sense. (I note that NFL executives other than the Commissioner have signed disciplinary letters in numerous proceedings in which the Commissioner or his designee later served as hearing officer.

I am not aware of any objections by the Union to that practice. To the contrary, as Mr. Nash’s letter points out, the Union has confirmed its acceptance of this procedure.) There can be no dispute that this is an appeal of Commissioner discipline: As the letter signed by Mr. Vincent explains in its first sentence, “The Commissioner has authorized me to inform you of the discipline that, pursuant to his authority under Article 46 of the CBA, has been imposed upon you ….” I did not delegate my disciplinary authority to Mr. Vincent; I concurred in his recommendation and authorized him to communicate to Mr. Brady the discipline imposed under my authority as Commissioner. Even if there were a procedural issue raised by the identity of the signatory to a discipline letter that I authorized, no reason or logic -- and certainly nothing in the CBA -- would support recusal as the remedy.

After all, the CBA provides that “the Commissioner may serve as hearing officer in “any appeal” involving conduct detrimental to the integrity of the game. Second, the NFLPA argues that recusal is required because it believes that I may be a “necessary” and/or “central” witness in the appeal proceeding. I have carefully considered this argument and reject its premise. I am not a necessary or even an appropriate witness, much less a “central witness” as the NFLPA contends. I do not have any first-hand knowledge of any of the events at issue. (That fact makes this matter very different from the Rice appeal, in which there was a fundamental dispute over what Mr. Rice told me in a meeting at the league office.) Nor did I play a role in the investigation that led to Mr. Brady’s discipline.

Furthermore, there is no reasonable basis for dispute -- or for any testimony -- about authority for the discipline reflected in the letter signed by Mr. Vincent. The letter itself is clear on this point. And there is no basis for my testifying about prior instances in which discipline was considered or imposed for similar conduct; if that were the case, the NFLPA could seek my recusal in every conduct detrimental proceeding, directly contrary to our agreement that I have the “discretion” to hear “any” appeal. Regardless, my knowledge of any underlying facts in this matter would not provide a basis for recusal. The CBA contemplates such knowledge and expressly provides that the Commissioner may hear and decide “any” appeal of conduct detrimental discipline. Accordingly, there is no basis upon which I could properly be asked to testify in the appeal proceeding, which under Article 46 of the CBA is designed to afford Mr. Brady an opportunity to bring new or additional facts or circumstances to my attention for consideration. Third, the NFLPA argues that recusal is required because I have “prejudged” the matter and cannot fairly evaluate the potential testimony of league staff members. After carefully considering this argument, I reject it.

The process by which discipline is imposed for conduct detrimental, and by which appeals of disciplinary decisions are heard, has been in place for many years and is well known to the parties. That includes the role of league staff in the proceedings and the likelihood that the Commissioner will have some knowledge of the underlying facts. When the parties agreed in the Collective Bargaining Agreement to continue the provisions confirming the Commissioner’s “discretion” to hear “any” appeal of a player facing discipline for conduct detrimental, they clearly understood (a) that such appeals regularly involve testimony by league staff about the issues and events in dispute and (b) that if the Commissioner has taken some action against the player for conduct detrimental and given him notice of impending discipline, he necessarily would have reached an initial conclusion about the player’s actions.

Nonetheless, the parties’ agreement that the Commissioner may serve as hearing officer in “any appeal” could not be more clear. Thus, neither of those two factors can serve as a basis for recusal. Nor have I “prejudged” this appeal. I have publicly expressed my appreciation to Mr. Wells and his colleagues for their thorough and independent work. But that does not mean that I am wedded to their conclusions or to their assessment of the facts. Nor does it mean that, after considering the evidence and argument presented during the appeal, I may not reach a different conclusion about Mr. Brady’s conduct or the discipline imposed. That is true even though the initial discipline decision was reached after extensive discussion and in reliance on the critical importance of protecting the integrity of the game. As I have said publicly, I very much look forward to hearing from Mr. Brady and to considering any new information or evidence that he may bring to my attention. My mind is open; there has been no “prejudgment” and no bias that warrants recusal.

I have considered the cases cited by the NFLPA, Morris, Erving, and Hewitt. I agree with Commissioner Tagliabue’s reasoning in the Bounty proceeding, in which he denied the NFLPA’s motion that he recuse himself. Those cases are not applicable in an appeal governed by a collective bargaining agreement, especially one that so clearly reflects the parties’ intentions about the Commissioner’s authority, discretion, and role. As Commissioner Tagliabue stated: “No change in the Collective Bargaining Agreements between 1977 and the present day has ever abrogated the sole authority of the Commissioner to preside” in appeals involving discipline for conduct detrimental to the integrity of the game. This recusal motion, and others like it, represent nothing more than an effort by the NFLPA to renegotiate Article 46 of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, signed in August 2011. Because protecting the integrity of the game is the Commissioner’s most important responsibility, I decline to rewrite our Collective Bargaining Agreement to abrogate my authority and “discretion” to hear “any appeal” in a conduct detrimental proceeding. The motion for recusal is denied. We will proceed with the hearing on June 23, as previously scheduled."

 

[Stranger]

“Because protecting the integrity of the game is the commissioner’s most important responsibility, I decline to rewrite our Collective Bargaining Agreement to abrogate my authority and discretion to hear any appeal in a conduct detrimental proceeding,”

In other words, I am the NFL God and I will rewrite the rules however I want to in order to keep my employers filthy rich and in total control.

 

[-X-]

In other words, I am the NFL God and I will rewrite the rules however I want to in order to keep my employers filthy rich and in total control.

 

[Corbin]

So Brady challenges this through the NFLPA and it gets reduced to 2 games I assume.

I'd give this penalty for a Super Bowl....cheating dick heads!

Wow I was wrong... It wasn't 2 games it was None -_-

We need to start cheating!