Ray Farmer Suspended 4 Games for Text-Gate

[Soda]

I don't know why you keep bringing up their watch, when you can specifically tell me who under their watched was involved in this.

This sounds pretty damn obtuse, as we know the balls were properly inflated pre-game, until a Patriots employee brought them in the bathroom.... I'm not buying it. Refer to Goodell's actual language. A rule was broken.

 

[godfather]

This sounds pretty damn obtuse, as we know the balls were properly inflated pre-game, until a Patriots employee brought them in the bathroom.... I'm not buying it. Refer to Goodell's actual language. A rule was broken.

Still got to prove malicious intent the Patriots did it. You need to provide names of people responsible. You can't just say "oh I know they did it, so I'm docking picks". That would be outrageous, if Goodell went dictator on the league. He's done a lot of questionable enough things as it is.

He might just lose his job, if he acted that irrational, given he's employed by the owners.

By the way, I thought it was proven, that 11 out of 12 footballs weren't significantly deflated. That only one football was, and the others were just a few ticks under regulation.

I've lost track, since I really could care less about that story.

 

[Soda]

Still got to prove malicious intent the Patriots did it. You need to provide names of people responsible. You can't just say "oh I know they did it, so I'm docking picks". That would be outrageous, if Goodell went dictator on the league. He's done a lot of questionable enough things as it is.

He might just lose his job, if he acted that irrational, given he's employed by the owners.

By the way, I thought it was proven, that 11 out of 12 footballs weren't significantly deflated. That only one football was, and the others were just a few ticks under regulation.

Did you read what Goodell said like I asked? If you did, you'd see that what he cares about are 32 teams operating under the rules and that a rule was broken. Direct quote:

It's the fact that you broke the rule. That's a more general comment. We don't want people breaking the rules.

Tells me that you absolutely DO NOT need to prove any malicious intent, but rather that a rule was broken.

Well... 11 out of 12 balls WERE UNDERINFLATED when checked by officials at halftime. Sounds like a freaking rule was broken, so I don't know where you're going with this.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...-investigation-of-patriots-deflated-footballs

I've lost track, since I really could care less about that story.

All is well that ends well for Tom.

 

[godfather]

"It's the fact that you broke the rule. That's a more general comment. We don't want people breaking the rules."

But we don't know they broke a rule. All we know is that the footballs were under the NFL regulations.

Who broke these rules? Who deflated the footballs? Don't you see what I'm saying man? If the NFL can't provide those answers, how do you penalize an organization, that wasn't proven to be directly responsible?

All we know is that their footballs were deflated, and yes, that's against the rules. We have no knowledge of them directly breaking the rules, by deflating those footballs themselves.

Hey, they might as well did this. But give them kudos for being smart enough to not have anything stick, and get away with it.

Like I said, if you cheap, or break rules, be smart about it. I don't condone it at all, I am not saying they're innocent bystanders.

We live in a society innocent until proven guilty. Labeling them guilty, without any actual proof they did this, would be bad.

If they can proven they did it, then lay the hammer on them. And I am sure they will too, if they somehow do.

 

[Soda]

So, a rule was broken, but the Patriots aren't responsible for the organization following the rules.

To me, that's an issue if the crux, as stated, is having 32 teams operating under the same rules.

 

[AZ_]

Getting pretty petty about it, honestly.

Unless they can prove someone with any actual authority violated a rule, who are they going to punish?

The ball boy? Can you even prove he knew what he was doing?

 

[Binkster]

Getting pretty petty about it, honestly.

Unless they can prove someone with any actual authority violated a rule, who are they going to punish?

The ball boy? Can you even prove he knew what he was doing?

You punish the team. Is ignorance ever an excuse in life?

If you are taking a trip to Mexico and your friend asks you to transport mysterious luggage and you didn't realize that the contents consisted of 10 kilos of Columbian Bam Bam, do you think the authorities are going to let you go because you "didn't know?"

 

[godfather]

So, a rule was broken, but the Patriots aren't responsible for the organization following the rules.

To me, that's an issue if the crux, as stated, is having 32 teams operating under the same rules.

How do we know the Patriots broke it? Doesn't it not seem a little suspicious, probably highly unlikely, but still strange and not completely off base to think that the Colts might have been the ones to have done it?

Let's go over it shall we. I know we're getting off topic, and the mods are probably rolling their eyes a bit. So I'll just post this one last time about it.

One, the GM of the Colts admitted to tipping off the league about this before the game. Why? How? How did they know, or suspect they were using deflated footballs?

I think they later claimed they were tipped off by the Ravens, but then the Ravens, a team with no love loss for the Patriots, denied it. Harbaugh said he had no knowledge of anyone in the organization he suspected of doing that.

Two, Bob Kravitz of Indianapolis was the first to break this story, almost immediately following the game. A little odd, I'd say.

Three, to me this is the most bizarre part of the story. Previous Browns D'Qwell intercepts a bad throw by Brady, to Gronk, in double coverage, with D'Qwell playing spy. The original report, was that Jackson thought something was wrong with the ball, reported it to his coach, the coach to the GM, GM to league. And that's how this entire deflategate happen.

He denied it, said he didn't notice anything wrong with the ball, never reported it to anyone, all that he noticed was the ball, he wanted to keep, was missing. That to me, is a little strange.

I don't believe in conspiracy theories, and I really don't have an opinion what happen, but it's hard to read everything that's happen, and admit it's one strange story.

But, back to the point. The Browns were proven guilty. It was a stupid thing, text-gate, almost laughable. Do I think we were cheating, and did something really malicious? No. I don't, we're probably too dumb to know how to cheat on purpose (I say that jokingly).

But, obvious accountability was proven, owned up, and it sucks, but we have to pay the consequences. I don't "like it" anymore than anyone else, but I can't throw my hands in disgust, how unfair, especially when comparing it to the Patriots.

I am just glad, and hoping it's not a first round pick. 2nd and 4th like rumored, yeah, it's kinda stiff, but this could have all be avoided if Farmer wasn't such a moron.

 

[Ohio]

"Lack of institutional control"

 

[bob2the2nd]

Ray Farmer, general manager, was directly responsible. The Patriots footballs were deflated, which they're required to be a a specific regulation. We have no idea how they got that way.

I don't see how you can penalize a franchise, when you have no idea what really happen. We know what happen with the Browns, we don't know how the footballs got deflated, and who was responsible on the Patriots, if anyone was responsible at all.

How do we know anyone involved in the Patriots did this? Because it happen under their watch, implies, someone involved in the Patriots did this! We have no clue right now!

It's quite obvious that someone did something, but bottom line is if you don't know, how the hell do you punish a team for something they weren't proven to have done themselves?

I don't know why you keep bringing up under their watch, when you can't specifically tell me who under their watched was involved in this.

We know who was involved in the Browns textgate under their watch.

Me being a fan of Tom Brady, not the Patriots as an organization, is besides the point.

regardless of who the fuck deflated the damn balls, it is the patriots responsibility to make sure they were using regulation balls. they werent. i dont fucking care of santa claus, the eater bunny, and toothfairy got together and decided they were going to deflate the damn things, it is still the responsibility of the patriots to play within the rules. they didnt. 100% the patriots did not play by the rules of the game. the. end. the NFL is absolutely and totally throwing this under the rug and its bullshit.

how is this for an explanation. someone strolling down the street walks up to your car and breaks the rear brake light. you dont notice and later get pulled over. guess who is going to get the ticket. hint: its not the asshole that broke the light

 

[Bill Walton.]

Please shut up about deflate gate.

One of the problems with our franchise is we cry and complain and make excuses for everything. Worry about yourselves and dont worry about everyone else.

We made a mistake and broke the rules, simple and plain. Shut up and pay the consequences. Stop pointing fingers and start doing things right, and let the chips fall where they may outside of the organization. Im so sick of browns fans feeling like we are owed something cuz we've been so bad for so long. It starts at the top, stop boo hooing and start do doing.

 

[AZ_]

You punish the team. Is ignorance ever an excuse in life?

If you are taking a trip to Mexico and your friend asks you to transport mysterious luggage and you didn't realize that the contents consisted of 10 kilos of Columbian Bam Bam, do you think the authorities are going to let you go because you "didn't know?"

If I'm taking a trip to Mexico and my suitcase is 50.10 pounds instead of the required 50.0 to check it at the baggage claim....I'd imagine that the punishment or level of interest would be far less severe.

That's kind of how I expect this to play out.

 

[Soda]

My biggest contention is the overwhelming offerings of mitigating circumstances in the Patriots case to absolve them of organizational responsibility, while the Browns are guilty and it's an organizational problem and the Browns should lose a draft pick. Annoying.

The Pats played with deflated balls; how is this not enough of an infraction? Maybe it is and they'll be punished, but Browns fans are running to their defense while laying the law on our own team.

You can go back in this thread and see that I'm not contending that the Browns should get off scott-free. They deserve a punishment and will get one. It's never been part of my opinion that they shouldn't.

 

[Soda]

Please shut up about deflate gate.

One of the problems with our franchise is we cry and complain and make excuses for everything. Worry about yourselves and dont worry about everyone else.

We made a mistake and broke the rules, simple and plain. Shut up and pay the consequences. Stop pointing fingers and start doing things right, and let the chips fall where they may outside of the organization. Im so sick of browns fans feeling like we are owed something cuz we've been so bad for so long. It starts at the top, stop boo hooing and start do doing.

How about you not comment unless you've read the context of the discussion. Or, just don't paint with a wide brush.

 

[bob2the2nd]

Still got to prove malicious intent the Patriots did it.

WRONG.

we know the patriots were used uninflated balls, thats against the rules. the. end.