Ray Farmer Suspended 4 Games for Text-Gate

[Soda]

If the Browns lose a draft pick over this, it'd be pretty livid.

I mean, Pittsburgh's head coach tripped a player in plain sight, during a game where the competitive balance was clearly jostled. Also, the Patriots had deflated balls they used during a cold weather game where they had no fumbles. Finally, Spygate, which is the most obvious place where a competitive advantage was had, yielded a fine. The previous two (Pitt & deflategate) are either cleared with no draft picks lost or on the way to that.

The Browns' GM texted a coach from a vantage some coaches already had and this is warranting loss of a draft pick? Gotta be kidding me Polian..

 

[GreasySpread36]

To paraphrase the late Jerry Tarkanian, the NFL is so pissed at the Patriots for deflating footballs that they're going to take a draft pick away from the Browns.

 

[Huber.]

If the Browns lose a draft pick over this, it'd be pretty livid.

I mean, Pittsburgh's head coach tripped a player in plain sight, during a game where the competitive balance was clearly jostled. Also, the Patriots had deflated balls they used during a cold weather game where they had no fumbles. Finally, Spygate, which is the most obvious place where a competitive advantage was had, yielded a fine. The previous two (Pitt & deflategate) are either cleared with no draft picks lost or on the way to that.

The Browns' GM texted a coach from a vantage some coaches already had and this is warranting loss of a draft pick? Gotta be kidding me Polian..

Patriots lost their first round pick for the videotaping controversy

 

[Soda]

Patriots lost their first round pick for the videotaping controversy

Somehow lost that in my rage upon hearing this on the drive into work.. Still, I'm at a loss for why a draft pick would be appropriate when nobody can seem to explain the competitive advantage gained.

 

[MalTalm]

Somehow lost that in my rage upon hearing this on the drive into work.. Still, I'm at a loss for why a draft pick would be appropriate when nobody can seem to explain the competitive advantage gained.

The Browns failed to gain a competitive advantage, but the advantage which could have been gained from breaking said rule is substantial.

The punishment will be doled out for the crime broken, not for the intent of the crime, and in essence the crime broken is very similar to "spygate."

 

[Cavsfan1985]

The Browns failed to gain a competitive advantage, but the advantage which could have been gained from breaking said rule is substantial.

The punishment will be doled out for the crime broken, not for the intent of the crime, and in essence the crime broken is very similar to "spygate."

How is it similar to "spygate"? I here people saying this, but I don't see how you can even compare the two.

 

[MalTalm]

How is it similar to "spygate"? I here people saying this, but I don't see how you can even compare the two.

The Patriots were videotaping hand signals from the sideline during games, and using the footage to steal signals. To do this, the Patriots had placed someone in the stands to get an optimal view.

In the texting situation, you again have someone placed in the stands who is sending correspondence to the sidelines. A team could feasibly place someone in a position to overhear discussion on the sideline, take photographs of play charts, or relay signals via text to a coach.

The difference between the two is the intent: Bellichick was attempting to gain competitive advantage whereas the Browns FO was providing in-game critique of coaching decisions. However, the method the Browns employed could just as easily been used to gain competitive advantage; those texts could very well have included video of hand signals for instance. The Browns are not guaranteed to get leniency due to the "intent", they will likely just be punished for the crime itself. Otherwise future cases of cheating may involve convoluted explanations which are used to confuse the issue and hide the advantage gained in a scheme.

 

[Soda]

The Patriots were videotaping hand signals from the sideline during games, and using the footage to steal signals. To do this, the Patriots had placed someone in the stands to get an optimal view.

In the texting situation, you again have someone placed in the stands who is sending correspondence to the sidelines. A team could feasibly place someone in a position to overhear discussion on the sideline, take photographs of play charts, or relay signals via text to a coach.

The Patriots filmed the Jets' practice to steal signals. The Browns have coaches in the booth that could steal signals in-game every week.

The difference between the two is the intent: Bellichick was attempting to gain competitive advantage whereas the Browns FO was providing in-game critique of coaching decisions. However, the method the Browns employed could just as easily been used to gain competitive advantage; those texts could very well have included video of hand signals for instance. The Browns are not guaranteed to get leniency due to the "intent", they will likely just be punished for the crime itself. Otherwise future cases of cheating may involve convoluted explanations which are used to confuse the issue and hide the advantage gained in a scheme.

I completely understand and sympathize with your assessment of it, but I fail to see how this would be any worse than "Spygate", "DeflateGate" and/or Tomlin's in game trip of Jacoby Jones.

 

[MalTalm]

The Patriots filmed the Jets' practice to steal signals. The Browns have coaches in the booth that could steal signals in-game every week.



I completely understand and sympathize with your assessment of it, but I fail to see how this would be any worse than "Spygate", "DeflateGate" and/or Tomlin's in game trip of Jacoby Jones.

The coaches in the both are very limited on what tools are available to them, they aren't very likely getting anything substantive. At the vet least, whatever advantage could be gained is equally available to both parties.

If you don't see how planting people in certain locations in the stadium and allow them to give correspondence to coaches could grant a significant advantage, I don't know what to tell you.

I also wouldn't say it was worse than those crimes, but rather on par, and 1st round picks were forfeited for such transgressions previously. I have no idea what punishment might be levied and I hope is not anything so extreme, just punting out there is precedent and similarities.

 

[Cavsfan1985]

The coaches in the both are very limited on what tools are available to them, they aren't very likely getting anything substantive. At the vet least, whatever advantage could be gained is equally available to both parties.

If you don't see how planting people in certain locations in the stadium and allow them to give correspondence to coaches could grant a significant advantage, I don't know what to tell you.

I also wouldn't say it was worse than those crimes, but rather on par, and 1st round picks were forfeited for such transgressions previously. I have no idea what punishment might be levied and I hope is not anything so extreme, just punting out there is precedent and similarities.

The Patriots were videotaping hand signals from the sideline during games, and using the footage to steal signals. To do this, the Patriots had placed someone in the stands to get an optimal view.

In the texting situation, you again have someone placed in the stands who is sending correspondence to the sidelines. A team could feasibly place someone in a position to overhear discussion on the sideline, take photographs of play charts, or relay signals via text to a coach.

The difference between the two is the intent: Bellichick was attempting to gain competitive advantage whereas the Browns FO was providing in-game critique of coaching decisions. However, the method the Browns employed could just as easily been used to gain competitive advantage; those texts could very well have included video of hand signals for instance. The Browns are not guaranteed to get leniency due to the "intent", they will likely just be punished for the crime itself. Otherwise future cases of cheating may involve convoluted explanations which are used to confuse the issue and hide the advantage gained in a scheme.

I still don't see how they are the same? To me the intent is piece that would dictate the punishment. It is like speeding, the faster you go the bigger then penalty or fine. In this case, there was no competitive advantage, we were not sending signs of the other team to the coach, we were complaining about the play calling.

 

[Soda]

I still don't see how they are the same? To me the intent is piece that would dictate the punishment. It is like speeding, the faster you go the bigger then penalty or fine. In this case, there was no competitive advantage, we were not sending signs of the other team to the coach, we were complaining about the play calling.

MalTalm is saying (I believe) that the NFL is seeing it as they shouldn't count the intent or advantage, but rather that a rule was violated. In an employer's eyes, it's the way they should uphold the rule.

I personally do not see this as serious as Tomlin, deflategate or spygate, though.. Spygate was much more deliberate than shooting a text down to the sidelines. Now, do I have all the information? No.

The NFL may have found out that Ray was doing something to gain a competitive advantage for all I know. It might not have just been a "this dude is an idiot" text once or twice...

 

[EdMonix11]

If the Browns lose a draft pick over this, it'd be pretty livid.

I mean, Pittsburgh's head coach tripped a player in plain sight, during a game where the competitive balance was clearly jostled. Also, the Patriots had deflated balls they used during a cold weather game where they had no fumbles. Finally, Spygate, which is the most obvious place where a competitive advantage was had, yielded a fine. The previous two (Pitt & deflategate) are either cleared with no draft picks lost or on the way to that.

The Browns' GM texted a coach from a vantage some coaches already had and this is warranting loss of a draft pick? Gotta be kidding me Polian..

The Browns should lose a draft pick for, what the NCAA would call, lack of institutional control.....

 

[Soda]

The Browns should lose a draft pick for, what the NCAA would call, lack of institutional control.....

This isn't the NCAA.

 

[Phills14]

View: https://twitter.com/KeithBritton86/status/570348966610493442


C'mon now. I seriously can't take this anymore if this is true.

 

[spydy13]

View: https://twitter.com/KeithBritton86/status/570348966610493442


C'mon now. I seriously can't take this anymore if this is true.

Who knows if this is true in the least bit, but would it really surprise you?

Pettine was hired before Farmer took over so they may not see eye to eye on everything.