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.