Originally Posted by
Udaman
Pats fan checking in here. My take:
1) Letting the air out of a football likely gave Brady a competitive advantage. If not, why else would he do it? Why would he care?
2) Was it a huge competitive advantage? No. Not at all. As plenty of people said, QB's like their footballs different ways. Baseball players like the balls they throw different ways. Hockey players like their sticks certain ways. People try to bend the rules all the time.
3) Is it a huge crime what he did? No. I heard on local radio guy here sum it up perfectly - it's like stealing a few grapes before you pay for them. The Patriots would have beaten the Colts with properly inflated balls, just as Brady was great in the Super Bowl with properly inflated balls.
OK...those three things said.
4) The Patriots, and namely Brady and the two other guys, cheated. Period. Anyone who plays the "well, we don't know for certain," or "they just said more probable than not, so what does that really mean," is either a) a Patriots homer or b) has their head in the sand or c) is both. The facts from the report are incontrovertible.
The two guys admitted to doing it before.
Brady clearly had told them to do it before.
The balls were below the normal level, and it can't be explained by the cold weather.
The guy took the balls into the bathroom, when that was against protocol.
5) Brady should absolutely be suspended for this. And no - not because he had some minions deflate the ball. Yes, that was a little bit bad. But it's because he lied during the investigation. Repeatedly. To everyone. He lied on the local radio stations. He lied in his press conference. He lied to the investigators. He got caught with his hand in the cookie jar and then he did what any 5 year old would do which is lie, deflect, deny and act defiant. That's why he should (and will) get suspended. I still think it should be 2 games or less. My buddy (a Jets fan and Patriot hater) thinks it should be 8 games, but I just can't see that happening.
6) For those who read point 5 and say, "Show me proof? You got nothing!", I say go back and read point 4. You want "proof"
Brady said he didn't know the guys who allegedly let out the air. Lie.
The guy who took the balls said he didn't go to the bathroom. Lie.
When it was shown to him that he did indeed go, he said he specifically went because it had a urinal. Lie.
Brady - right after getting off the phone with a local radio station the Monday morning after the game, and being asked about Deflategate (before it was a national story) immediately called one of the guys in question. This after not talking to him at all in the months prior. He had numerous conversations with him over the next few days. When asked if he talked about the deflate stuff he said no. Repeat - when asked if he talked about the deflate stuff he said no. That's laughable. A flat out lie.
He said he had never talked with guys about the inflation of the balls. Lie.
He said he had never instructed anyone to let air out of balls before. Lie.
And for people saying that he didn't have to give up his texts....that's accurate. He didn't. It's not a civil trial. There was no subpoena. He also wasn't under oath during any of his testimony. But the fact that he didn't give up his phone makes him look guilty, and in my opinion, proves he was guilty. The "I don't give my phone to anyone" argument is hollow. IF you don't have anything to hide, then there's no reason not to give it up.
7) Brady will never, ever, ever, ever, ever sue the NFL or anyone over this. Because the moment he did, then there would be subpoenas and he would be under oath to tell the truth. He will appeal any suspension and likely have it reduced. My guess is 4 games down to 2.
Again, I don't think it was a huge deal. I think lots of QB's do this. I think it's like stealing grapes. But the problem is that Brady then lied and tried to cover it up. That's what makes this bad. The coverup is always worse than the crime.
And lastly, if this were a civil trial, there is no doubt in my mind that Brady would have been found guilty....even with just the information that was presented. A bunch of really, really good lawyers basically came to that conclusion (because in a civil trial all it is, is 51%). But Brady would have settled, because he knew he was guilty and in a real civil court would not have been able to stonewall, deny evidence, or lie to the lawyers.
8) It hurts Brady's image. But he'll be just fine.