NFL 2014 season thread: The good, the bad, & the ugly.

a big deal outa nothing, all psi changes with the weather, blah blah if they we're under or over it had to be the same on both sides...pleeeease.

 

In golf if you cheat or use non-standard equipment, you get DQ'd from the competition. In cycling if you use drugs to gain an edge, you will be banned. I'm not sure if 1 or 2 psi made all that much difference in the outcome of the game, however, it tarnishes the image of the Patriots and makes people think that they won only because they cheated in some way.

I don't think that it should happen in this case, but there should be a policy in place that if it is discovered that a team did cheat to win, they wouldn't be allowed to play in the next game in the playoffs. Or that that their next home game would get moved to the opposing teams stadium during the regular season. And for the Superbowl, the two teams that lost would play each other to determine who would be playing in the Superbowl.

 

I'm surprised they don't mix up all of the footballs before and during the game. The NFL should fix it by evening out the playing field by having both teams use the same ball.

Field goal kickers wouldn't like the lower psi balls either.

Yes, the 45-7 blowout wouldn't have been quite as much of one, possibly, but they didn't need to cheat to win. And that is the problem and why it needs to be dealt with. Nobody wants to watch a game where one team is cheating. Or their brand will be linked to cheating and they won't be able to fix it. Even if they win fairly, people will still think they cheated but just didn't get caught.

 

I wonder if SpyGate will be a factor in any/if any penalties for the Patriots.
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I think that's one of the reasons why some people are ready to hammer the Patriots.

 

If this cheating were exclusive to the Patriots, let's say Brady in particular, I'd yell keep the entire team out of the SB (What better punishment for an NFL team than pulling them from a SB?).

If it is widespread, deciding a punishment gets more complicated.

 

My guess is a lot of teams engage in this. But a lot of people drink too. The number of people or teams engaging in illegal or cheating shouldn't have anything to do with whether or not they are held accountable.

 

True.

But as others have mentioned in this thread and in the sports media, the NFL will most likely be reluctant to air dirty laundry if they ignored the cheating, esp if it was widespread. A matter of silent consent, so to say.

I have no issue with a team being made an example of (some might even say a scapegoat). If the NFL chooses the Patriots, which involves a SB appearance, what action should the league take? My guess is they'll wait quite a while, well into the offseason, then introduce some more strict controls over the testing and possession of the footballs used in games.

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It seems 11 of 12 balls used by the Patriots against the Colts were indeed underinflated. This needs to cost the Patriots big....even if "every team does it, they just happened to be the only team that got caught."

Over time this will be largely forgotten, and the Patriots legacy will be fine. But in my mind the what the team has done with Belichick & Brady will be tarnished.

 

The vindictive me says:

I don't see a monetary fine hurting them, unless it was directed specifically at Brady. Suspending Brady for a season without pay would be good. His actual involvement will be difficult to prove unless some members of the Patriots staff can prove that he instructed some folks to deflate the balls.

Ban Belichick from the NFL for two seasons. His return to the NFL would be subject to approval. The approval portion would be to support the unwritten (and probably completely illegal) idea that he stay completely out of football at any level in any country during his two year ban. While he might not have been directly involved, I have no doubt that he knew about it.

Any lower level employees directly involved in the cheating would be banned from the NFL for a year. With the same approval procees as Belichick for the same reason.

Lose all of their top draft choices, say the fourth round and up, for four years. Of course this wouldn't hurt them until they start losing and actually need those potentially better players.

A twenty percent reduction in their salary cap for at least two years. This would make it very difficult for them to keep and/or sign better players.

Shave three wins off their regular season record for two years when it comes to the playoffs. Example--They finish 12-4, but in the playoff formula they're 9-7. They can't be champion of the AFC East for at least two years. Hopefully this would mean they wouldn't make the POs, but if they did, they would have to make it as a wildcard team playing on the road. I have no idea if this is workable.

All of the above would be to punish the team, not just the individuals directly involved the cheating. As they do in the military.

 

I did specify "vindictive."

Just imagine what my thoughs would be if it were that NFL franchise in Dallas .

 

All righty then, Borla, let's say that evidence clearly proves that Brady & Belichick were in on it. What would you, or anybody else who cares to share, do to punish the Patriots?


Edit--Man, typos are haunting me today.

 

I tend to agree with Borla on this one. I think absent the spygate scandal a few years back, this isn't nearly as big a story. It also makes for some interesting drama heading into superbowl week, which helps fuel the round the clock sportscenter spin machine. If I had to bet, by this time next year we will have a hard time remembering why we thought this was such a big deal.

 

I think the whole deflate-gate is bullshit. I tend to agree with @Popeye about the weather being a potential factor. Inflate the balls to the league minimum 11.5 psi in a 70* room, then let them set outside in @35* for four or five hours. I've heard that a 10* change in temperature can make a 1 psi difference. Also... what about the equipment used to fill and test the pressure in the balls? I've seen identical pressure gauges read several psi different, even new out of the packaging. This whole issue is one that could have been sprung on any winning team by any losing team in any cold weather venue ever. Right now, I believe it is being driven by hatred/jealousy of the Patriots, Belichick and Brady. This is a successful franchise. Spygate was a long time ago. Get over it.

I don't get the Brady-hate. He wins. He takes a lower salary to free up cap so the team can sign better players. He runs the QB sneak more often and more successfully than anyone in a generation. He's generous to his teammates. He has proven leadership skills. He's done well for a sixth round compensatory pick. He wins. Beat him on the field or get over it.

Tom Brady did not write the Tuck Rule. It was in place before he entered the league. He did not invoke the Tuck Rule. The referee made that call in that long ago Oakland game. It happened in 2001 and the league didn't change the rule until 2013. Get over it.

If there were only one week between the conference finals and the Super Bowl, we wouldn't have to put up with this kind of crap. We would be talking about real football things like: can a one-armed Sherman cash the checks his mouth is writing

 

GO HAWKS

 

Yes, Brady's claim sounded bogus.

If Goodell wants to make an example of a team, the Patriots would be a convenient scapegoat, or would be very deserving, depending on how you look at it.

If this is a wink-and-nod-because-all-teams-do-it situation, yes, a slap on the wrist for the Patriots, and a much more stringent inspection system by the league.

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What the hell .....let the Seahawks provide the balls for the Patriots in the SB with no inspection by the league. That might be the 'Hawks only chance of winning .