2025-2026 NFL Season Thread

[ran94]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Thank Christ! At least this saga is over.

Next story, please!

It will be the Seahawks and PEDS.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by DoubleDownAgain

I've heard a few people say that. I'm just curious what basis?

If he fights it then it will become even a bigger deal and harm his image even more.

He'll sue the league and Ted Wells for defamation before serving four games. There is absolutely no evidence that Brady told them to deflate the balls below the minimum or to tamper with game balls after they had been presented to the officials. He simply complained to one of the equipment personnel that game balls were inflated more than he liked.

[Tony208]

Can the NBA and NFL please swap commissioners?

How is it that Adam Silver can get to the bottom of the Donald Sterling debacle, ban him for life and force him to sell the team in less time than it took Goodell to come to the conclusion of we think the Pats under-inflated a football?

Taking 4 months just to come up with "more probable than not" only makes the NFL look incompetent.

[sycro]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

IIRC, two of the Colts ball were recorded at less than 12.5 at half time, but they were still north of 12psi. Keep in mind, that I don't believe any of this was written down, but rather based upon the officials "recollections."

As for the punishment, no way the 4 games stick. I'm not sure what avenues the team can take in terms of their penalties, if any.

I'm sure Brady will appeal, but Kraft has previously said the team would accept the league's penalties.

[DoubleDownAgain]

Originally Posted by Brady_2_Moss

I would hope the pats make this as bloody as possible with the NFL...I hope based on that flimsy report. No way 4 sticks...Will get dropped to 2 after appeal. Hargrove? IIRC got 8 games for bountygate...and only wound up serving like 2-3 I think?

To be fair part of the reason the report is 'flimsy' is because Brady failed to comply with the investigation.

Originally Posted by kpkelley

He'll sue the league and Ted Wells for defamation before serving four games. There is absolutely no evidence that Brady told them to deflate the balls below the minimum or to tamper with game balls after they had been presented to the officials. He simply complained to one of the equipment personnel that game balls were inflated more than he liked.

Why did he not co-operate and turn over his records? Why did the pats counsel refuse to let Wells talk to McNally after Wells received the incriminating text messages?

I only think Brady will sue if he is innocent. If he does sue then everything becomes fair game. Brady, McNally & the Patriots will have to disclose EVERYTHING, they won't be able to pick and choose what information they share. You seem to believe that he is truly innocent. What were all those texts about? Why didn't Brady co-operate fully?

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by DoubleDownAgain

To be fair part of the reason the report is 'flimsy' is because Brady failed to comply with the investigation.



Why did he not co-operate and turn over his records? Why did the pats counsel refuse to let Wells talk to McNally after Wells received the incriminating text messages?

I only think Brady will sue if he is innocent. If he does sue then everything becomes fair game. Brady, McNally & the Patriots will have to disclose EVERYTHING, they won't be able to pick and choose what information they share. You seem to believe that he is truly innocent. What were all those texts about? Why didn't Brady co-operate fully?

Pretty sure texts can be deleted.

[DoubleDownAgain]

Originally Posted by Tony208

Can the NBA and NFL please swap commissioners?

How is it that Adam Silver can get to the bottom of the Donald Sterling debacle, ban him for life and force him to sell the team in less time than it took Goodell to come to the conclusion of we think the Pats under-inflated a football?

Taking 4 months just to come up with "more probable than not" only makes the NFL look incompetent.

Everyone wanted Sterling gone, from the league, to the owners, players and not to mention the public at large. It was an easy win for him. No matter what Goodell was going to do here he was going to face criticism. Some think Brady should have been gone for the entire year, others think he shouldn't have been punished at all.

[DoubleDownAgain]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

Pretty sure texts can be deleted.

From the phone of course, but not sure how long they are stored on the servers. If that was the case why didn't Brady comply? Wells even said his attorny could go through them first and only hand over the pertinent ones.

IMO this played a huge factor in his punishment. Who knows what they would have found if he would have complied.

I wonder if McNally is going to speak soon, you'd think some network would give him a big payday for his side of the story.

[Tony208]

Originally Posted by DoubleDownAgain

Everyone wanted Sterling gone, from the league, to the owners, players and not to mention the public at large. It was an easy win for him. No matter what Goodell was going to do here he was going to face criticism. Some think Brady should have been gone for the entire year, others think he shouldn't have been punished at all.

Goodell can do better than getting a hired gun to do a report that will be released in the offseason every time there's a scandal.

Brady is a player so turning over everything would set a bad precedent for the NFLPA.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by DoubleDownAgain

Everyone wanted Sterling gone, from the league, to the owners, players and not to mention the public at large. It was an easy win for him. No matter what Goodell was going to do here he was going to face criticism. Some think Brady should have been gone for the entire year, others think he shouldn't have been punished at all.

Once sponsors start pulling out, nobody is safe.

[Batman1980]

Statement from Tom Brady's agent, Don Yee:
“The discipline is ridiculous and has no legitimate basis. In my opinion, this outcome was pre-determined; there was no fairness in the Wells investigation whatsoever. There is no evidence that Tom directed footballs be set at pressures below the allowable limits. In fact, the evidence shows Tom clearly emphasized that footballs be set at pressures within the rules. Tom also cooperated with the investigation and answered every question presented to him. The Wells Report presents significant evidence, however, that the NFL lacks standards or protocols with respect to its handling of footballs prior to games; this is not the fault of Tom or the Patriots. The report also presents significant evidence the NFL participated with the Colts in some type of pre-AFC Championship Game planning regarding the footballs. This fact may raise serious questions about the integrity of the games we view on Sundays. We will appeal, and if the hearing officer is completely independent and neutral, I am very confident the Wells Report will be exposed as an incredibly frail exercise in fact-finding and logic. The NFL has a well-documented history of making poor disciplinary decisions that often are overturned when truly independent and neutral judges or arbitrators preside, and a former federal judge has found the commissioner has abused his discretion in the past, so this outcome does not surprise me. Sadly, today’s decision diminishes the NFL as it tells its fans, players and coaches that the games on the field don’t count as much as the games played on Park Avenue.”

Source - FaceBook

[BeastCreatureTrapper]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

Source - FaceBook

That's a pretty damning indictment of the league, and one I am sure few (regardless of which side you're on), would wholly disagree with.

[Tony208]

Originally Posted by BeastCreatureTrapper

That's a pretty damning indictment of the league, and one I am sure few (regardless of which side you're on), would wholly disagree with.

NFL has shown nothing but incompetence in handling these things.

And even when they're doling out punishments, they're thinking about $. Assuming the appeals fail, it'll be:

Greg Hardy first game back = Panthers
Tom Brady first game back = Colts

Must be a coincidence right?

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by tony208

nfl has shown nothing but incompetence in handling these things.

And even when they're doling out punishments, they're thinking about $. Assuming the appeals fail, it'll be:

Greg hardy first game back = panthers
tom brady first game back = colts

must be a coincidence right?

110%.

[dcowboy7]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

Statement from Tom Brady's agent, Don Yee:
This fact may raise serious questions about the integrity of the games we view on Sundays

What if the game is thursday monday saturday ?

just a pet peeve of mine when they say that.

[Ray O. Blu]

"The Wells Report presents significant evidence, however, that the NFL lacks standards or protocols with respect to its handling of footballs prior to games."

After the appeals process is complete, I think that this will be end up being the most significant aspect affected by the entire investigation.

[DoubleDownAgain]

Originally Posted by Tony208

Brady is a player so turning over everything would set a bad precedent for the NFLPA.

But that is the thing, they weren't asking for everything, just information related to the case at hand. If he had no conversations or messages about the balls, why would he say no? If he had absolutely nothing to do with it then why stonewall?

[Ray O. Blu]

Originally Posted by DoubleDownAgain

But that is the thing, they weren't asking for everything, just information related to the case at hand. If he had no conversations or messages about the balls, why would he say no? If he had absolutely nothing to do with it then why stonewall?

Maybe he had pictures of women/messages from women that aren't named Gisele?
Or worse!

[DoubleDownAgain]

Originally Posted by Ray O. Blu

Maybe he had pictures of women/messages from women that aren't named Gisele?
Or worse!

If he cheated on her he deserves to be suspended a full year!

[Tony208]

Originally Posted by DoubleDownAgain

But that is the thing, they weren't asking for everything, just information related to the case at hand. If he had no conversations or messages about the balls, why would he say no? If he had absolutely nothing to do with it then why stonewall?

It's called privacy. McNally texts revealed him to be a juvenile despite being over 70 years old.