One ring to rule them all?

Ok, there needs to be a frank discussion about the elephant in the room. I'm NOT a Patriots fan, everyone knows that. We play in the same division so I'm all for having a legitimate chance at the top spot. I'm obviously not taking anything away from their talent and I've seen them get some of the best NFL players that came along in the past decade. That said, a team that cheats (or are perceived to have cheated) has always had the championship taken away. It happens in high school, college --see USC in 2004-- and I'm wondering why not in the professional football league? I know that OC and others are die-hard fans-- but If he cheated shouldn't they strip the title? Especially since that is what propelled them into the Superbowl. We're not talking about cheating week 2 against the Jets or something. We're talking a playoff game for the chance to enter the big dance and win it all!!

I'm not certain four games is enough. I say that because once he appeals the suspension they'll probably knock off a game or two. They should have started at eight 8 games and after the arbitration go down to four.

What professional team in any of the major sports leagues have been stripped of a title? I'm not a fan of the Patriots but I dont see how Brady can be punished based on "more probably than not". He didn't hand his phone over to the NFL investigators? I wouldn't either without a court order. As far as the AFC championship game, the score was 17-7 in the first half with the under inflated balls. At the half the ball were inflated to the rules and the Patriots scored another 28! In my opinion this is a witch hunt and was blown way out of proportion from the beginning. Every quarterback in the league has a preference for the preparation of game balls.

I also don't think the suspension is reduced without this going to a court of law. Hopefully this all leads to the end of Roger Goodell

This is a disaster. No hard evidence but cost a guy $2 million, on what you "think". The report even stated there was no evidence. This would never make it in court, and is retaliation for the tapes (which was on the coaching staff not QB). It make good media and talk radio.

Ok honest talk I'm not upset with this at all. I think the ruleing based off the report was a bit much in taking a #1 and #2 draft pick from the team and the $1mill fine. The report exhonorated The owner and the GM. Suspending Brady ok I'd say the report has enough evidence you have a case against him. The rule in the book against ball tampering has a punishment that is tied to it. So why is that not followed through with. I'm not 100% sure on what that punishment is but it is there in place. I'm not going to be the stupid fan who says oh every one alters the ball every one does this to cheat. I will say the NFL know this is happening the need to change the rule or address it over the whole league. Now to say that they should take the ring away is foolish. Go back and look at that game. Before and after they put "regulation" balls back in the game. First half was a close game. The second half with regulation balls turned into a blowout. I think the you could say the balls .something under pressure didn't help them win. Now if the Nfl wasn't trying to save face over all the other f#ck how they made then this would be a different story. Domestic violence Ray Rice oh only 2 game suspension. Goddel claimed ignorant about a video tape of Rice cold clocking his wife and that was ok. But Brady and the Pats claiming ignorance isn't ok. Huh I see how this works. For the NFL to say we are going take into consideration previous penalties (spygate) and say the Pats and Brady didn't coordinate with the investigation is bullshit. Did they not fully cooperate? Ok maybe but that's stupid. Look if the NFL thinks Brady cheated and is guilty then ok suspend him. I think there is way more to this whole report and the NFL and it is more of the NFL trying to save face and appease the rest of the leauge. Have you read any of the Wells report? The whole thing is based off of the trust and belive of the refs words.

What I got from the Wells report is that Tom Brady prefers the game footballs towards the lower end of the air pressure threshold of 12.5. The two jackasses in charge of those balls, more probably than not, screwed that up. Goodell overeacts based on public opinion.

Thinking about this more Klown to say they should take the championship away is like saying anytime someone caught using steroids on an MLB team that wins a championship should loose there title. The defense still held the Colts to 7 points but that doesn't matter because they had soft balls the first half. they still won the super bowl and beat the team who was the reigning champs. Those balls didn't effect anything.

Not quite the same OC, but if the whole MLB team has something to do with it then by all means. Remember, the 1919 World Series (Black Sox) those found guilty of cheating stood before a grand jury with nine counts of conspiracy to commit fraud. They were then banned from baseball for life. So baseball has shown a willingness to be tough.

In your example the one guy on steroids doesn't affect the whole team and therefore no the championship shouldn't be taken. If you're referring A-Rod he was suspended the entire 2014 year --remember?

S7 Skipito wrote:What professional team in any of the major sports leagues have been stripped of a title?

Do individuals count in professional sports? If so I'll say Muhammad Ali and Lance Armstrong were stripped just to think of a few quick ones.

Remember, this is also a repeat offender. Take the 18-0 record in 2007, only to learn that the Pats were spying on other teams those years (spy gate) and who knows if that's why they had a streak. After meeting with Goodell February 2008 Belichick admitted he had been engaged in the practice since he became head coach of the Patriots in 2000! Belichick said he believed he was operating within the rules as long as the tape was not used during the same game. That's why they got in trouble before..... oh how soon we forget what we want to forget. Cheating is cheating.

So you think more than one guy had to do with this. According to the league it's Brady and two peions who he instructed to carry this out.  That is the same as Barry Bonds taking steriods from via injection from the team trainer. If you think the whole team was in on this deflating the ball .45 psi then you a). Need to read the report as it only named Tom Brady and 2 lackeys b). Need to stop thinking there is more to it then that

LOL, ok admittedly the whole team has nothing to do with this. Honestly, I'm sure more than Brady and the "ball boy" created this scheme. I'd say at a minimum Belichick.

According to the Ted Wells report Belhicheck had no knowledge or involvement. The report is what the NFL is using to make these decisions.

S7 OC wrote:According to the Ted Wells report Belhicheck had no knowledge or involvement. The report is what the NFL is using to make these decisions.

Brady has a high QB IQ, but off the field he's not the brightest crayola in the box. Belichick is the mastermind behind it all.
Mark my words, one day the book will be written and he'll tell all.

Jerry Rice confessed to using stickum to help catch footballs, AKA cheating. Does that change your opinion about him? Should the 49ers be stripped of their Lombardi Trophies?

Wow, the butthurt is strong in this thread.

DeadSockPuppet wrote:Wow, the butthurt is strong in this thread.

See the constant flow of words above your post? It's called an adult conversation. Mature individuals speak their minds and tell others how they feel. There's actually no such thing in the real world as "butt hurt". People can have an opinion and just because they differ from your's doesn't mean they are jealous, envious, or in child speak "butt hurt". Care to add to the conversation? Have an opinion? No one here is right or wrong, and no one here hates the Patriots for winning. It's a sport, someone MUST win and someone MUST lose. That said, how you play the game actually matters to some of us who remember when it was played with honor and respect for the game.

S7 Skipito wrote:Jerry Rice confessed to using stickum to help catch footballs, AKA cheating. Does that change your opinion about him? Should the 49ers be stripped of their Lombardi Trophies?  

Did he cheat, yes. Does it change my opinion, no. He was great....so is Brady (doesn't mean he didn't cheat)
Strip the 49er's title, no.

For the record, I didn't say strip the PATS title, I asked shouldn't it be taken. Asking an opinion on the matter, not stating a definite fact (read it again)

S7 K1ll3rKlown wrote:I know that OC and others are die-hard fans-- but If he cheated shouldn't they strip the title? Especially since that is what propelled them into the Superbowl.

Somethings are minor like stick'em or small amounts of pine tar.
Others are major and can alter the outcome of the game like altering balls and corked bats.

Should they no I don't think they should. But I'm slightly biased as I am a Pats fan. Ask a Colts fan or a fan of a team that may have been affected by this and they may say otherwise.

LOL @Husker!!
Reminds me of the Bobby V. disguise

S7 OC wrote:Should they no I don't think they should. But I'm slightly biased as I am a Pats fan. Ask a Colts fan or a fan of a team that may have been affected by this and they may say otherwise.

I really like this answer OC. Most Pats fans are saying get over it or everyone does it --easy to say from your side as a fan.
Try thinking as a Colts fan or better yet as Colt's ownership    It would make you extremely angry! You'd be calling for someone's head too.

I wonder if Dom Grady knows Leon Sandcastle?

S7 K1ll3rKlown wrote:

S7 OC wrote:Should they no I don't think they should. But I'm slightly biased as I am a Pats fan. Ask a Colts fan or a fan of a team that may have been affected by this and they may say otherwise.

I really like this answer OC. Most Pats fans are saying get over it or everyone does it --easy to say from your side as a fan.
Try thinking as a Colts fan or better yet as Colt's ownership    It would make you extremely angry! You'd be calling for someone's head too.

Right like I said in the one of the other post just because everyone is doing doesn't make it ok. Also to a Colts fan I would say score more than 7 points and you might have an argument. 0 points in the second half with NFL fully inflated balls while the pats scored more than 20. I'm honestly not shocked or pissed about Brady's suspension. What I am is some the stupidity on the side of the NFL.

Goodell is a joke. Hopefully pissing off Kraft is the domino that leads to his ousting.

In court it's what you call a "preponderance of evidence." Not allowing access to his texts was pretty incriminating as well.