I call BULL--------------C--R----A-----P!!!!
Okay seriously. I say this as someone who is NOT a Patriots fan nor am I a big Tom Brady supporter because he went to that "school up north". However this is a huge crock and nothing but a result of social media and Patriot haters. This has absolutely nothing to do with the integrity of the game or cheating. Here are a few of my concerns with this whole thing:
1. A referee/umpire touches the ball in between EVERY play.
You are telling me that could not notice an "under inflated ball"?
2. The NFL is guilty of many actions in this whole thing. I will even use quotes from the actual Wells report to prove my point:
a. In particular, we do not believe there was any wrongdoing or knowledge of wrongdoing by Patriots ownership, Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick or any other Patriots coach in the matters investigated. We also do not believe there was any wrongdoing or knowledge of wrongdoing by Patriots Head Equipment Manager Dave Schoenfeld.
b. Prior to the game, Colts personnel had notified the NFL that they suspected that the Patriots might be deflating game balls below the minimum level permissible under the Playing Rules, although they did not support their suspicions with any specific factual information. In response to the pre-game concerns raised by the Colts, NFL Football Operations staff had notified the head of the NFL Officiating Department, Dean Blandino, and a senior officiating supervisor who would be attending the game, Alberto Riveron. During a pre-game conversation concerning various game-day topics, Riveron told referee Walt Anderson that a concern had been raised about the air pressure of the game balls. Anderson told Riveron that he would be sure to follow his usual ball inspection procedure to ensure that the balls were properly inflated.
So the NFL KNEW about this BEFORE the game.
c. When Anderson and other members of the officiating crew were preparing to leave the Officials Locker Room to head to the field for the start of the game, the game balls could not be located.
Per item (b), balls missing and yet didn't think to do a quick second check?
d. The evidence does not allow us to reach conclusions as to when McNally and Jastremski began their efforts to release air from Patriots game balls on game
day (although McNally referred to himself as “the deflator” prior to the start of the 2014-15 season), exactly how long those efforts have been ongoing, how frequently they occurred, how 17 the idea originated or the full scope of communications related to those efforts.
We also note that there is less direct evidence linking Brady to tampering activities than either McNally or Jastremski.
We nevertheless believe, based on the totality of the evidence, that it is more probable than not that Brady was at least
generally aware of the inappropriate activities of McNally and Jastremski involving the release of air from Patriots game balls.
e. Page 20: The Patriots provided cooperation throughout the investigation, including by making personnel and information available to us upon request.
However since they wanted a "5th" interview and was denied, the Patriot are the bad guys.
f. Page 23: Over the course of the investigation, we maintained close and regular contact with counsel for the Patriots, who also provided us with their views on various aspects of the evidence and suggested certain lines of inquiry. Indeed, counsel for the Patriots sent us dozens of emails, including extensive commentary on witness testimony, video footage, theories of intent, applicable evidentiary standards, scientific data, interpretation of text messages and other topics. Counsel for the Patriots accompanied us on walk-throughs of facilities at Gillette Stadium, suggested witnesses to be interviewed, asked questions of Patriots personnel (and other witnesses
they produced for interviews), and presented us with videotaped material and analysis.
Sure looks like the Patriots were hiding something...
g. In particular, we requested electronically stored information, including emails and text messages, from
several individuals who declined our request.
All reporting makes it sound like Brady was the only one who declined.
h. 1. The Colts Communicate Concerns about Patriots Game Balls Prior to the AFC Championship Game On January 17, 2015, the day before the AFC Championship Game, Colts General Manager Ryan Grigson sent an email to the NFL raising concerns about the air pressure of game
balls used by the Patriots. Grigson sent his email to David Gardi and Mike Kensil, both senior 45 members of the NFL Football Operations Department.23 The email from Grigson attached a message from Sean Sullivan, the Colts Equipment Manager, describing these concerns. The Grigson email described the Sullivan message as an “FYI” and stated: “all the Indianapolis Colts want is a completely level playing field. Thank you for being vigilant stewards of that not only
for us but for the shield and overall integrity of our game.” In relevant part, the
attached message from Sullivan stated:
As far as the gameballs are concerned it is well known around the league that after the Patriots gameballs are checked by the officials and brought out for game
usage the ballboys for the patriots will let out some air with a ball needle because their quarterback likes a smaller football so he can grip it better, it would be great
if someone would be able to check the air in the game balls as the game goes on so that they don‟t get an illegal advantage. Shortly after receiving Grigson‟s email, Gardi sent an email in response stating that Kensil would be at the game and would speak with the game officials about Grigson‟s concerns. Kensil forwarded Grigson‟s email without comment to James Daniel, Director of Game Operations at the NFL, who in turn forwarded it to other Game Operations personnel who would be at the game as an “FYI.” Kensil also forwarded Grigson‟s email to Dean Blandino and Alberto Riveron, both senior members of the NFL Officiating Department, with the message “see
below.” Both Riveron and Blandino decided that they would raise the issue with Walt Anderson, who had been assigned as the referee for the game.
So the Colts equipment manager just so happen to check the inflation after the interception because he was curious how other teams prepared their game balls? Also, if it is well known and this was the first time ever that the refs recall the balls missing, how could the patriots deflate them before this game.
I could go on and on but this long message just convinces me this is nothing but a farce although if the intent is to keep the focus on the NFL during the off season, a very good plan then. I am curious, did Brady burn Vincent for a long touchdown when Vincent played for the Bills?
Again, I do not like the Patriots, I am not a fan of Brady and while Belly-ache's media interviews are funny, this is just another reason while I prefer college football over the NFL.
Of course!