I agree that this is the appropriate analogy for what happened. But, in terms of whether it happened, all the points people are making in here could go to the fact that the league didn't have adequate evidence to launch the investigation. But, the texts from McNally & Jastremski that it uncovered strongly suggest that there was something going on.
I don't see what happened as a hugely big deal, but the level of homerism and denial in here reminds me of reading the Indystar.com boards in 2003.
I agree. I believe some of us are a bit confused about how to react since it does appear we were targeted and set up for this ridiculous "rule violation" and why should we accept ANY culpability when those assholes took 4 months to crank out this piece of shit.
I get that. The more I learn about the Report the worse it looks. The worse Wells looks and so forth. The less faith you have in anything it states.
But......those texts are right there for the reading. You can't read them and not hear the ring of truth in between all the knucklehead boasting. Brady did want the pressure low. Lower than what was legal and those same knuckleheads would go through a brick wall to have Tom Brady's approval directed their way. It's a powerful motivator.
I believe that Tom Brady thought that the rule was a joke and everybody paid off their guys to do what had to be done. We know that is at very least partially true. I thought he was very truthful the first time I heard his press conference and now, after reading the transcripts, I see it through different eyes. I can detect a little hesitation and nervousness. Deception. Watching live I just thought he was nervous. No more.
Yeah, I think the guy lied and people need to wake up and take that at face value. It's not a real big deal, but he made an error in judgement thinking he could get away with it. I doubt he really says much going forward and he'll try to save face while waiting for folks to get sick of it.
For a guy as intelligent as Brady is, he really fvcked this thing up when he chose to ignore that a Patriot is always a target and cannot play fast and loose with any rule, no matter how insignificant, because Pandora's box must not be opened. He was sabotaged by his distrust that the refs would get the 12.5 right. He was sabotaged by one of his equipment guys who blabbed and gave the Colt's equipment guy a piece of information that could elevate his status and the guy took it all the way. By his own hubris that told him nothing would ever happen. That nobody cared about ball pressure.
The whole report is a cesspool, but no Patriots fan should feel the need to stick his head in the sand about Brady's guilt in order to show some sort of perfect loyalty to the team or Brady as a player. Wells never proved it, but you really need to be stubborn to not realize he is guilty even if you prefer to keep it to yourself.
My suggested penalty? A stern warning. Then, force Brady to watch reruns of Two Broke Girls until he learns his lesson and says he's sorry.
If Roger is smart he'll know what a piece of shit that report really is despite the fact they somehow managed to reach the correct conclusion. He should want to stop the bleeding as soon as possible, but the jury is still out while Roger carefully watches the interwebz for a consensus feeling as to what the penalty for this crime should be.
I've got mine out there.