Starkey has a nice article at the tribune today. I wonder if he has been reading my posts some of it sounds very similar.
[Printer Friendly]
Larger text Larger text Smaller text Smaller text | Order Photo Reprints
Starkey: Brady should be suspended
1 / 2
Getty Images
Tom Brady of the New England Patriots warms up before the 2015 AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium on January 18, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
TribLIVE Sports Videos
Email Newsletters
Click here to sign up for one of our email newsletters.
Related Stories
• NFL finds Patriots employees probably deflated balls
Freeze Frame Gallery
Top Sports Pics - May 6, 2015
By Joe Starkey
Wednesday, May 6, 2015, 10:33 p.m.
Updated 8 hours ago
Something tells me you won't be seeing any of those cute Tom Brady vacation videos on Facebook for a while, such as the one of him cliff diving in Costa Rica.
It was Brady's golden-boy reputation that fell off a cliff Wednesday, pushed in the back by Ted Wells' damning report, and it's clear what NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's response should be: a stiff suspension.
This is not a court of law. The league does not need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Brady cheated or approved of cheating on his behalf. It needs only a “preponderance of the evidence,” according to its by-laws, to impose punishment. It has a preponderance of the evidence. It has “more probable than not” and that is plenty good enough when one considers the limitations it faced in conducting the investigation — like the fact it could not force Brady to turn over texts, emails and phone messages, which he refused to do.
In spite of that, and the Patriots' refusal to allow one of their key employees to be interviewed a second time, Wells' report battered Brady. Never mind that it's longer than Troy Polamalu's hair (243 pages, to be exact). The level of detail is phenomenal.
The conclusion goes like this:
“For the reasons described in this Report, and after a comprehensive investigation, we have concluded that, in connection with the AFC Championship Game, it is more probable than not that New England Patriots personnel participated in violations of the Playing Rules and were involved in a deliberate effort to circumvent the rules. In particular, we have concluded that it is more probable than not that Jim McNally (the Officials Locker Room attendant for the Patriots) and John Jastremski (an equipment assistant for the Patriots) participated in a deliberate effort to release air from Patriots game balls after the balls were examined by the referee.
“Based on the evidence, it also is our view that it is more probable than not Tom Brady (the quarterback for the Patriots) was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities of McNally and Jastremski involving the release of air from Patriots game balls.”
McNally and Jastremski come off like Wayne and Garth from “Wayne's World” in their text exchanges, providing yet another layer of comic relief to the story (McNally actually refers to himself as “The Deflator,” if you can believe that). In the end, though, it's not all that funny. People compromising the integrity of a sport never is. The Patriots cheated again.
No, Brady did not commit some heinous act, as more than a few of his fellow union members have. But there is recent precedent here in regard to significant suspensions being levied on NFL executives for illicitly gaining a competitive advantage. Why should players not be held to the same standard?
Cleveland Browns general manager Ray Farmer was suspended the first four games next season for texting team personnel on the sideline while he was in the press box. Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay was suspended from the league's competition committee, and his team forfeited a draft pick, for using prerecorded crowd noise at home games.
It can't help Brady's case that he lied. Remember his legendary pre-Super Bowl news conference, when he said of the game balls, “I don't want anyone rubbing them, putting any air in them, taking any air out?” Well, guess what: Text messages strongly undermine that notion, most notably a series describing a conversation between Jastremski and Brady in which Brady says McNally (The Deflator) must have “a lot of stress” trying to get the footballs “done.”
So it should be an interesting Steelers-Patriots opener, eh? Call it the Suspension Bowl. You likely won't see Le'Veon Bell. You probably won't see LeGarrette (Roll Me Another) Blount. And you better not see Tom Brady.
But even if Brady is not suspended, there is nothing he can do now to repair his fallen reputation.
Joe Starkey co-hosts a show 2 to 6 p.m. weekdays on 93.7 FM. Reach him at
jraystarkey@gmail.com.
Read more:
http://triblive.com/sports/joestarkey/8318410-74/brady-patriots-balls#ixzz3ZS2Kg0VW
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook
The trib also has a link to the entire 243 page report as well for those of you that might want to read it.
May201506
Staff
Ted Wells Report
Ted Wells transmitted his report to Commissioner Goodell and the New England Patriots earlier today on the footballs used in the AFC Championship Game on January 18, 2015. Mr. Wells requested that our office make it available to the public at 1 p.m. ET. It is now posted on NFLCommunications.com and NFLMedia.com. Following is a statement by Commissioner Goodell:
STATEMENT OF NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL
I want to express my appreciation to Ted Wells and his colleagues for performing a thorough and independent investigation, the findings and conclusions of which are set forth in today’s comprehensive report.
As with other recent matters involving violations of competitive rules, Troy Vincent and his team will consider what steps to take in light of the report, both with respect to possible disciplinary action and to any changes in protocols that are necessary to avoid future incidents of this type. At the same time, we will continue our efforts vigorously to protect the integrity of the game and promote fair play at all times.
For the complete report, click here
http://nflcommunications.com/2015/05/06/ted-wells-report/