Football Air Pressure Controversy

[barrett]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

But all the Patriots care about is winning - at any cost.

Think they care about a big fine? They just went out and signed Reggie Wayne.

Think they care about losing draft picks? They'll just trade Garoppolo next winter and get them back.

Keeping Tom Brady for 16 games means a lot more to them than fines or draft picks. Yeah, they "got away with it". Belicheat and Brady are laughing their asses off.

Do you truly think they are laughing about the loss of a 1st and 4th round pick? Nobody who knows anything about football could really think that.

[HPF Bob]

So, what was their punishment for Spygate, you may be asking?

The Patriots were also fined $250,000, and stripped of their first-round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft;

So the Patriots have had to forfeit their #1 pick before yet they still returned to the Super Bowl. It hardly slowed them down. If they're missing out on the 30th best player in the draft, is it really such a hindrance?

[barrett]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

So, what was their punishment for Spygate, you may be asking?


So the Patriots have had to forfeit their #1 pick before yet they still returned to the Super Bowl. It hardly slowed them down. If they're missing out on the 30th best player in the draft, is it really such a hindrance?

Bob, I am going to assume that you are blinded by your hate of the Patriots, because I always assumed that you know about football. Nobody who knows anything about football would say something as dumb as 1st round picks don't matter because a team once won a super bowl almost a decade after losing a 1st round pick.

[HPF Bob]

What hurt them more was Brady getting knocked out with a knee injury for one season. Since then, they have not failed to make the playoffs and, three years hence, were back to the Super Bowl and have been in the AFC Championship Game four straight seasons. So losing that first-rounder (32nd pick in the draft) hardly slowed them down at all.

For a team like the Texans, losing their #1 pick is a substantial blow. For the Patriots, it was just collateral damage.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

What hurt them more was Brady getting knocked out with a knee injury for one season. Since then, they have not failed to make the playoffs and, three years hence, were back to the Super Bowl and have been in the AFC Championship Game four straight seasons. So losing that first-rounder (32nd pick in the draft) hardly slowed them down at all.

For a team like the Texans, losing their #1 pick is a substantial blow. For the Patriots, it was just collateral damage.

You are embarrassing yourself every time you argue that a 1st round pick doesn't matter (even a low one).

But you don't believe a 1st doesn't matter. You just think it's not enough because New England partially overcame it once. So are you saying you don't want the Patriots punished, you want them punished enough so they can't win?

With no proof they did anything wrong, plenty of scientific uncertainty anything even happened, and the NFL leak that started the whole thing being a lie, you want them punished in a way that makes sure they cannot make the super bowl for at least 3 years? What does that look like? Postseason ban like college? Removal of Tom Brady for the year?

What about Minnesota and Carolina? Do you think they should be let off the hook since they lose already without penalties? If a team cheats and loses you don't seem to care.

Tell me exactly what you think should happen Bob? What should be done to Bellicheat (especially since the NFL's own investigation cleared Bellicheat of any involvement)? What would be a big enough punishment to stop you from whining?

[HPF Bob]

Well, we started with a four-game suspension - 1/4th of the regular season. That was just fine with me. Don't ask me how Goodell came up with the formula - two games for punching out your girlfriend but four games for failing to hand over a cellphone. But Goodell had his reasons and four games sounded like it would actually HURT the Patriots since obviously fining them and removing draft choices doesn't.

That's the whole thing about the Patriots and Steelers. They cheat all day long on Sundays and they may get a fine or a wrist-slap on Tuesdays but it doesn't discourage them. They're all about winning and paying fines is just a cost of "doing business", just like the drug cartels. If you want them to hurt, you pull their key players out of action.

That's what a four-game suspension does and I was going to enjoy the heck out of it because maybe then someone else could win the AFC East and New England wouldn't get to spend at least half the playoffs winning in snowy, slushy mush with deflated balls.

Some judge spoiled my Christmas and even though the judge had a point, he has no legal right to overturn a commissioner's suspension. Who in the name of Kenesaw Mountain Landis does he think he is?? I'm flabbergasted that a judge even had to rule. Aren't there better uses of his time than this?

[barrett]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Well, we started with a four-game suspension - 1/4th of the regular season. That was just fine with me. Don't ask me how Goodell came up with the formula - two games for punching out your girlfriend but four games for failing to hand over a cellphone. But Goodell had his reasons and four games sounded like it would actually HURT the Patriots since obviously fining them and removing draft choices doesn't.

That's the whole thing about the Patriots and Steelers. They cheat all day long on Sundays and they may get a fine or a wrist-slap on Tuesdays but it doesn't discourage them. They're all about winning and paying fines is just a cost of "doing business", just like the drug cartels. If you want them to hurt, you pull their key players out of action.

That's what a four-game suspension does and I was going to enjoy the heck out of it because maybe then someone else could win the AFC East and New England wouldn't get to spend at least half the playoffs winning in snowy, slushy mush with deflated balls.

Some judge spoiled my Christmas and even though the judge had a point, he has no legal right to overturn a commissioner's suspension. Who in the name of Kenesaw Mountain Landis does he think he is?? I'm flabbergasted that a judge even had to rule. Aren't there better uses of his time than this?

So you really think punishment should be based on what hurts and not on standards? Should fines for speeding be based on your salary? If you're poor say $25 and if you're rich $1000 plus 4 weeks in jail?

Do you really think if the Panthers and Vikings get caught doctoring footballs and the Patriots might have done the same, that the Patriots should be crushed and the other two get off completely because the Patriots are good?