Recent content by Seagull

I'm talking about the reasons why owners, the league office, and the media are pushing for such harsh discipline in deflategate. It's linked to feelings that the Patriots got off easy previously, completely skated for other unspecified skirting of the rules, and need to be slapped down hard now...

The answer is no, the tapes were destroyed by the league office.  That led to the absurd narrative that the league is protecting the Patriots.  We saw strains of that narrative as recently as today's Sunday notes column by Ben Volin, who pondered why there has been no discipline to Belichick for...

I always felt the persistent perceptions of  a "culture of cheating" stemmed from Goodell's draconian overreaction on Spygate.  Spygate was at its core a minor procedural violation, but because the punishment was so significant it came to be widely regarded as significant cheating.  Imagine if a...

I suppose, there's always an element of luck, but sometimes luck is the residue of design.   The Patriots created their own luck in this case.  In any event, my point within the context of this thread is that the national narrative that the Patriots were lucky to win the Super Bowl is pretty...

I've had a number of discussions with folks buying the narrative that the Patriots were "lucky" to win the SB because of the goal line play call. Quite the opposite. The Patriots won on a brilliantly executed play that they had practiced. The Seahawks were lucky to be on the goal line due to...

The Business Insider article also continues to badly misunderstand and misrepresent the science:   I clicked on the link to find out which scientific consensus they could possibly be referencing.  It leads to another Business Insider article from January 23.  Here's what it had to say regarding...

There was another interesting nugget in Sal Paolantonio's report, as transcribed by Mike Reiss.  I don't think we have heard the internal assessment of the NFL attorneys at this level before.      ...

Reiss also linked another good take down of the scientific analysis in the quite credible periodical Science News: https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/culture-beaker/deflategate-favored-foul-play-over-science  I've pasted one of the nice quotes below.       Meanwhile, Volin continues this morning...

Far more difficult for even simple aspects of science.

There are many other references to Belichick and Brady as defiant, particularly BB, though you're right, not in this particular quotation.  

  I don't want to get into semantics on this, but I do think that use of the term "defiant" sets a tone to the characterization of the various responses from the Patriots.  Here's a definition: "Marked by resistance or bold opposition, as to authority; challenging"  Here are some synonyms...

I have a problem with the frequent characterization of Kraft, Belichick, and Brady as "defiant". That suggests they're being uncooperative or resistant in the face of established facts, or perhaps a disciplinary ruling. Hardly.

I saw it too, and mentioned it in an earlier post.  The media generally are framing the issue as the latest example of repeated rules violations.  And furthermore, that Belichick has a history of deceptive public statements.  Neither is true, with the exception of spygate, although we realize...

In listening to national coverage this morning, even including the contributions of Bob Ryan who I generally have great regard for, there have been numerous references to multiple cases where the Patriots have pushed or violated the rules.  I can't think of an occasion other than "Spygate"...

I've been hoping part of the answer will be Hightower.  Reiss mentioned something to that effect in breaking down the Final 53.