#DFG: Canceling the Noise
- Thread starter nattysez
- Start date
The best elixir in times like these? Music, television dramas and comedies and good old fashioned conversation.
While I am not on a media blackout (like I was after SBs 42 and 47), I will be dialing it down immensely for the time being. I'll tune in enough to get the news, but I will not be reading opinion type pieces from those seeking clicks or to be the smartest or swarmiest guy in the room. Seriously, what could Gasper, Volin and the idiotic Shaughnessy tell me that I could not learn in this thread? Volin is the least annoying of the three but unlike his predecessor Greg Bedard, I really never learn anything from his work.
My overwhelming sense this morning is one of being resigned that I am incredibly invested in a sport that is run by utter fools. If you line up some of the recent targets of the NFL, and you consider some of the other incidents involving balls, and then you look at this, there is no way you can conclude that the NFL is not run by vindictive, little silly men. Given the amount of time and energy I invest in their product, that is pretty deflating.
And taking my Pats colored glasses off for a second, I have no doubt that part of this is self inflicted wounds by the Pats. There is no doubt in my mind that they could have handled this situation better. Not that their attitude or conduct justifies such a heavy fine for rolling through a stop sign, but I think we all know that the Pats could have handled this with more aplomb.
But screw it, here's to all of this nonsense fueling the Drive for Five. And to all those who bitched and moaned about taking Jimmy G in the second round when they supposedly had so many other pressing needs, maybe it's time to re-evaluate. Insurance is only needed when it's needed, but imagine if they had the likes of Mark Sanchez or Tim Tebow in the number 2 spot right about now.
While I am not on a media blackout (like I was after SBs 42 and 47), I will be dialing it down immensely for the time being. I'll tune in enough to get the news, but I will not be reading opinion type pieces from those seeking clicks or to be the smartest or swarmiest guy in the room. Seriously, what could Gasper, Volin and the idiotic Shaughnessy tell me that I could not learn in this thread? Volin is the least annoying of the three but unlike his predecessor Greg Bedard, I really never learn anything from his work.
My overwhelming sense this morning is one of being resigned that I am incredibly invested in a sport that is run by utter fools. If you line up some of the recent targets of the NFL, and you consider some of the other incidents involving balls, and then you look at this, there is no way you can conclude that the NFL is not run by vindictive, little silly men. Given the amount of time and energy I invest in their product, that is pretty deflating.
And taking my Pats colored glasses off for a second, I have no doubt that part of this is self inflicted wounds by the Pats. There is no doubt in my mind that they could have handled this situation better. Not that their attitude or conduct justifies such a heavy fine for rolling through a stop sign, but I think we all know that the Pats could have handled this with more aplomb.
But screw it, here's to all of this nonsense fueling the Drive for Five. And to all those who bitched and moaned about taking Jimmy G in the second round when they supposedly had so many other pressing needs, maybe it's time to re-evaluate. Insurance is only needed when it's needed, but imagine if they had the likes of Mark Sanchez or Tim Tebow in the number 2 spot right about now.
There is no 15th pick to trade.moondog80 said:
The first round of the draft will be not unlike a panel of elevator buttons in a high rise that does not have a 13th floor.
As I mentioned unthread, just root to hear Goodell say "with the 63rd pick in the 2016 NFL draft, the New England Patriots select..."
TheoShmeo said:
They'd go 2-2 or maybe 3-1.
I have to admit, this whole thing looks discouragingly familiar to me...if elected officials can ignore overwhelming scientific evidence of climate change, is it really surprising that unelected officials can ignore more arcane science?
And to mix politics and the bolded above - remember the joke from the Clinton Administration? Bill and Hillary pull into a gas station, and the attendant turns out to be an old byfriend of Hillary's. As the couple drives away, Bill says "Just think, Hillary, if you'd married him, you'd be married to a gas station owner." And Hillary replies, "No, Bill, if I'd married him, he'd be the President of the United States."
Sanchez or Tebow with BB instead of Rexy? 2-2 worst, I think...
TheoShmeo said:
Or you can do what I did to feel better.
At work I have a nice sign saying :
We Still Won the Super Bowl
Mother F*ckers (with a letter instead of the *, of course).
It makes me feel a lot better. I've never appreciated Malcolm Butler more than right now.
They could theoretically trade a player (or other picks) for a 2016 first. In that case, they essentially get their pick back. They'd lose whichever pick is higher, the one they traded for or their natural pick based on where they finish.Section15Box113 said:
Ed Hillel said:
I don't think we're going to wait 7 years to hear Belichick's side of the story. Hell, it may be a matter of months if the Brady appeal ends up in court, which it will if his suspension is not vacated.
I keep coming back to one point with regard to watching the NFL going forward: if they are allowed to disregard facts - and I use that term loosely here - and just do whatever they want, then how is it any different than WWE?
To clarify my use of the terms facts - I am saying that even if we take the Wells report to be the gospel, the NFL still ignored the findings with regard to punishment - specifically, the draft picks and million dollar fine. If the report says BB had no involvement and the organization didn't know, how can it penalize the organization? The NFL is seemingly allowed to pick and choose what they want to classify as fact - ignore parts of the report where it doesn't support their case, take others as gospel. Case in point, Walt Anderson's recollection of which gauge he used.
For me this is close to Donaghy levels of integrity issue. The NFL keeps banging the integrity of the game drum, using it to justify the penalties. But, and this may just be Pats colored glasses, in doing so I think they have created a bigger integrity concern: if we can't trust that they will at least abide with the "facts" (again, the Wells report) and instead just make stuff up, how can any fan of any team trust the league?
To clarify my use of the terms facts - I am saying that even if we take the Wells report to be the gospel, the NFL still ignored the findings with regard to punishment - specifically, the draft picks and million dollar fine. If the report says BB had no involvement and the organization didn't know, how can it penalize the organization? The NFL is seemingly allowed to pick and choose what they want to classify as fact - ignore parts of the report where it doesn't support their case, take others as gospel. Case in point, Walt Anderson's recollection of which gauge he used.
For me this is close to Donaghy levels of integrity issue. The NFL keeps banging the integrity of the game drum, using it to justify the penalties. But, and this may just be Pats colored glasses, in doing so I think they have created a bigger integrity concern: if we can't trust that they will at least abide with the "facts" (again, the Wells report) and instead just make stuff up, how can any fan of any team trust the league?
Hoping Goodell paved the way for his own ouster here.
Can't imagine that getting rid of him directly in the wake of this decision would play well in the court of public opinion- it would be read as Kraft rounding up his cronies to fire Goodell simply because he didn't like the punishment he was handed. But with Goodell capping off his incompetent handling of this whole situation with a gloriously indefensible penalty, he appears to have set himself up to have facets of his decision adjusted through an appeals/arbitration process. Then, when the suspension or fine gets gutted, Jerry Jones can be the public face of the owners justifiably ousting Goodell for mishandling the situation rather than Kraft spearheading it over the punishment itself.
Can't imagine that getting rid of him directly in the wake of this decision would play well in the court of public opinion- it would be read as Kraft rounding up his cronies to fire Goodell simply because he didn't like the punishment he was handed. But with Goodell capping off his incompetent handling of this whole situation with a gloriously indefensible penalty, he appears to have set himself up to have facets of his decision adjusted through an appeals/arbitration process. Then, when the suspension or fine gets gutted, Jerry Jones can be the public face of the owners justifiably ousting Goodell for mishandling the situation rather than Kraft spearheading it over the punishment itself.
jose melendez said:
That's an interesting sort of ju-jitsu that would also expose Goodell's intellectual incoherence. Much like asking Charlton Heston c. 1995 why I shouldn't be allowed to own grenades and RPG's. Instead of going after the holes in the investigation, ask him why the punishment wasn't *more* severe.
The best elixir in times like these? Music, television dramas and comedies and good old fashioned conversation.
This sums it up for me. There is little non-game stuff I watch or listen to anymore anyway. Now there is none.
jose melendez said:
Well we all have 3 Games to Glory 4 and Malcolm Butler still picks off that pass (that God). Even the self proclaimed God can't change history.
Is the assumption that the Patriots will basically go silent now, preparing for appeals? If Brady and Yee are going to present an appeal, I would imagine we won't be seeing too much of Yee making the rounds like last week, but I could be completely off. Is it possible they'll selectively leak information from Brady's interview, or the request from Wells about the phone?
I'm hoping we get a Brady statement when he announces his appeal. I hope its not Yee who talks at that point. But an aggressive Brady statement, followed by another Kraft "unconditional support" statement should set a tone. I'm hoping that Blandino lying about the NFL's knowledge of this prior to halftime is enough to push this to an independent arbitrator. Tagliabue would be ideal, but I don't Roger sends another issue his way.
I'd stay silent then drop everything I had at appeal. There's no advantage to leaking anything out at this point after the statements.DrewDawg said:
Does it infuriate anyone else how the local media still refuses to understand what spygate was and what the rules are? I get the national media or fans being behind, but there is no excuse for guys like Gasper and Volin to not understand it. You are allowed to video tape other team's sidelines, as long as your camera is in the correct position. To me it's inexcusable for these guys to continue saying that the Pats get penalized for video taping team's defensive signals, when what they were punished for was WHERE they video taped those signals from. I can't understand being in their position and not wanting to educate their reader base
They don't want to educate the reader base. They want to sell newspapers.( . ) ( . ) and (_!_) said:
That's crazy talk. It took a high-profile investigative legalist months to dig up make-believe dirt on one quarterback - it would take years to do the same to 31 others!JimD said:
Of course, the clubhouse staff might help if you offered cell phone upgrades in exchange for their current devices...
I don't think directing your ire towards people who are at least publicly neutral to, if not supportive of, your position is the best way to proceed.
It takes 24 of 32 votes to oust Goodell.
Looking at the list of owners here is the possible breakdown of where things could stand,
Ally for Kraft
Jerry Jones - Dallas Cowboys - Have beef with NFL over salary cap issues
Daniel Snyder - Washington Redskins - Have beef with NFL over salary cap issues
Jeffry Lurie - Philadelphia Eagles - Kraft homey and from MA and former Pats season ticket holder
Jerry Richardson - Carolina Panthers - Kraft and Blank along with him are on committee that determines Goodell's salary
Arthur Blank - Atlanta Falcons - Kraft and Richardson along with him are on committee that determines Goodell's salary
Possible ally for Kraft
Mara/Tisch - NY Giants
Mark Davis - Oakland Raiders - Kraft can buy his support in turn by supporting a possible relocation to LA
Alex Spanos - San Diego Chargers - Kraft can buy his support in turn by supporting a possible relocation to LA
Stan Kroenke - St. Louis Rams - Kraft can buy his support in turn by supporting a possible relocation to LA
Tom Benson - New Orleans Saints - Possible payback to the NFL for the bountygate scandal which cost them a season.
Would not be an ally for Kraft
Woody Johnson - NYJ
Jim Irsay - Indianapolis Colts
Others
This is where they will need his allies to come up big to convince others to join his support in ousting Goodell.
Looking at the list of owners here is the possible breakdown of where things could stand,
Ally for Kraft
Jerry Jones - Dallas Cowboys - Have beef with NFL over salary cap issues
Daniel Snyder - Washington Redskins - Have beef with NFL over salary cap issues
Jeffry Lurie - Philadelphia Eagles - Kraft homey and from MA and former Pats season ticket holder
Jerry Richardson - Carolina Panthers - Kraft and Blank along with him are on committee that determines Goodell's salary
Arthur Blank - Atlanta Falcons - Kraft and Richardson along with him are on committee that determines Goodell's salary
Possible ally for Kraft
Mara/Tisch - NY Giants
Mark Davis - Oakland Raiders - Kraft can buy his support in turn by supporting a possible relocation to LA
Alex Spanos - San Diego Chargers - Kraft can buy his support in turn by supporting a possible relocation to LA
Stan Kroenke - St. Louis Rams - Kraft can buy his support in turn by supporting a possible relocation to LA
Tom Benson - New Orleans Saints - Possible payback to the NFL for the bountygate scandal which cost them a season.
Would not be an ally for Kraft
Woody Johnson - NYJ
Jim Irsay - Indianapolis Colts
Others
This is where they will need his allies to come up big to convince others to join his support in ousting Goodell.
From Florio's latest about McNally not meeting with Wells a second time:
"Per a league source, McNally was willing to be questioned again by phone, but the NFL declined the offer"
This doesn't square at all with what the NFL is saying. They said that the Patriots did not even make McNally aware of the request for a followup.
"Per a league source, McNally was willing to be questioned again by phone, but the NFL declined the offer"
This doesn't square at all with what the NFL is saying. They said that the Patriots did not even make McNally aware of the request for a followup.
( . ) ( . ) and (_!_) said:
That could be a game changer if the Patriots (and McNally) were willing to talk again by phone.
From the same post :
"McNally didn’t want to submit to yet another face-to-face interview"
It's been framed as the Patriots not allowing him to be interviewed. Surprisingly, that framing appears to be wholly inaccurate.
Gasper seems to think that Belichick was not punished for Spygate for some reason. Yes, it's inexcusable for these guys to continue to get the basic facts completely wrong.( . ) ( . ) and (_!_) said:
The suspension was expected and will likely be appealed down to 1-2 games. The draft picks, though...damn. RG dropped the hammer. I think that they made it clear that because the Patriots are "previous offenders" and because they weren't completely cooperative and transparent throughout the investigation, they brought down the hammer.
kartvelo said:
The NFL has already decided punishment, so there's no risk. The holes in the Wells report are obvious and aren't going anywhere.
But more importantly, Goodell is a self-interested moron who only appears to be moved when he is exposed to public condemnation and ridicule. (Think "Ray Rice" and how Goodell completely changed his position immediately after being exposed to ridicule for his obvious duplicity.) So a big part of any strategy for Brady has to take into account making a case in public, because the NFL has already demonstrated that they are immune to factual arguments behind closed doors.
sodenj5 said:
Fuck that. The report made it clear that the current "scandal" didn't extend to the same levels of the organization that Spygate did. Spygate was also 8 goddamn years ago and has nothing to do with this nonsense.
RG dropped the hammer because he can't bear the thought of players not kneeling before him. Fuck that.
I guess we will find out in about a week if this is going to court...if a neutral arbitrator is assigned then we can expect (hope) for a reduction or elimination of the suspension. With a league appointed arbitrator (Henderson) the suspension stands and this more probably than not goes to court.
Smiling Joe Hesketh said:
RG dropped the first round pick hammer because he knows hes a fucktard and that Brady's suspension will get kneaded down to 0-1 game. He knows the 1st round pick can/will stick, so he wants to make sure that - despite there being no reason for such a heavy hand - the welt remains on the Patriots asscheek for a few years.
Silverdude2167 said:
As a Fins fan I think it's harsh. I said previously that I don't think it tarnishes Brady's legacy in my mind. His stats, wins, championships are all still valid, and whatever competitive advantage they may have gained was minor. The league wanted to make an example out of them, and they did.
( . ) ( . ) and (_!_) said:
That league source better hope they don't figure out who he is.
More and more that Wells Report is coming across as a hatchet job, designed solely to come to a very specific conclusion. The holes are so big even Laurence Maroney wouldn't hesitate to hit them. You have to think there are some big time lawyers out there salivating at getting their hands on this.
sodenj5 said:
It's a contention that cannot be disproved, and appeases some of the owners and NFL office assholes, so they went with it.
It's like Goodell saw all the press that the Steroid Scandal got for the MLB, and learned the opposite lesson he should have.
https://twitter.com/pescami/status/598114017647931393
https://twitter.com/pescami/status/598114017647931393
link to tweet
@pescami: Goodell lost on Peterson, lost on Rice, proved wrong w Saints, but still believes in justice via whim, as is the wont of the tyrant.
https://twitter.com/pescami/status/597898347974889474
https://twitter.com/pescami/status/597898347974889474
link to tweet
@pescami: But think. If Tom Brady had Certainly been Specifically aware, Goodell would have had him executed.
https://twitter.com/pescami/status/598114017647931393
link to tweet
@pescami: Goodell lost on Peterson, lost on Rice, proved wrong w Saints, but still believes in justice via whim, as is the wont of the tyrant.
https://twitter.com/pescami/status/597898347974889474
https://twitter.com/pescami/status/597898347974889474
link to tweet
@pescami: But think. If Tom Brady had Certainly been Specifically aware, Goodell would have had him executed.
DrewDawg said:
Hey, the entire NFL security apparatus couldn't find the person who had the Ray Rice elevator video sent to them, so my guess is that this person is safe.
Yes- test/start to build conensus for Goodell ousting. Basis: a commish who operates by embarrassing teams and players for common practices of many teams and players, on inconsequential minutiae of equipment preparation (and even signal-stealing), that are low-regulated, grey areas, is bad for the league. The alternative is well articulated by Brunansky's Slide:jsinger121 said:
Problem: some teams are as short-sighted as Roger. The quoted post lists the Panthers as a potential ally- but, how much do Marty Hurney's public comments reflect the Panther's ownership's attitude?
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12216634/former-carolina-panthers-gm-marty-hurney-angry-spygate-amid-new-england-patriots-controversy
I think this is the real "dark matter" in the equation that Kraft must discern, and is ultimately the real drag on any Goodell-ouster campaign: how many NFL owners feel enough like Hurney? How much can Kraft use his influence to change that perception?
Maybe that's at least a small part of why they're not selling as many newspapers anymore.Smiling Joe Hesketh said: