Support NeoGAF

[ParityBit]

Berman: Turns out Mr. Brady did better with higher inflated balls than underinflated balls. You might say he got no competitive advantage

Are there statistics on that in any of the reports that have come out?

His stats from first half to second half I believe.

 

[Arc]

Damn Berman is not fucking around.

 

[LyleLanley]

BERMAN: "Somebody deflated the balls, but it didn’t help Mr. Brady. Does that matter?"

Nash: "What matters is the commissioner’s thought on that. His judgement."

Berman: From legal perspective: "You have to show that conspirators intended to be in the conspiracy...Is there a meeting?"

Berman: "I’m not sure where the 'gate' (in #DeflateGate) comes from. The Wells Report and the award relates only to one game."

Berman: "What is the evidence of a scheme or conspiracy that covers the Jan. 15 game? I’m having trouble finding it."

.

 

[hom3land]

This is glorious. Goodell deserves this public shaming.

 

[The Albatross]

Berman: "What is the evidence of a scheme or conspiracy that covers the Jan. 15 game? I’m having trouble finding it."

 

[TheLostBigBoss]

Berman: "What is the evidence of a scheme or conspiracy that covers the Jan. 15 game? I’m having trouble finding it."

I assume he has read basically everything, right?

 

[The Albatross]

He'll probably grill the NFLPA representatives just as much, but you gotta love this part

 

[ParityBit]

I assume he has read basically everything, right?

He has all evidence. Nothing new can be "dropped" as evidence.

Wait until the eye of Sauron is pointed at the NFLPA team to see what his thoughts are.

 

[LyleLanley]

He'll probably grill the NFLPA representatives just as much, but you gotta love this part

Looks like it's about that time.

Now it's Jeffrey Kessler's turn. Brady's attorney. Berman urges him not to respond to Nash's statements to avoid spoiling settlement talks.

 

[Quotient]

Stephen Brown @PPVSRB twitter account is getting a HUGE surge in followers!

 

[Arc]

KESSLER IS FIRED UP

THAT'S MY QUARTERBACKS LAWYER!

 

[The Albatross]

Berman: Turns out Mr. Brady did better with higher inflated balls than underinflated balls. You might say he got no competitive advantage

Are there statistics on that in any of the reports that have come out?

I think this comment is based on that the only time balls had been measured/recorded, the AFC Championship game, Brady played better in the 2nd half with fully-inflated footballs (13.5?) than in the first half with slightly deflated-footballs.

But because ball inflation has never been recorded, or reliably measured, before, during, or after a game, no there's no reliable statistics on this.

 

[bionic77]

He'll probably grill the NFLPA representatives just as much, but you gotta love this part

He is trying to get them to settle.

Berman to Kessler: It looks like they...deflated the game balls? Why would either one of them do that without Mr. Brady’s consent?"

 

[Deku Tree]

PPVSRB: Best Kessler quote: "Maybe if my grandmother had wheels she’d be a trolleycar!"

Brady's lawyer is grandstanding.

 

[ParityBit]

Brady's lawyer is grandstanding.

This is part of the reason he is so sought after. He is a great lawyer.

Court is adjourned. Wow. NFL got creamed. Now this could be where the Judge is leaning towards the NFL and wanted to see if there are any holes in the case ..... although to me I doubt that. It was really heavy handed.

 

[Gigglepoo]

Brady's lawyer is making it seem as though he concedes they deflated footballs but you can't link it to Brady and even if you could it wouldn't warrant a suspension.

 

[Quotient]

Brady's lawyer is making it seem as though he concedes they deflated footballs but you can't link it to Brady and even if you could it wouldn't warrant a suspension.

I think at this point it doesn't matter if the footballs were deflated or not, just if the NFL has the right to suspend Brady over his 'general awareness'.

 

[The Albatross]

 

[Troy]

ESPN's NFL Nation reporters and ESPN The Magazine contributors polled more than 100 players (not every player answered every question) and found a similarly sensible consensus. While 72 percent of respondents believe the Patriots were responsible for lowering air pressure of the footballs, only 16 percent said they were "upset" by it and 68 percent said they think other teams do the same thing. Sixty percent said the Patriots aren't "cheaters."

Players need to get on the same irrational page as their whiny fans.

 

[Cybit]

This is part of the reason he is so sought after. He is a great lawyer.

Court is adjourned. Wow. NFL got creamed. Now this could be where the Judge is leaning towards the NFL and wanted to see if there are any holes in the case ..... although to me I doubt that. It was really heavy handed.

Kessler sort of got blown up by the judge though. When the judge says "What are you saying?" because Kessler's gone full rant-y; probably not a good sign. He even got Kessler to agree that Brady screwed up on cooperating with Wells; because Brady thought he'd get his hand slapped if he ignored Wells.

The judge is basically going to annihilate everyone involved until the NFL and NFLPA come up with a deal with each other - that's his goal.

 

[Stinkles]

Nobody ever denies spygate. Patriots fans (and other fans/commentators) state what spygate was.

Also, please provide "literal" denials of spygate, or admit that you don't know what the word "literal" means, but you add it to your vocabulary to try to make your points have more impact.



But what about the secret tapes?

WHY WERE THE SECRET TAPES DESTROYED

If you look several posts before this one you will become more or perhaps less enraged. Also Brady's lawyer seems to be admitting cheating occurred but that they can't pin it on Brady.

 

[Quotient]

It is hard to figure who looked better from a stream of tweets by a reporter who was watching through a CC feed.

 

[LyleLanley]

Kessler has moment of clarity: Calls this "the most overblown issue" he's ever dealt with in his career.

Sounds about right.

 

[The Albatross]

If you look several posts before this one you will become more or perhaps less enraged. Also Brady's lawyer seems to be admitting cheating occurred but that they can't pin it on Brady.

Not enraged (always happy), just wondering about the word "literal."

Also, I, literally, can't read those posts above mine.

 

[Quotient]

Michael McCann claims it was a good first day for Brady.

If today was the 1st quarter in Tom Brady v. NFL, Brady might actually get some rest in the 4th. A good day for him.

https://twitter.com/McCannSportsLaw/status/631508298487988224

 

[bionic77]

If you look several posts before this one you will become more or perhaps less enraged. Also Brady's lawyer seems to be admitting cheating occurred but that they can't pin it on Brady.

They can't but if Sean Peyton is held responsible for everything that happens to his team whether under his direction or not the same standard should be held to Brady, who if you are being honest it is hard to believe that these guys were doing on their own and not at his direction.

 

[hom3land]

If you look several posts before this one you will become more or perhaps less enraged. Also Brady's lawyer seems to be admitting cheating occurred but that they can't pin it on Brady.

Could it be that by not arguing the merits of the shitty wells report findings, Bradys lawyer was just trying to be non confrontational towards the judge?

 

[Troy]

Sounds about right.

Current and former players, coaches agree. This is such a weird hill for the league to make a stand on.

They can't but if Sean Peyton is held responsible for everything that happens to his team whether under his direction or not the same standard should be held to Brady, who if you are being honest it is hard to believe that these guys were doing on their own and not at his direction.

Yeah, good luck selling the idea that a player is in a position of power in the NFL.

 

[Gigglepoo]

They can't but if Sean Peyton is held responsible for everything that happens to his team whether under his direction or not the same standard should be held to Brady, who if you are being honest it is hard to believe that these guys were doing on their own and not at his direction.

NFL already ruled players aren't responsible for equipment managers, that's why the Jets kicker wasn't punishment.

Peyton and other coaches aren't in the players' CBA.

 

[LyleLanley]

 

[bionic77]

Current and former players, coaches agree. This is such a weird hill for the league to make a stand on.



Yeah, good luck selling the idea that a player is in a position of power in the NFL.

Good luck that a professional quarterback who openly cried to the league about having more power over how the balls were prepared before games is now entirely ignorant about how they are prepared.

You can't have your cake and eat it to. Not unless you are prepared to be fat. Its science bro don't try and argue it.

 

[TheLostBigBoss]

wow, if Berman is only going to be looking that that then I can't possibly see the NFL winning.

I mean, he basically just said your entire argument for conspiracy is DOA

 

[Quotient]

Good luck that a professional quarterback who openly cried to the league about having more power over how the balls were prepared before games is now entirely ignorant about how they are prepared.

You can't have your cake and eat it to. Not unless you are prepared to be fat. Its science bro don't try and argue it.

You do know that rule change was just allowing QB to prepare their own balls for away games as well - prior to that the away team QB used footballs prepared by the home team QB. You also do realise the rule change, though pushed by Brady & Manning, was signed off on by all the QB in the league at the time.

 

[Troy]

Good luck that a professional quarterback who openly cried to the league about having more power over how the balls were prepared before games is now entirely ignorant about how they are prepared.

You can't have your cake and eat it to. Not unless you are prepared to be fat. Its science bro don't try and argue it.

I said good luck trying to argue your point, and you tried to do it anyway. And failed miserably. No player in the league has ultimate power.

 

[Gigglepoo]

This case is about the CBA. Pointing to a coach who is not under that CBA makes no sense.

 

[bionic77]

This case is about the CBA. Pointing to a coach who is not under that CBA makes no sense.

Thats a good point.

But Goodell in general does whatever the fuck he wants.

 

[The Albatross]

wow, if Berman is only going to be looking that that then I can't possibly see the NFL winning.

I mean, he basically just said your entire argument for conspiracy is DOA

Aye, looking at the testimony today, it would seem like the league has no chance to push through Brady's 4 game suspension. But I, like others, think that the judge is trying to show the NFL just how little of a case they have so that they budge from their unflinching appeal position and be more accommodating.

 

[ParityBit]

The judge is basically going to annihilate everyone involved until the NFL and NFLPA come up with a deal with each other - that's his goal.

Not even close. He is going outside of the "procedural" case which only happens if one side is far off base. This was a great start for Brady.

 

[Gigglepoo]

Thats a good point.

But Goodell in general does whatever the fuck he wants.

But he's not allowed to go against the CBA. That's why the league has lost so many lawsuits and arbitrations.

 

[Troy]

Aye, looking at the testimony today, it would seem like the league has no chance to push through Brady's 4 game suspension. But I, like others, think that the judge is trying to show the NFL just how little of a case they have so that they budge from their unflinching appeal position and be more accommodating.

The other side is only offering to accept a monetary fine, accept no guild, and absolutely no games missed. I doubt Brady's side is going to be swayed from that after today.

 

[LyleLanley]

This is no doubt the worst sketch of Tom Brady ever created

 

[TheLostBigBoss]

It looks like Brady's face is trying to escape his skull and bone structure.

 

[ParityBit]

lol

Is that from Goodell's blood rage eyes?

 

[msdstc]

LMAO

 

[kmag]

Aye, looking at the testimony today, it would seem like the league has no chance to push through Brady's 4 game suspension. But I, like others, think that the judge is trying to show the NFL just how little of a case they have so that they budge from their unflinching appeal position and be more accommodating.

People keep talking like the Judge is going to 'retry' the 'case' to ascertain guilt or innocence. He's not, the case is relatively narrow.

From the Boston Globe

Brady’s lawsuit strictly attacks the NFL’s procedures and focuses on four key points:

■ That Brady did not receive proper notice of the possible punishment.

■ That the “law of the shop” principle requires fair and consistent treatment in all player discipline.

■ That the NFL conducted a fundamentally unfair arbitration proceeding.

■ That Goodell was not an independent arbitrator, but “evidentially partial.”

Unless Team Brady have slipped in some other arguments about the verdict itself, the case is still about Goodell's overreach and the NFL's failure to apply their procedures fairly. The arguments today are mostly for show, with the Judge putting pressure on a settlement.

The NFL has relatively weak case in fact (which the Judge has pointed out today to put pressure on them), but the CBA which the NFLPA gives Goodell ridiculous levels of latitude as arbitrator. Historically, Federal judges have been notoriously unwilling to overthrow arbitrated decisions, hell without the public interest argument it would be unlikely they'd even hear the case.

You could be looking at the Judge setting up an unwilling verdict i.e hamstringing the NFL in the court of public opinion by showing how weak the factual case was but in the end up deciding for the NFL due to the arbitration clause. But it's the scope of the arbitration clause in the CBA and how the NFL applied those powers which will decide the case, not anything to do with air in balls. That's pretty much past now, the lack of evidence on the NFL part might feed into the argument that Goodell was evidentially partial and the whole arbitration process was a sham, but other than that it's mostly meaningless at this point.

The case going forward is essentially about the CBA, the law of the shop and procedure.

 

[ParityBit]

Brady's lawyer is making it seem as though he concedes they deflated footballs but you can't link it to Brady and even if you could it wouldn't warrant a suspension.

Kessler said the union does not believe the balls were deflated, but, if they were, the employees believed it would help their quarterback.

 

[LyleLanley]

 

[TheLostBigBoss]

holy shit lol

 

[Gigglepoo]

Kessler said the union does not believe the balls were deflated, but, if they were, the employees believed it would help their quarterback.

Exactly. Kind of a surprising stance to take. It would be difficult to imagine a scenario in which the equipment managers knew of Brady's preference without Brady giving them implicit directions to deflate footballs.

I honestly do not care if balls were deflated. I just think the punishment was way too harsh given how the league has reacted to this issue for the first hundred years the NFL existed.

It just struck me as odd that the lawyer would all but concede there was equipment tampering, especially considering there's no evidence saying that such a violation occurred.

 

[FTF]

Is this left over footage from that anime scene in Kill Bill?