A terrible day for Patriots/Brady haters

[Blue_Adept]

Cause you guys lost

AGAIN.

bwahaha!

U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman ruled to nullify the New England Patriots quarterback’s four-game suspension Thursday, making Brady eligible for the team’s season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 10.

Link

[TexasProgresive]

1. If I get disciplined by my employer

do I have recourse to the federal courts?

[B Calm]

2. Bingo!

[n2doc]

6. I think Robert Kraft is Brady's Employer. n/t

[roguevalley]

84. is it possible to discuss things without adding haters? That is so utterly and completely

juvenile.

[sharp_stick]

8. His employer is the New England Patriots

not the NFL. The NFL has to follow the collective bargaining agreement when meting out discipline and this is part of it.

[hifiguy]

33. Yep.

And Roger Goodell is not Napoleon no matter how much he thinks he is. Seeing him get slapped down is fine with this NFL fan and my team is NOT the Pats.

[louis c]

90. Sorry to correct you.......

but the parent company that holds the CBA of all the players, is the NFL.

The Patriots hold the individual contract and didn't discipline Brady, the NFL did, under the CBA.

[Chan790]

9. Three points.

a.) The NFL isn't his employer (That would be the Patriots), they're his employer's trade association.

b.) If that discipline violates labor law and your union contract, then yes.

c.) As a union worker, this is a good thing for you...it's a solid win upholding the power of unions to negotiate disciplinary sanctions in a labor contract and limiting management from ignoring those negotiated sanctions whenever they deem suitable. There are a number of things that he could be suspended for under the current NFL labor contract...not cooperating in the NFL's witch-hunt wasn't one of them.

[Orrex]

30. As for point C...

Doesn't this actually work against the union? They agreed to a contract that stipulated disciplinary procedures, and when those procedures were followed, a judge threw them out.

Regardless of what the union might have wanted prior to signing, the agreement that they signed was just dealt a blow by a union member who decided that the agreed-to rules shouldn't apply to him.

[Capt. Obvious]

32. No

Berman's ruling stated Article 46 can't be used to overrule other aspects of the CBA.

Win for union.

[Orrex]

34. Interesting.

[former9thward]

101. Yes you do.

But its highly unlikely your union would go to that effort and expense.

[TexasProgresive]

103. So the courts are only for those suffering from affluenza. n/a

[former9thward]

104. If your union took every case to federal court

it would be financially out of business very quickly.

[TexasProgresive]

105. I stand by what I said

The courts are only for the rich and famous. Not for us folks because we can't afford it.

[Marrah_G]

3. ~giggle~

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. Yes. But makes me want to go to first game and boo my head off. What a lying

cheating sack of shit.

[yeoman6987]

53. Go pats!!!!

With all the negative in the world lately, it's wonderful to get some great news for a change. Made all of our lives a bit brighter.

[Human101948]

56. Yes, but it's really depressing that otherwise intelligent people invest so much fervor...

in supporting a sports team that would pick up and leave town if the owners could make another billion dollars doing so.

[Blue_Adept]

60. silly people, having hobbies and all that.

You could say that about anything that people like for the most part that they invest themselves in.

[Human101948]

62. No, because professional sports are businesses...

and entail watching. Doing things like hunting, hiking, biking, astronomy, swimming, playing sports yourself and even birdwatching involve you actually getting off your duff and doing something.

[adigal]

80. Cheering for grown men running up and down a field chasing a pigskin is a hobby??

Jeez, I though hobbies actually entailed doing something.

[Blue_Adept]

82. Interesting to see how elitist a lot of people are coming off about it all

You can almost hear the sneering.

[adigal]

86. Nah...I just can't stand when we act as stupid as we claim Republicans are

It boggles the mind that Tom Brady, who has held a football in his hand close to every day for the last 30 years, didn't know that the balls were underinflated. It just doesn't hold water that the wouldn't have noticed. Ask a concert musician if their instrument is a few ounces off. They know. And when fans insist that their guy is innocent, perfect, the Messiah, and the Tooth Fairy all wrapped in one, it shows a lack of critical thinking. And that bothers me, especially on a liberal site like this generally is.

So my sneering is really for those who refuse to think for themselves because they are blinded by hero worship.

[former9thward]

102. Guess what?

The officials in that game handled the same balls on every single play. And they have been handling balls for years also. And guess what? They are the ones who are supposed to ensure the balls are inflated properly. Yet they did not notice anything. Why?

[cherokeeprogressive]

97. DU is the HOME of The Elitist.

Food, sports, beer, cell phones, motorcycles, cars, Operating Systems, schools... you name it and there is a very large group of DUers who won't be shy about telling you it sucks and why.

Me I drive a 72 Chevy, ride a Harley, I'll eat any damn thing (had a 7-11 hot dog today), went to a state school, use Windows, and if Budweiser's all you got I'll smile while I'm drinking it and thank you for it with sincerity.

But fuck me to tears DUers can be snobs.

[yeoman6987]

69. That's the risk of having a team.

The city better appreciate it or another city will. Makes it exciting.

[louis c]

91. 4 Championships and 6 SB trips in 12 years

and I saw every one of them.

[malaise]

5. So a judge ruled in his favor

His career is still tainted forever.
The Supremes ruled for G W Bush - the most hated President in history. Look what happened under his watch! Look how he led an illegal war and occupation. Look how the economy tanked.

In other words - don't celebrate too early.

[Blue_Adept]

36. I look forward to Brady's Thousand Years Of Darkness

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

63. I equate the Patriots winning with the Bush Administration

The horrible days of the early to mid 00's. That Super Bowl they managed to steal reminds that Jeb is still lurking.

[countingbluecars]

7. Common sense tells me

he is a cheater. I guess better proof was needed in a court of law. Cheater.

[Capt. Obvious]

25. Common sense also tells me

that he's 4 time Super Bowl champ.

[countingbluecars]

27. True, but how many times

did he cheat during his career?

[Capt. Obvious]

28. I'll guess we'll never know

Only thing we can know is that he's a 3 time Super Bowl MVP and 4 time champ.

[mythology]

73. Lance Armstrong also "won" 7 Tour de France titles

Nobody regards him as anything other than a cheater. Tom Brady is the same, except for New England.

[adigal]

81. Bingo!! And Tiger Woods is "the greatest golfer who ever lived."

People who worship other people make me sad. Everyone of us has feet of clay and no one deserves to be worshipped.

[Whiskeytide]

64. You forgot the asterisk. n/t

[ProfessorGAC]

79. My Common Sense Tells Me He Didn't

So, there we are. And, i'm from Chicago and a Bears fan.

[Iggo]

10. He's still a cheater.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

92. AMEN [phone]

[CanonRay]

11. No, a terrible day for pro football

The Pats are and always will be cheaters.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

93. [phone]

[Ace Rothstein]

12. A great day for someone who was able to nab Brady fairly late in his draft.

[sharp_stick]

13. I love it

[CentralMass]

39. A play/call that will go den in infamy. Not in New England ôf course.

[underpants]

14. Yep. Can't beat him on or off the field

[onecaliberal]

15. I don't give two rips what the court says, that team, and the quarterback are cheaters.

This wasn't even the first time they were caught cheating. Cheaters, liars, and criminals all escape consequence. It's the American way.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

17. You left out a word.

RICH Cheaters, liars, and criminals all escape consequence. It's the American way.

[onecaliberal]

68. Thanks! That's exactly what I meant.

[Blue_Adept]

19. Thanks!

[img][/img]

[onecaliberal]

70. Hate for what? I'm not a fool who spends money on

On this pointless team or any other for that matter. These obscenely wealthy athletes like Brady play those fans like a fiddle. Just the way republicans play their base.

[Blue_Adept]

76. Good to know people who enjoy things are fools

providing they're things you don't like.

I've never bought anything sports related myself, outside a shirt or two for the kids over the years. But I'm sure my purchases of other things from corporations makes me a fool.

[joeybee12]

16. And they're getting louder and nastier because they still want to believe in the lies

they were told by the NFL...sad state of affairs when they simply jump on headlines that turn out to be false but can't give up the hate.

[Blue_Adept]

20. But they have so much proof!

It must be under gods authority that they're guilty.

[joeybee12]

21. Amazing that everyone hates Gooddell...

But on this issue the haters are ready to believe every lie he puts out...actually, it's not amazing, it;s kind of frightening...sort of mob mentality.

[Blue_Adept]

23. Yup

It just makes me laugh in the end.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

65. You probably think Hernandez was railroaded too n/m

[Blue_Adept]

77. Yeah, because there's ZERO difference between the two

Get real.

[HubertHeaver]

18. The real lesson here:

Don't bet the house payment on NFL games.

[GummyBearz]

22. Cheatriots get away with it about half the time

The real losers are everyone who likes NFL football.

At least this is one more thing to add to the list that teams will look out for, so the cheatriots wont be able to pull it off again. And they don't have that lame eligible/ineligible crap to pull either. After a while all of Belicheats exploits will be used up and they will go back to being a non-factor

[Capt. Obvious]

26. "After a while all of Belicheats exploits will be used up and they will go back to being a non-facto

Said people back in 2001.

[GummyBearz]

35. No one said that in 2001 as they were non-factors

Unless you think the tuck rule made sense

[LannyDeVaney]

24. So, the NFLPA agreements are completely useless ...

No need for any of their collective bargaining. They've nullified what they agreed to.

[Faux pas]

29. Some people have their

moral compasses all f-ed up if they think CHEATING is something to be admired and promoted.

[Blue_Adept]

37. It's too bad it was never actually proven

you know, all that junk science around here that we hate being used to "prove" it.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

66. Yeah, the ball boy calling himself the Deflator

Not sketchy at all.

[Orrex]

31. This is terrific news for Pittsburgh

Because it will make Stillers fans shut up about Michael Vick.

[Logical]

38. How cute, a NE whiner saying i told you so, classy as usual. Nt

[Blue_Adept]

40. DU lost its classy status ages ago

[Logical]

41. Du is fine, you are not. Nt

[sharp_stick]

42. Talk about whining n/t

[joeybee12]

46. Wow...I'd expect no less...

Try arguing the point instead of insulting someone.

[trumad]

75. Oh that's rich coming from you.

See folks...Joey won't respond to this here post because when this cheating scandal started Joey put every single person who sided against him on ignore. Every single one. His ignore list probably has about 100.

But yet here's Joey lecturing someone about arguing the point ....

Hilarious!

[Logical]

78. +1000 nt

[lancer78]

43. Cartman said it best

You can cheat and no one will care as long as you are the best.

[sarisataka]

44. Personally I don't care about

The Patriots, Brady or even American football.

What I do find interesting is how sports deal with cheaters. We have this case in the NFL of a team repeatedly caught cheating. In MLB there is rampant admitted steroid use of many modern record holders and what is the punishment? A slap on the wrist, maybe.

Cycling finds riders using performace drugs and suspends the rides for a year to life for repeat offenders. In addition they are stripped of all titles and wins.

Guess which of those three is castigated as being dirty while the other two call their cheaters "great"?

[joeybee12]

47. Repeatedly?

Give some examples...and in this case the balls weren't even deflated...yeah, that slipped by you didn't it when you were eating up the NFL lies.

[sarisataka]

49. Only know what I read in the news

It said they were deflated

Weren't the Patriots fined a couple years ago for tapping into opposition teams communications and/or videotaping orher teams practices? It might have been other teams as I don't follow the NFL closely.

You also have the case of a recent Superbowl team that was intentionally injuring opponents. I believe when that dust up settled a low level coach was given a short suspensuspension. Players and team walk "untarnished"

[joeybee12]

51. I repeat, repeatedly?

Yes, they were fined for videotaping...that's one instance...that's hardly repeatedly...and the initial reports of the deflated footballs were exaggerated and only one was, the one the Colts took from the Pats and held onto. That's the problem...the media doesn't question lies, which the NFL does repeatedly, and so those lies get passed down.

[sarisataka]

58. The exact details

Are not crucial. As I said I don't care about the Patriots in particular.

The point is cheaters in the NFL get by with little to no punishment. Really in all major TV sports. It doesn't mater if you cheat as long as the $$$$ keep coming.

Yet while the fans and media will openly or tacitly accept this, the ascend to the pulpit of righteousness pointing fingers at sports doing something about their cheaters. I used cycling as an example but you could use track sports, swimming or mamy others sports that only get TV time during the Olympics.

[CentralMass]

45. I'd argue that the deflated balls, used only in the first half, did not provide an advantage..

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2015/01/21/patriots-reportedly-used-properly-inflated-backup-balls-in-second-half/

"After the officials found that the majority of the balls used in the first half were below the acceptable PSI as mandated by the NFL, the backup balls were brought in. According to the source, the backup balls were tested and found to be at the correct levels, and subsequently put into play — just barely in time, as the second half already had started by the time the testing was completed. This is why the officials stopped play and swapped out the kicking ball on the first play from scrimmage of the second half.

Interestingly, during the first half, when the Patriots were reportedly using the deflated footballs, quarterback Tom Brady completed 11 of 21 passes for 95 yards, one touchdown and one interception, as New England scored 17 points. In the second half, Brady completed 12 of 14 passes for 131 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions, as New England scored 28 points."

[zipplewrath]

59. But not the turn over ratio

If I recall correctly, it may not have been a passing thing for Brady, but a retention thing for the running backs and receivers. Apparently the Pats did a worse job in the second half of hanging on to the ball after the catch or handoff.

[Takket]

48. *HIGH FIVE* Justice was served

[TSIAS]

50. Donald Trump agrees with you

Cause Brady's a Winner!

[11 Bravo]

52. Hey Goodell, who's got the deflated balls NOW?

Somewhere my old friend Will Pitt is smiling.

[Tipperary]

54. Football bores me silly.

But this nyah-nyah thread is fascinating! It reveals interesting sides of certain posters here, as well as their maturity levels.

[dembotoz]

55. just a bad day for football

[liberal N proud]

57. It just sends a message that cheating wins - Every Time

And if you don't like the outcome, just get a judge to change it for you.

It strengthens my feelings against professional sports. I like sports, just not professional sports! I have not spent on cent on professional sports for 20 years and this just hardens my resolve to not spend any money on pro sports in the future.

You can cheat and win!

Just make sure you don't bet on Baseball if you are a player, because that is a sin.

[Jappleseed]

61. Some people choose to celebrate the positive

Others choose to celebrate the negative. There is a name for the later.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

67. Not at all

You cheated. Getting off on a technicality means nothing, really. Your owner didn't even fight the team sanctions imposed on you. Brady joins Ray Rice and Peterson as people whose suspension was negated because the union stuck up for them. Good company. Are they innocent too?

I'm vindicated in knowing the Patriots were caught doing something illegal AGAIN, and they didn't just come up with it the week of the AFC title game or just last season or last year. That's all I need. No true fan (someone who didn't start watching ten years ago like 98% of Patriots fans) can deny they are a shady, contemptable team, with a dirty old man for an owner and a miserable sleaze bag as a coach and an air headed Republican frat boy as their phony masthead.

[Rex]

71. He is now labelled a discrace so I really don't care since the damage has been done to his rep.

But what you said was good too!

[R3druM]

72. Yeah...

I feel a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of Patriots haters suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.

[LanternWaste]

74. And the world is finally righteous once again...

And the world is finally righteous once again... or something.

[AngryOldDem]

83. Colts fan here.

I am the first to admit that they stood no chance against the Pats, deflated balls aside. That said, to me the main issue has always been the integrity of the game, which was not upheld today.

But congratulations to you anyway. Enjoy your victory.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

95. Hey - isn't your 5th game NE? thought I heard the first game after

suspension (that wasn't) was gonna be you.

Giants fan here - and SW flies right into BWI airport. Want to come
and boo till I can't boo no more.

[AngryOldDem]

100. Yes.

It would have been Brady's first game back if he had served the suspension.

I know someone (a season ticket holder) who's planning her vacation around this game.

[Stinky The Clown]

85. Real funny. He's a fucking cheater and he got away with it.

Obviously you like cheaters.

[Blue_Adept]

87. I love cheaters. it's the american way.

After all, how else did we get all this land than by cheating the locals out of it with a few baubles? America was built on cheating.

[Stinky The Clown]

89. Wow

[Laura PourMeADrink]

94. Ergo...Yes, if it's your team - you don't care if they are cheaters ??? nt

[moondust]

96. Get over it, haters.

I learned today that it wasn't 10 out of 11 footballs underinflated as first reported but only 1 or 2 underinflated and it may have been due to barometric pressure or other natural cause. So says Dave Zirin, sports editor at The Nation.

Big deal.

Deflating Deflategate: Confusion about basic science could have wrongly smeared Tom Brady

[Arugula Latte]

98. I honestly don't care about football or Brady, but he will always have an asterix by his name.

[fizzgig]

99. this pretty much sums up my feelings

and the only team i loathe more than new england is oakland.