OT - Patriots Deflate Report

[Peter_Spaeth]

My summary: the NFL does not care about real issues like head trauma to players, or domestic violence. Ray Rice two games for beating the crap out of his fiancée, Tom Brady four for "probably" knowing about taking a little air out of a football. End of story.

[packs]

Man it drives me nuts that people still don't think he knew about the footballs.

[Peter_Spaeth]

It drives me nuts that Goodell denies the connection between football and brain injuries despite overwhelming evidence.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

My summary: the NFL does not care about real issues like head trauma to players, or domestic violence. Ray Rice two games for beating the crap out of his fiancée, Tom Brady four for "probably" knowing about taking a little air out of a football. End of story.

It drives me nuts that these players make millions of dollars in a very rough sport and then are so stupid/worthless that they try to sue over head trauma.

Also how do you justify comparing Brady and the Cheatriots ruining the integrity of the game with some players off the field actions. Yes they done horrible things but in no way did it affect the outcome of a single game.

[Econteachert205]

This is a power struggle between Kraft and goodell. Both are vipers.

[Peter_Spaeth]

What is this, ancient Rome where we sacrifice people for entertainment value? The NFL could do much much more to protect its players, but chooses to play ostrich. And because they deny the risks many of the young men who take them are certainly not fully informed.

[Peter_Spaeth]

If a lineman gets away with a hold that springs a back for the winning touchdown, did that "cheating" affect the integrity of the game?

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

What is this, ancient Rome where we sacrifice people for entertainment value? The NFL could do much much more to protect its players, but chooses to play ostrich. And because they deny the risks many of the young men who take them are certainly not fully informed.

LOL Young men not being fully informed. Peter this isn't 1815. They choose to do what they do for the large pay checks and ignore anything bad. It is the American way to blame everything on someone/something else. Would hate for anyone to actually take responsibility for their own actions.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by bnorth

LOL Young men not being fully informed. Peter this isn't 1815. They choose to do what they do for the large pay checks and ignore anything bad. It is the American way to blame everything on someone/something else. Would hate for anyone to actually take responsibility for their own actions.

I don't agree that they are fully informed. Their employer is denying it. Before that their colleges denied it. The team doctors are telling them it's ok to go back into the game with a concussion. Where's the full disclosure?

And all that aside, why won't the NFL do more to protect its players, whether or not they understand the risks?

It isn't 1815 Ben, it's ancient Rome and the arena. But let's keep all that hush hush and worry about a football underinflated by 1 PSI.

[clydepepper]

-from ESPN.com:

Once again, it's on. This is civil war.

An enraged Robert Kraft reopened the door Wednesday morning to every NFL Armageddon scenario imaginable, right up to the eventual ouster of commissioner Roger Goodell. Kraft's renewed disgust with the league's handling of Deflategate, and most recently its decision to uphold Tom Brady's four-game suspension, should put the entire industry on notice.

Consider: The New England Patriots are the NFL's second-most valuable team, worth an estimated $2.6 billion, according to Forbes magazine. Kraft is the chairman of the NFL's broadcast committee, arguably the most important in the sport, and he was among the most responsible for Goodell's ascension to commissioner in 2006. Now, here we are with Kraft using words such as "unfathomable" to describe the league's actions. He is openly accusing the league of trying to capture headlines while obscuring its lack of hard evidence.

To be clear, Kraft's reaction is unprecedented in modern NFL history.

It's true that the late Al Davis subverted league rule at every opportunity during his time as the Oakland Raiders' managing partner, but he did so with the full understanding that he was a counterculture rebel whose opinions were never taken seriously. Within league circles, Kraft has never been Al Davis. His opposition here is understandable from a standpoint of loyalty but also counter to the one-for-all ethos that the league and its owners expect from one another.

You can argue the significance of football inflation all you want. Reasonable people can debate the extent of culpability for both the Patriots and Brady. What is indisputable, however, is that one of the league's most powerful owners, and one of its marquee franchises, is in open public rebellion for the first time that anyone can remember.

Kraft now regrets his decision to give up this fight in the spring, and it's unlikely he'll back down again any time soon. This dispute has turned into a full-fledged internal war.

Hang on. Anything could happen.
.
.

[Peter_Spaeth]

The only thing better than Kraft was Belichick's complete non-responses to questions. Highly amusing.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I don't agree that they are fully informed. Their employer is denying it. Before that their colleges denied it. The team doctors are telling them it's ok to go back into the game with a concussion. Where's the full disclosure?

And all that aside, why won't the NFL do more to protect its players, whether or not they understand the risks?

It isn't 1815 Ben, it's ancient Rome and the arena. But let's keep all that hush hush and worry about a football underinflated by 1 PSI.

20 years ago head trauma was brought up as often then as it is now involving football players. So if the players don't know they have been living in a cave or choose to ignore it for the big payday.

The NFL now is like kids playing candyland compared to 20-30 years ago with the much better protective gear and rules changes. I am not saying there is not a lot of physician contact but no where near as bad as before. So IMO they have done a lot to protect the players. Whether it is enough or not is debatable.

I could really care less about the 1 PSI debate as I really take the NFL as serious as I take the WWE or whatever they call wrestling entertainment these days.

[Brian Van Horn]

I can't help, but think of what else is being destroyed in New England right now.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

What is this, ancient Rome where we sacrifice people for entertainment value?

Yes, I think NFL football equates almost exactly to the gladiator battles in ancient Rome in that it serves the same purpose for the spectators. The main difference is that the deaths and dismemberments were socially acceptable for ancient Romans. Still, NFL players are committing the violence that we aren't allowed to, and that fills some void that many of us need filled. We would probably enjoy it more if we used prison inmates, kept them in cages beneath the stadiums and simply drug them off to the hospital when injured. Like gladiators, we would still have our favorites and they would be given special meals and women if they performed well.

But none of that has anything to do with Deflate-gate. As Jeff mentioned in a main board thread, follow the money to get your answers.

[Dan Carson]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

My summary: the NFL does not care about real issues like head trauma to players, or domestic violence. Ray Rice two games for beating the crap out of his fiancée, Tom Brady four for "probably" knowing about taking a little air out of a football. End of story.

Are you suggesting Tom Brady beat the tar out of his wife??

[nolemmings]

Can't wait-- the NFL v. Patriots/Brady in two federal court cases, even though one will likely be stayed or dismissed. Arrogance vs. Incompetence. Buh, buh, buh, buh---I'm lovin' it!

Hope it goes the proverbial 15 rounds with each side throwing haymakers. Air out that dirty laundry --spill those dirty little secrets. Could prove more entertaining than the Republican debates.

[packs]

No offense to football players but if by now you aren't informed enough about concussions and football related injuries it is because you are either willfully ignorant or there is no reaching you. So I have trouble finding sympathy for those that later experience the side effects of football. Of course I have nothing but sympathy for their families and the results of their careers. But I don't support the lawsuits.

[Peter_Spaeth]

So you expect some kid to stand up to a team doctor and coach telling him it's ok to go back in? Or to form a judgment that even though the league is saying there is no evidence, there really is? I don't think that's realistic.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by packs

No offense to football players but if by now you aren't informed enough about concussions and football related injuries it is because you are either willfully ignorant or there is no reaching you. So I have trouble finding sympathy for those that later experience the side effects of football. Of course I have nothing but sympathy for their families and the results of their careers. But I don't support the lawsuits.

Why not? The NCAA knew about concussions and had a recommended protocol for dealing with them - in the 1930s. The NFL ignored all that, lied about the damage concussions do, hired a non-brain expert to be their concussions guy, and so on. And, even after implementing a protocol, you still got nonsense like the Colt McCoy incident.

I'm not saying I'd support a lawsuit filed by a current player but somebody who retired 10-20 years ago? Sure thing.

[packs]

I see it the same way I do boxing. If you were a professional fighter being punched in the head for a living, can you really claim you didn't know being punched in the head would have a negative effect on your life?

Playing football is violent and even if someone is telling you that you're fine, you're the one who ultimately decides to play. So if there is someone who is liable for your injuries, it's my opinion that the person you're looking to point your finger at is yourself.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by packs

I see it the same way I do boxing. If you were a professional fighter being punched in the head for a living, can you really claim you didn't know being punched in the head would have a negative effect on your life?

Playing football is violent and even if someone is telling you that you're fine, you're the one who ultimately decides to play. So if there is someone who is liable for your injuries, it's my opinion that the person you're looking to point your finger at is yourself.

A huge +1 well said.

Edit: maybe being a former boxer is clouding my judgement. I have definatelly been hit in the head a lot.

[vintagesportscollector]

This isn't quite the same thing, but 30 years ago I played football in High School. There wasn't a day in practice or a game when I didn't see "stars" from some hit. The word concussion wasn't even in our vocabulary and it never was mentioned (from what I can recall ). Today things are different, as safety, concussions and head trauma prevention is the number one concern on our HS team, and safety first is pervasive in every action the team takes.