The NFL’s decision to suspend Tom Brady, fine the Patriots $1 million dollars, and take away two draft picks, including a 2016 1st rounder, is excessive and capricious. Other than Bounty Gate, this is the harshest penalty ever issued against an NFL team, yet based on investigative process that was flawed and a conclusion that was far from definitive. The “Deflate Gate” controversy is just the latest example of an NFL disciplinary process that is arbitrary, inconsistent, and has gone woefully awry.
Based on the severity of the punishments, one would expect the Wells report to be stinging indictment of the team and its actions related to “Deflate Gate”. However, it falls far short of that, reaching a conclusion that it was: “more probable than not” that two low level employees, John Jastremski and Jim Mcnally” participated in a deliberate effort to alter footballs in violation of league rules. It speculates that Tom Brady was: “at least generally aware” of these activities, in spite of lacking of providing little evidence to substantiate this.
Far from an exoneration of the Patriots, the report is troubling is many respects. It is very possible, perhaps even likely, that Jastremski, Mcnally, and Brady engaged a deliberate conspiracy to gain an unfair competitive advantage. However, the report also shows that the evidence is limited and the truth nearly impossible to ascertain, partially due to flaws in the NFLs investigative process.
Consider the following:
• The Colts raised concerns about the possibility of the Patriots deflating footballs prior to the game (Wells report PG. 44).
• According to the report, Anderson was: “visibly concerned” when the Patriots game balls couldn’t be located prior to kickoff. Yet, he took no action at the time (PG. 56).
• After suspicions were raised during the game, it was decided that both teams’ game balls would be tested at halftime (PG. 66). All 11 Patriots game balls were tested but only 4 of the Colts (PG. 68, 69).
• In fact, based on the testing, both team’s game balls showed a loss of air pressure. The Patriots game balls showed a greater level of pressure loss, a difference of between 0.45 and 1.02 PSI (PG.10)
• Two different pressure gauges, both provided by Anderson, were used in the halftime testing the so-called “Logo” and “Non-Logo gauges”, according the reports. There was between 0.3 and 0.45 PSI variance in measurement between the two gauges (PG. 67)
• Anderson isn’t certain which of these gauges he used for the pregame measurements (PG. 52).
The inequity in sample size, variance in measurement between the two gauges, and lack of attention to the issue prior to the game all put the reliability and accuracy of the game ball measurements into question.
In the end, the scientists concluded that the data alone couldn’t establish with an absolute certainty that the Patriots game balls had been tampered with (PG. 112). The strongest evidence presented in the report points only to two relatively low-level employees of the organization (Jastremski and McNally). The direct evidence implicating Brady is limited at best. No evidence was presented implicating any Patriots official, including Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft.
Yet, based on limited evidence, Roger Goddell and the NFL brought down the hammer on Brady and the entire organization. The punishment here is grossly disproportiate to both the crime and level of proof provided. Perhaps I would have more faith in this report and the NFLs actions if its track record for handling similar situations were better. On the contrary, its record in handling recent disciplinary actions is abysmal.
The league complains about a lack of transparency and cooperation on the part of Brady and the Patriots. Roger Goddell has been far from transparent as a commissioner. Consider the Ray Rice fiasco. The NFL, with its enormous resources, couldn’t have gotten their hands on the same in elevator video that TMZ obtained with one phone call? Give me a break! Did Goodell accept responsibility for his own negilience? No? Was he fined or suspended? No! King Roger who rules with an iron fist is above the rules. Consider also his role in ignoring and misrepresenting the seriousness of player concussions. Tom might (or might not) have participated in an effort to deflate footballs. However, the NFL, under Goddell’s watch, was grossly negligent in its responsibility to protect the safety of its players. You tell me, which violation is more serious?
In each case, he only changed his tune in the face of intense scrutiny, a pattern shown throughout his tenure as commissioner. The administration of justice is not about fairness, equity and integrity. It is about public relations, the arbitrary wielding of power and political expediency. He comes down hard on the Patriots based, not on the actual facts, but on the need to save face and preserve his law and order image. He can’t be seen as acquiescing to Kraft, who is perceived as his buddy, thus he errs in the other direction. The entire situation leaves a bad taste in the mouth of this particular fan.
Based on the severity of the punishments, one would expect the Wells report to be stinging indictment of the team and its actions related to “Deflate Gate”. However, it falls far short of that, reaching a conclusion that it was: “more probable than not” that two low level employees, John Jastremski and Jim Mcnally” participated in a deliberate effort to alter footballs in violation of league rules. It speculates that Tom Brady was: “at least generally aware” of these activities, in spite of lacking of providing little evidence to substantiate this.
Far from an exoneration of the Patriots, the report is troubling is many respects. It is very possible, perhaps even likely, that Jastremski, Mcnally, and Brady engaged a deliberate conspiracy to gain an unfair competitive advantage. However, the report also shows that the evidence is limited and the truth nearly impossible to ascertain, partially due to flaws in the NFLs investigative process.
Consider the following:
• The Colts raised concerns about the possibility of the Patriots deflating footballs prior to the game (Wells report PG. 44).
• According to the report, Anderson was: “visibly concerned” when the Patriots game balls couldn’t be located prior to kickoff. Yet, he took no action at the time (PG. 56).
• After suspicions were raised during the game, it was decided that both teams’ game balls would be tested at halftime (PG. 66). All 11 Patriots game balls were tested but only 4 of the Colts (PG. 68, 69).
• In fact, based on the testing, both team’s game balls showed a loss of air pressure. The Patriots game balls showed a greater level of pressure loss, a difference of between 0.45 and 1.02 PSI (PG.10)
• Two different pressure gauges, both provided by Anderson, were used in the halftime testing the so-called “Logo” and “Non-Logo gauges”, according the reports. There was between 0.3 and 0.45 PSI variance in measurement between the two gauges (PG. 67)
• Anderson isn’t certain which of these gauges he used for the pregame measurements (PG. 52).
The inequity in sample size, variance in measurement between the two gauges, and lack of attention to the issue prior to the game all put the reliability and accuracy of the game ball measurements into question.
In the end, the scientists concluded that the data alone couldn’t establish with an absolute certainty that the Patriots game balls had been tampered with (PG. 112). The strongest evidence presented in the report points only to two relatively low-level employees of the organization (Jastremski and McNally). The direct evidence implicating Brady is limited at best. No evidence was presented implicating any Patriots official, including Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft.
Yet, based on limited evidence, Roger Goddell and the NFL brought down the hammer on Brady and the entire organization. The punishment here is grossly disproportiate to both the crime and level of proof provided. Perhaps I would have more faith in this report and the NFLs actions if its track record for handling similar situations were better. On the contrary, its record in handling recent disciplinary actions is abysmal.
The league complains about a lack of transparency and cooperation on the part of Brady and the Patriots. Roger Goddell has been far from transparent as a commissioner. Consider the Ray Rice fiasco. The NFL, with its enormous resources, couldn’t have gotten their hands on the same in elevator video that TMZ obtained with one phone call? Give me a break! Did Goodell accept responsibility for his own negilience? No? Was he fined or suspended? No! King Roger who rules with an iron fist is above the rules. Consider also his role in ignoring and misrepresenting the seriousness of player concussions. Tom might (or might not) have participated in an effort to deflate footballs. However, the NFL, under Goddell’s watch, was grossly negligent in its responsibility to protect the safety of its players. You tell me, which violation is more serious?
In each case, he only changed his tune in the face of intense scrutiny, a pattern shown throughout his tenure as commissioner. The administration of justice is not about fairness, equity and integrity. It is about public relations, the arbitrary wielding of power and political expediency. He comes down hard on the Patriots based, not on the actual facts, but on the need to save face and preserve his law and order image. He can’t be seen as acquiescing to Kraft, who is perceived as his buddy, thus he errs in the other direction. The entire situation leaves a bad taste in the mouth of this particular fan.