NFL Postseason Megathread: Playoffs in the Post-Orton Era

[grumbler]

This whole "deflategate" thing is hilarious.  New England marginally violated a completely arbitrary rule to make its quarterback think the ball felt better.  I don't see any discernible competitive advantage that NE got from this.  Fine everybody involved a token few thousand dollars, spend a few tens of thousands of dollars to ensure the arbitrary line isn't crossed again, and get back into the sports business.

[MadImmortalMan]

It's just ammo for all the people who already think the Pats are cheaters.

The real problem is that it's bad for the league.

[jimmy olsen]

That's a load of crap. The Pats won the 2nd half 38-0 after the refs replaced the balls. That win is 100% legitimate! 

Dude. They won the Super Bowl. Let the peasants wail. This is the NFL.

You know just what to say to cheer a man up.

[Eddie Teach]

It's just ammo for all the people who already think the Pats are cheaters.

Worse than that, they're from Boston.

[alfred russel]

It's just ammo for all the people who already think the Pats are cheaters.

That isn't just a random thought. They are cheaters.

[alfred russel]

Here is a slate article that I suspect Tim won't post:

Report: Goodell Will Suspend Tom Brady for Deflategate Role

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/05/08/report_roger_goodell_will_suspend_tom_brady_for_deflategate_role.html

[jimmy olsen]

I'm waiting to see what the actual  suspension will be so I know how high to dail up the vitriol.

[Neil]

A nice, long suspension would be nice.  And Belichick needs to be suspended for the entire season.

[Liep]

"Brady: Super Bowl XLIX victory 'absolutely not' tainted"

I liked that headline from nfl.com

[celedhring]

*giggles*

[grumbler]

It's just ammo for all the people who already think the Pats are cheaters.

That isn't just a random thought. They are cheaters.

So are the Colts.  Three of the four balls they used in the game that were tested were under-inflated.  Everybody cheats.  Fine the ones that are found out for being stupid enough to be found out, and move on.

[grumbler]

Here is a slate article that I suspect Tim won't post:

Report: Goodell Will Suspend Tom Brady for Deflategate Role

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/05/08/report_roger_goodell_will_suspend_tom_brady_for_deflategate_role.html

Slate posting a report from the New York Daily News?  Color me skeptical.

[Berkut]

That's a load of crap. The Pats won the 2nd half 38-0 after the refs replaced the balls. That win is 100% legitimate! 

They won while cheating. The fact that they would have won absent cheating isn't the point.

[grumbler]

That's a load of crap. The Pats won the 2nd half 38-0 after the refs replaced the balls. That win is 100% legitimate! 

They won while cheating. The fact that they would have won absent cheating isn't the point.

And the Colts lost while cheating.  Should we vacate the loss, as well?

[dps]

That's a load of crap. The Pats won the 2nd half 38-0 after the refs replaced the balls. That win is 100% legitimate! 

They won while cheating. The fact that they would have won absent cheating isn't the point.

And the Colts lost while cheating.  Should we vacate the loss, as well?

Guess that would make Colts fans happy.

No, we shouldn't retroactively vacate game results.  That doesn't mean that cheaters shouldn't be punished in some form if caught.  And while there's no evidence against Brady that would hold up in court, he's not being tried for a criminal offense.  The NFL is looking at what to do about the incident, but they don't have to use the same standards of proof that are used in court.