28 July, 2015
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell upheld Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's 4 game suspension. Tom Brady was suspended 4 games in May after footballs used by the Patriots in the AFC championship game against the Colts were found to be inflated under the NFL requirements. 11 of the 12 footballs used in the first half were found to be under the league limit by approximately 1 PSI.
Brady was suspended after a 243 page report by investigator Ted Wells, the report stated that Brady was; "at least generally aware", the report also stated it was "more probable than not" that the Patriots manipulated footballs. Wells also stated that the Patriots did not fully cooperate with his requests during the investigation. One of the requests was for Tom Brady's cell phone, which Brady allegedly refused.
Many thought the Brady suspension would be reduced since the NFL continues to face much controversy over their questionable rulings in domestic dispute incidents, the most recent case being Greg Hardy of the Dallas Cowboys having a 10 game suspension reduced to 4 games after he served a 60 day jail term and 18 months probation for assaulting a female.
Tom Brady and the players union recently threatened to take Roger Goodell and the NFL to court if the 4 game suspension was not overturned.
Part of the Statement by the NFL is below:
"Here, there are several factors that merit strong consideration in assessing discipline. The first is the club's prior record. In 2007 the club and several individuals were sanctioned for videotaping signals of opposing defensive coaches in violation of the Constitution and Bylaws. Under the Integrity of the Game Policy, this prior violation of competitive rules was properly considered in determining the discipline in this case.
"Another important consideration identified in the Policy is 'the extent to which the club and relevant individuals cooperated with the investigation.' The Wells report identifies two significant failures in this respect. The first involves the refusal by the club's attorneys to make Mr. McNally available for an additional interview, despite numerous requests by Mr. Wells and a cautionary note in writing of the club's obligation to cooperate in the investigation. The second was the failure of Tom Brady to produce any electronic evidence (emails, texts, etc.), despite being offered extraordinary safeguards by the investigators to protect unrelated personal information. Although we do not hold the club directly responsible for Mr. Brady's refusal to cooperate, it remains significant that the quarterback of the team failed to cooperate fully with the investigation.
"Finally, it is significant that key witnesses -- Mr. Brady, Mr. Jastremski, and Mr. McNally -- were not fully candid during the investigation.
"In accepting the findings of the report, we note that the report identified no evidence of wrongdoing or knowledge of wrongdoing on the part of any member of the coaching staff, including Head Coach Bill Belichick, or by any Patriots' staff member other than Mr. Jastremski and Mr. McNally, including head equipment manager Dave Schoenfeld. Similarly, the Wells report is clear that Patriots ownership and executives did not participate in any way in the misconduct, or have knowledge of the misconduct.
"Nonetheless, it remains a fundamental principle that the club is responsible for the actions of club employees. This principle has been applied to many prior cases. Thus, while no discipline should or will be imposed personally on any owner or executive at the Patriots, discipline is appropriately imposed on the club."
**Update** New England Patriots issue statement regarding NFL Ruling;
"We are extremely disappointed in today’s ruling by Commissioner Goodell. We cannot comprehend the league’s position in this matter. Most would agree that the penalties levied originally were excessive and unprecedented, especially in light of the fact that the league has no hard evidence of wrongdoing. We continue to unequivocally believe in and support Tom Brady. We also believe that the laws of science continue to underscore the folly of this entire ordeal. Given all of this, it is incomprehensible as to why the league is attempting to destroy the reputation of one of its greatest players and representatives."
