Reading Comprehension

Today's world of slang and social media speak isn't helping increase reading comprehension. The current trial-by-peer Tom Brady is experiencing wouldn't be gaining traction if it weren't for the media's misleading declining skills in reading comprehension.

Tom Brady Cheated His Way to a Superbowl

Investigation Implicates Pats, Brady

I guess it depends on your definition of implicates.

im·pli·cate

ˈimpləˌkāt/

verb

3rd person present: implicates

1. 1.

   show (someone) to be involved in a crime.

   "police claims implicated him in many more killings"

   • 
     
   • 
     
2. 2.

   convey (a meaning or intention) indirectly through what one says, rather than stating it explicitly; imply.

   "by saying that coffee would keep her awake, Mary implicated that she didn't want any"

The report certainly isn't strong enough to be interpreted as show (someone) to be involved in a crime. The Well Report did everything but show. It certainly did imply.  This is where reading comprehension is failing us as a society.  

"For the reasons described in this Report, and after a comprehensive investigation, we have concluded that, in connection with the AFC Championship Game, it is more probable than not that New England Patriots personnel participated in violations of the Playing Rules and were involved in a deliberate effort to circumvent the rules."

prob·a·ble

ˈpräbəb(ə)l/

adjective

1. 1.

   likely to be the case or to happen.

   "it is probable that the economic situation will deteriorate further"

I will concede given the Patriots history why a firm could conclude it is likely to happen the  Patriots would bend the rules. However, a few things must be noted about Spygate.

• Patriots were accused by Eric Mangini who had intimate knowledge of their practices as a former member of the Patriots staff. 
• Coach Bill Belichick cooperated and admitted to his actions. He apologized. 
• Patriots accepted their punishments and  corrected their actions.

I don't know why the best coach in football needed to videotape the Jets. They stopped and went on to a 16-0 regular season. They also are the only 18-0 team in NFL history. The Miami Dolphins who won the Super Bowl the year they had an undefeated regular season did so with a record of 17-0.

While everyone is concentrating on Brady's probably part in an unproven accusation. There are elements to the report which aren't irrefutable. The NFL might want to consider punishments for others present the night of the AFC Championship game.

"As far as the gameballs are concerned it is well known around the league that after the Patriots gameballs are checked by the officials and brought out for game usage the ballboys for the patriots will let out some air with a ball needle because their quarterback likes a smaller football so he can grip it better, it would be great if someone would be able to check the air in the game balls as the game goes on so that they don‟t get an illegal advantage."

Yet the fans never hear of this. There are sources everywhere to leak this information so the Evil Dynasty known as Patriots nation can take it on the chin. Where are those sources now? Where were they then?

"During the second quarter of the AFC Championship Game, a ball thrown by Tom Brady was intercepted by a player for the Colts and the ball was taken to the Colts sideline. On the sideline, Colts equipment personnel used a pressure gauge to measure the inflation level of the ball, determined that it was below the minimum 12.5 psi level and informed a game official and other NFL personnel. Prior to the game, Colts personnel had notified the NFL that they suspected that the Patriots might be deflating game balls below the minimum level permissible under the Playing Rules, although they did not support their suspicions with any specific factual information."

If Brady hadn't thrown the pick would the Colts have had opportunity to make a complaint? Let's consider the report's statement of facts. I'm supposed to believe a member of the Indianapolis Colts crew only let out enough air to see if the ball was below the league mandated 12.5 psi. I'm blonde. I'm not dumb. One word: Irsay.

"During interviews, when asked to explain the source of their concerns about the Patriots game balls, Grigson, Sullivan, and other members of the Colts equipment staff referenced the Colts Week 11 game against the Patriots in Indianapolis. During that game, Colts strong safety Mike Adams intercepted two passes thrown by Tom Brady. On both occasions, Adams handed the footballs to Brian Seabrooks, an Assistant Equipment Manager for the Colts, on the sideline. Sullivan also examined the footballs because, as he described it, he always checks to see how other teams prepare their balls to “make sure no one is doing a better job.” Sullivan and Seabrooks said that the intercepted footballs appeared to be coated in a tacky substance and seemed spongy or soft when squeezed. They explained that even though they did not test the air pressure of the intercepted footballs at the time, based on their years of experience, the softness of the balls raised suspicions. They also cited unspecified chatter throughout the League that the Patriots prefer their footballs softer than other teams and that visiting teams should be on guard when playing at Gillette Stadium. They could not identify a specific source for this information or reference particular conversations." 

Did nothing substantial come of the sticky substance? Perhaps the deflated ball story has no air.

"In response to the pre-game concerns raised by the Colts, NFL Football Operations staff had notified the head of the NFL Officiating Department, Dean Blandino, and a senior officiating supervisor who would be attending the game, Alberto Riveron. During a pre-game conversation concerning various game-day topics, Riveron told referee Walt Anderson that a concern had been raised about the air pressure of the game balls. Anderson told Riveron that he would be sure to follow his usual ball inspection procedure to ensure that the balls were properly inflated." 

Anderson's previous hysterics over losing the game balls before kick off must have elevated his blood pressure and sent 747s flying through his stomach. Maybe he should have checked the balls before the Colts and cold weather affected the psi.

"After being informed during the second quarter of the AFC Championship Game that the Colts had measured a Patriots game ball and found it to be under-inflated, and having previously been advised of the Colts‟ suspicions, Riveron decided that the game balls for both teams should be inspected at halftime by the game officials. Two other senior NFL personnel present at the game, Troy Vincent and Mike Kensil, independently reached the same conclusion.

At halftime, under Riveron‟s supervision, two alternate game officials (Clete Blakeman and Dyrol Prioleau) tested eleven Patriots game balls and four Colts game balls. The Patriots ball intercepted by the Colts was not among the eleven Patriots balls tested. Each official used a separate air pressure gauge provided by referee Anderson that Anderson had brought with him to the game, one of which also had been used by Anderson for his pre-game inspection. Each of the eleven Patriots balls tested at halftime measured below the minimum 12.5 psi level established by the Playing Rules on both gauges. Each of the four Colts balls tested measured within the permissible 12.5 to 13.5 psi range on at least one of the gauges. The measurements were recorded in writing by Richard Farley, an NFL security official who has been assigned to the Patriots and Gillette Stadium for approximately twelve years. Only four Colts balls were tested because the officials were running out of time before the start of the second half."

Yet they only time to check 4 of the Colts' balls with 3 showing they were under inflated and had dropped considerably from the 13.1 Anderson can best recollect they were inflated to. Things which make you go hmmm.

Kudos to the officials for ignoring the ball sitting on the Colts' sideline. They are infinitesimally smarter than I gave them credit for. Although the Colts seem to have them by the balls.

Farley recorded the halftime pressure measurements taken by the game officials as follows: 

Patriots Ball Blakeman Prioleau 

1                        11.50          11.80 

2                        10.85         11.20 

3                        11.15          11.50 

4                        10.70        11.00 

5                        11.10         11.45 

6                        11.60        11.95 

7                        11.85        12.30 

8                        11.10        11.55 

9                        10.95       11.35 

10                      10.50      10.90 

11                      10.90       11.35

I'd say at best we have inconsistent conclusions. The different in psi by gauge is significant or does .5 psi really not matter? Let's contrast with the Colts' small sampling.

Colts Ball Blakeman Prioleau 

1                    12.70      12.35 

2                    12.75     12.30 

3                    12.50    12.95 

4                    12.55    12.15 

Let's consider from the level of psi the balls started from. 

"Anderson recalls that most of the Patriots footballs measured 12.5 psi, though there may have been one or two that measured 12.6 psi. No air was added to or released from these balls because they were within the permissible range. According to Anderson, two of the game balls provided by the Patriots measured below the 12.5 psi threshold. Yette used the air pump provided by the Patriots to inflate those footballs, explaining that he “purposefully overshot” the range (because it is hard to be precise when adding air), and then gave the footballs back to Anderson, who used the air release valve on his gauge to reduce the pressure down to 12.5 psi. 

According to Anderson, when tested, most of the Colts footballs measured 13.0 or 13.1 psi. Anderson believes that there may have been one or two footballs that registered 12.8 or 12.9 psi, but recalls that it was “pretty evident that their target was 13.” Because the Colts balls all measured within the permissible range, no air was added to or released from the footballs."

So the Colts' balls dropped from 13.0/13.1 to 12.15-12.95. The Patriots' balls dropped from 12.5 to 10.5-12.3.  An interesting note. One official clearly recorded the lower numbers for one team while the other recorded lower numbers for the other. I'd say we didn't have a good control of our sampling. Right there I have reasonable suspicion as to the official's findings. The officials never get it wrong though so I'll blindly believe them.

"As part of the investigation, scientific consultants were engaged to assist the investigative team. These consultants included Exponent, one of the leading scientific and engineering consulting firms in the country, and Dr. Daniel R. Marlow, the Evans Crawford 1911 Professor of Physics at Princeton University and former Chairman of the Princeton University Physics Department, who served as a special scientific consultant, coordinated with Exponent on its testing and analytical work, and advised the investigative team."

I'm not going to do all the work for you. Google Exponent and see for yourself why they shouldn't be testing anything nor their finding to be considered conclusive. If you are apt to believe their findings, please feel free to eat paint off the walls and sit in a room with a chain smoker for the next ten years. 

"Anderson‟s first formal responsibility with respect to the AFC Championship Game was a routine status call with Dean Blandino on Saturday afternoon. Both Anderson and Blandino recall that their primary topic of discussion was the unusual substitution issue that had arisen during the Patriots playoff game against the Ravens the prior weekend. Blandino also reported that during the call he mentioned that the Colts had raised certain concerns about playing at Gillette Stadium. Although Grigson‟s email was not the focus of the conversation, and may not have been specifically referenced, Blandino reminded Anderson to ensure that proper protocols concerning the footballs were followed."

If you didn't want the AFC Championship game to go through Foxboro, you should have won a few more games and been sitting atop the AFC. The ridiculous burns.

Harbaugh is still on my crap list. If you aren't smart enough to break down an opposing teams offensive scheme, perhaps being a head coach in the NFL isn't for you. You were out-coached you whining baby. Deal with it. Happens to you regularly. 

As for Anderson. Way to drop the ball, buddy. Pun intended.

"At some point on Sunday morning, Anderson also had a brief conversation with Alberto Riveron. Without explaining the concerns raised by the Colts in detail, Riveron mentioned that concerns had been raised about the game balls, and that Anderson should be sure to follow proper pre-game procedures. Riveron recalls that Anderson responded that he had things covered and may have mentioned that he had already discussed the issue with Blandino." 

Did it take too long to sink in Anderson?  Oh wait. It gets better. He was warned not once, but twice.

"After completion of his League-mandated drug test—the first thing he did upon arrival in the Officials Locker Room—Walt Anderson recalls noticing that the game and back-up balls for both the Patriots and the Colts had been delivered.  

Shortly thereafter, at approximately 3:45 p.m., Anderson, with the assistance of Greg Yette, began preparing the footballs for inspection. Anderson and Yette took the balls out of the bags and laid them out in four separate areas within the locker room shower area, making sure to separate them by team and designation (i.e., game balls and back-up balls). 

 Anderson typically gauges all of the game balls for one team, and then all of the game balls for the other team, before testing the back-up balls. He does not remember whether he began with the Patriots or the Colts game balls on the day of the AFC Championship Game. He does recall that he gauged all of the footballs in the shower area of the locker room prior to the game. 

Anderson travels with two pressure gauges. He acquired both from the League within the past few seasons, and both are battery-powered digital gauges.29 The gauges appear similar, but one has the word “ON” on its face to indicate the on/off button and has a red Wilson logo on the back, while the other gauge has a red on/off button with no lettering and does not have the Wilson logo on the back. These gauges will be referred to herein as the “Logo Gauge” and the “Non-Logo Gauge,” respectively. Anderson is certain that he checked the footballs prior to the AFC Championship Game with one of the two gauges that he brought with him to Gillette Stadium. Although Anderson‟s best recollection is that he used the Logo Gauge, he said that it is certainly possible that he used the Non-Logo Gauge.30 

When tested, all of the Patriots footballs—both game balls and back-up balls— registered on the lower-end of the permissible inflation range. Anderson recalls that most of the Patriots footballs measured 12.5 psi, though there may have been one or two that measured 12.6 psi. No air was added to or released from these balls because they were within the permissible range. 

According to Anderson, two of the game balls provided by the Patriots measured below the 12.5 psi threshold. Yette used the air pump provided by the Patriots to inflate those footballs, explaining that he “purposefully overshot” the range (because it is hard to be precise when adding air), and then gave the footballs back to Anderson, who used the air release valve on his gauge to reduce the pressure down to 12.5 psi. 

According to Anderson, when tested, most of the Colts footballs measured 13.0 or 13.1 psi. Anderson believes that there may have been one or two footballs that registered 12.8 or 12.9 psi, but recalls that it was “pretty evident that their target was 13.” Because the Colts balls all measured within the permissible range, no air was added to or released from the footballs."

FYI Commish and Head of Officials, you might want to make sure the teams specify the psi they are targeting and make sure it is recorded. I've seen the age of some of these officials and I've seen some of the calls they make. I am not going to accept Anderson's recollection because he just might be covering his ball failure. Also the man had been clued in twice he needed to be on top of his game, yet he still misplaced the balls.

"By 6:35 p.m., all of the members of the officiating crew other than Anderson, Veteri, Blakeman and Yette had left the Officials Locker Room. When the remaining officials walked into the sitting room area on their way to the field, all four were surprised to find that the ball bags were not there. Both Anderson and Veteri immediately asked Farley where the footballs were. Farley checked for the ball bags in the back part of the locker room (where he saw the bags of back-up balls) and in the adjacent Chain Gang Locker Room, but could not find them. When it was suggested that McNally had or may have taken them to the field, Anderson responded that “he‟s not supposed to do that.” Anderson also stated that “we have to find the footballs.” Blakeman recalls that although Anderson is usually calm and composed leading up to a game, Anderson was visibly concerned and uncharacteristically used an expletive when the game balls could not be located. The other officials were similarly surprised and concerned. None of the officials in the locker room at the time realized that the game balls had been removed from the locker room until they were ready to go to the field for the start of the game, and all expected that the balls would not leave the locker room until it was time for them to take the field."

*Expletive!* Anderson lost his balls. Right about now is when the suspicions would be creeping in and if I was working that night, I would have confirmed nothing out-of-the-ordinary had happened besides them being taken to the field early in the melee. Oh but Anderson didn't. Heck no. 

"Although the officials were concerned about the situation, with kickoff approaching, they decided to take the field. Farley and the officials left the Officials Locker Room and walked to the field at approximately 6:36 p.m. As seen on the security footage, Farley walked approximately 10 seconds ahead of the officials because, as he explained, he was in a hurry to reach the field to look for the footballs. 

As soon as he reached the field, Farley looked for McNally by the instant replay booth, where McNally regularly arrives with the game balls, but did not see him. He did, however, see John Raucci, Director of Investigative Services at the NFL, shortly after stepping onto the field and asked if Raucci had seen either McNally or the game balls. Raucci said that he had seen neither. In an effort to ensure that the teams had footballs on the field for the start of the game, Farley headed back toward the Officials Locker Room to get the back-up balls. He is seen on the security footage at approximately 6:42 p.m. walking back down the tunnel leading to the field with the bags of back-up balls. Farley reported that prior to the AFC Championship Game, he has never been in a situation where the game balls could not be located or where he had to retrieve the back-up balls from the Officials Locker Room prior to kickoff. 

Shortly after taking the field, after Farley had returned to the Officials Locker Room for the back-up balls, Anderson and the other officials noticed that McNally and the game balls were on the field. When Farley returned to the field with the back-up balls, he learned the same thing. He returned the back-up balls to the Officials Locker Room shortly before kickoff, and the game began at approximately 6:50 p.m. with the proper set of game balls."

Are we to assume these are the proper set of balls? Because if this statement is true we destroyed a lot of trees making paper for this long-winded report. I think Wells reads it to himself at night crowing like Peter Pan "oh the cleverness of me!" There is an appointment with reality set for you next week, Ted, a follow up will be scheduled with humility.

"On February 12, 2015, we interviewed McNally on these topics as well. He explained to us that he told the game officials that he was moving the game balls to the sitting room, where he watched the end of the NFC Championship Game for up to ten minutes. He estimated that there were twenty people in the sitting room at the time. According to McNally, when the NFC Championship Game ended shortly after the start of the overtime period, an unidentified NFL official said something like “we‟re back on again,” so he picked up the balls and began to walk out of the Officials Locker Room."

A simple mistake as a time crunch ensued when OT ended quickly? A guy's bladder has cast a cloud of doubt. I'm skipping a lot of the he-said-she-said. Why? Because Wells clearly takes Anderson at his word and disregards anyone who disagrees with him. Unbiased my butt.

"Kensil lost sight of the Patriots game balls at the beginning of halftime, so he walked to the Patriots locker room to make sure they were not there. He asked Berj Najarian, a Patriots employee who functions as Coach Belichick‟s chief of staff, to check inside the Patriots locker room for the balls."

Nearly midnight funny.  These officials lose track of their balls often. Ineptness by the officials or scheming by the Patriots. Must be the Patriots. After all the officials never do something questionable. Sorry I just choked on that ball of crap.

This report relies heavily on our faith in the officials to be doing their jobs properly. Yet this report clearly shows they fell down on the job. Repeatedly. If I was worried something shady was happening at work, I'd be plastered to the proof.

As for Brady's awareness and participation:

"Our conclusions with respect to Tom Brady also are based on an analysis of the substantial and credible evidence. The evidence does not allow us to reach conclusions as to when McNally and Jastremski began their efforts to release air from Patriots game balls on game day (although McNally referred to himself as “the deflator” prior to the start of the 2014-15 season), exactly how long those efforts have been ongoing, how frequently they occurred, how 17 the idea originated or the full scope of communications related to those efforts. We also note that there is less direct evidence linking Brady to tampering activities than either McNally or Jastremski. We nevertheless believe, based on the totality of the evidence, that it is more probable than not that Brady was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities of McNally and Jastremski involving the release of air from Patriots game balls. Evidence of Brady‟s awareness appears in text communications between McNally and Jastremski." 

Sure. Give us a sampling which supports your narrative - don't insult me and call it substantial. Don't provide us with the hours of interviews you conducted with Tom Brady. Just point out he wouldn't allow you access to his email or texts. I wouldn't either you morons. They'd end up on TMZ in a heartbeat carefully edited to show he cheated on Gisele with an alien and had fathered mutant children who were a nice shade of purple. 

"Jastremski: Talked to him last night. He actually brought you up and said you must have a lot of stress trying to get them done... 

Jastremski: I told him it was. He was right though... 

Jastremski: I checked some of the balls this morn... The refs fucked us...a few of then were at almost 16 

We believe that the most plausible reading of this exchange, based on the context and the evidence, is that Brady “brought up” McNally, told Jastremski that McNally “must have a lot of stress trying” to get the footballs “done” and that Jastremski told Brady that it was stressful for McNally. Jastremski‟s text message thus attributes to Brady knowledge of McNally‟s efforts to get the footballs “done” and the stress involved."

I believe a plausible translation of this exchange is the refs inflated the balls to a higher psi than Brady liked. As a competitor he got worked up and may have been passionate in his communication of his displeasure. Translated: Brady got intense and probably let them know the balls weren't to his liking with a few of NBC's favorite "f bombs." 

"Moreover, taking the text messages as a whole, Brady is a constant reference point in the discussions between McNally and Jastremski about inflation, deflation, needles and 18 items to be received by McNally."

This is because they were conspiring to perform nefarious deeds. It has nothing to do with the fact they work together. I can't with the stupid.

"During this process, the inflation level is set at least two times, once prior to footballs being used in practice and once at the very end, on game day, just prior to Brady‟s selection of footballs for use in a game. When interviewed, Brady claimed to have known nothing about the permissible inflation range set by the NFL Playing Rules or the inflation range targeted by the Patriots until after the Patriots game against the New York Jets on October 16, 2014. Similarly, Jastremski claimed to have never read Rule 2 prior to that game, although he acknowledged being generally aware of the permissible inflation range and of Brady‟s preference for footballs set “closer to 12.5 than 13.” According to Jastremski, before the October 2014 game against the Jets, it had been his practice to inflate Patriots game balls to a level between 12.75 and 12.85 psi without thinking much about it, simply because, according to Jastremski, that had been the range targeted by his predecessor.20 According to Brady, Jastremski and other Patriots personnel, during the October 2014 Jets game, Brady complained angrily about the feel and inflation level of the game balls. He told Jastremski between drives that the balls felt “like bricks” and were heavier and harder to grip than they had been when he approved them prior to the game. Although Jastremski believed during the game that Brady was simply being competitive, he tested the air pressure of the game balls the next morning, discovered that many of them were over-inflated, and told Brady that he was right. Following the Jets game, Brady and Jastremski had a number of conversations concerning the inflation level of game balls. According to Brady, at some point after the Jets game and before the game against the Chicago Bears the following weekend, he asked to see a copy of the applicable Playing Rule, learned for the first time that the permissible inflation range was 12.5 to 13.5 psi, and was told that the Patriots typically inflated game balls slightly above 12.5 psi. Brady also stated that, at some point, he felt a football that was inflated to 12.5 psi, and decided that should be the target for all future games because he did “not ever want to get near the upper range again.” In addition, Brady stated that he suggested that the Patriots give the game officials a copy of Rule 2 when they delivered game balls prior to each game, so that the officials would know that it was not necessary to inflate them further. He claimed that doing so would help ensure that the officials did not alter the footballs he had approved. Jastremski stated that, starting with the October 26, 2014 game against the Bears, he set all game balls to 12.6 psi (leaving 0.1 psi as a cushion in case air escaped when the officials checked the balls prior to the game)."

That Shady Brady. Always trying to circumvent the rules. Giving the officials the rule so they could acknowledge the Patriots respected them is the most dishonest thing a NFL player could do. Let's ban him from football for life.

We could just embrace one line of the report and take it out of context and blow the whole thing out of the water.

" regardless of the assumptions made"

Ass-u-me

To borrow from the Wells report - 

I do not believe that the evidence establishes that any other Patriots personnel participated in or had knowledge of the violation of the Playing Rules or the deliberate effort to circumvent the rules described in this Report. 

I could also suggest it is probable given the bias of the findings Wells had a vested interest in the outcome of the Super Bowl. Perhaps it didn't conclude to his liking. I wouldn't want to be suggesting the plausibility of his perhaps having a gambling problem which results in a money problem which results in him making under the table deals with the NFL to complete a report. Making assumptions such as those would be harmful to a person and their credibility especially if I lacked the conclusive evidence to back it up.