"Once a cheater always a cheater."

If you don't like football, you probably dislike social media today. The 2015 NFL season kicked off last night and less than an hour after the Patriots beat the Steelers we had the first accusation of cheating floated at the Patriots. They have since been cleared of any nefarious intentions, but the damage has already been done.

As a loyal Patriots fan I can see the steaming pile of poo from a mile away. It is easier to blame the Patriots for cheating than to recognize they outplayed you. If you leave Gronk wide open, you better be prepared to taken advantage of every trip to the Red Zone. When in the Red Zone you should play disciplined ball and not sit in the end zone with your toes out of bounds. You should probably put in a little extra work if you know the coach across from you is the best in the business.

However, there is something else which has been bouncing around in my mind for a while. Everyone is going to accuse the Patriots of cheating because they have a history of cheating. It doesn't matter that yourteamcheats.com places them 22 out of 32 teams. The Patriots are "notorious" for cheating and "outrageous in their flaunting of the rules."

Reputation matters if you are going to be tried by the media and your peers. If you are standing before Jesus Christ, He cares not for your history. He's prepared to purify your sins and wash you whiter than snow.

Jesus doesn't want to excuse away your sins or cover them so you forget. He wants to rid you of them. They aren't meant to be brought up again. The hardest aspect of grace and forgiveness is overcoming the memories of our past. We should learn from our past, but not repeat our history. There are going to be new sins. It doesn't cancel out the forgiveness. New sins require fresh repentance, but are covered by the same grace.

Where most Christians lose their testimony is the hypocrisy they show. Saved by grace, but standing in judgement of others. I personally don't want to be my history.

Will the NFL ever find its balls?

For 225 days deflated balls have been the main topic of conversation for the NFL. Deflategate dominated the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl and the 211 days since. While Roger Goodell and his merry band of goons steadfastly hide behind deception and lies to keep Deflategate front and center, the fans of the NFL are deflected from the true deflated balls in the NFL. 

Wanted: a few good men of the NFL to take a stand for their mothers, sisters, wives, girlfriends, fiancees, cousins, housekeepers, assistants, and female fans. 

I'm avoiding a tangent to discuss the sufficient credible evidence the NFL's investigation found which prompted a ten game suspension and the general awareness of a more probable than not for Brady's four game. It is a topic for a different post. If Judge Berman delays his decision too long I'm sure you'll be objected to it. 

Real men don't hide behind campaigns to salvage a tarnished image. Real men will earn respect by daily living a life of integrity and respect.  

Harold Henderson acting as arbitrator reduced Greg Hardy's suspension from 10 games to 4 games. His reasoning as published on NFL.com "I find that the conduct of Hardy clearly violates the letter and spirit of any version of the (personal conduct policy) since its inception, and of the NFL Constitution and Bylaws long before then. The egregious conduct exhibited here is indefensible in the NFL," Henderson said in a statement obtained by NFL Media's Albert Breer. "However, ten games is simply too much, in my view, of an increase over prior cases without notice such as was done last year, when the 'baseline' for discipline in domestic violence or sexual assault cases was announced as a six-game suspension."

Currently Tom Brady and Greg Hardy are going to serve the same suspension. Brady was given a four game suspension for directing a Patriots' employee to let some air out of a football. Greg Hardy was involved in a domestic violence incident which left his now ex-girlfriend with "a range of injuries, including bruises and scratches on her neck, shoulders, upper chest, back, arms and feet."

The NFL suffers from deflated balls. A pair belongs to every player who will collect his paycheck while the League disrespects every female by equating their value with 1 PSI. 

On September 10th, 2015 there will be approximately 1,700 players representing 32 teams and not one man among them. Regardless of your thoughts on whether Tom Brady instructed a couple of Patriots' employees to stick a needle in a ball, a real man should be taking a stand against the mentality of the League. If there is a player, coach, owner, or ball boy truly concerned with the integrity of the League, Greg Hardy wouldn't have been signed. If a PR person, the Commissioner, or lawyers hope to gain some respect, they'll stop producing commercials to improve their image and become real men. 

Regardless of how Judge Berman rules there will be a reputation to save. Tom Brady might have to overcome the hollow cheating accusation, but I don't believe he will ever face abuse accusations. The NFL shield isn't used to protect women, but to protect those who abuse women. As long as you can throw, catch, or kick a football with some skill, you are welcome in the NFL regardless of the bruises you leave.

I may be idealistic, but I'd love to see some balls in the NFL inflated and some courage found. Where are the real men who will take a stand against the League? You don't have to support Brady to take issue with the demeaning mentality. 

The NFL just sent a message

The NFL just sent a message to all female fans. I'm going to give you a rough translation.

"Ladies, we value a pigskin more than we do you and your safety. However, we'll gladly  wear pink in October like we consider you more than just cheerleaders on the sidelines there for our viewing pleasure." Roger Goodell and the NFL.

I won't pretend I'm not pissed about Brady's suspension being upheld. I won't pretend I'm not seething Goodell more than likely sat around with his thumbs in his ears and waited until two days before training camp to break this news when he never intended on lessening the suspension. It is more probable than not the appeal was nothing more than Rog sitting on his throne using Brady as a court jester.

Upholding Brady's suspension at four games - the same punishment Greg Hardy received for assaulting his fiancee - is equivalent to the punishment being the same for jaywalking and DUI. The offenses are miles apart and yet the punishment is the same.

As a female fan of football I'm beyond annoyed. Greg Hardy physically assaulted his girlfriend. He put his hands on her in anger and did bodily harm. Tom Brady is suspected of maybe doing something wrong (wherein there is no proof). Every football player should be pissed off on behalf of their mothers, sisters, wives, girlfriends, cousins, and neighbors.

I Can't Live Without You

I hate memes. Really I do. I suppose it could be because according to one of my friends I am not a romantic. I'd disagree with him. I am a romantic. I just refuse to buy into the entertainment cliches everyone has been swallowing for years. 

In my opinion all of those are a stinky pile of Stella poo. I refuse to date the person who can't live without me. I'd never marry him. 

Let's be honest. We all can live without each other. Our lives will go on if the crush/flavor of the week/spouse/longtime significant other/baby mama isn't in our lives anymore. We are perfectly capable of functioning without them. It may hurt unbearably for a while, but we learn to put ourselves together and carry on. 

There is no one besides Jesus Christ with whom we should believe we can't live without. It's the truth. 

It is my belief relationships fail when we believe we can't live without the other person. Relationships work when we shift our focus from "I can't live without you" to "I don't want to live without you." The difference seems subtle, but it isn't. 

I am not talking Romeo and Juliet death pacts here. I am talking about choosing to honor someone's presence in our lives to the point of sacrifice, opening ourselves up to vulnerability with them, and knowing it will be hard at times. Relationships take on a different identity when instead of despair because things are tough, we hunker down (Orlando hurricane term!) and persevere. The reality is sometimes life would be easier without the other person, but rather than "I can live without you now when five years ago I couldn't" we realize "I can live without, but I don't want to." 

I'm waiting for the guy I want to spend the rest of my life. I've been proving for over a decade I can live without you. It is time to admit I don't want to anymore.

Oh no they didn't.

"We reached these decisions after extensive discussion with Troy Vincent and many others," Goodell said. "We relied on the critical importance of protecting the integrity of the game small bit of respect I have left in the League and the thoroughness inconclusive and independence biased (findings)of the Wells report."

Don Yee wins this round.
“The discipline is ridiculous and has no legitimate basis. In my opinion, this outcome was pre-determined; there was no fairness in the Wells investigation whatsoever. There is no evidence that Tom directed footballs be set at pressures below the allowable limits. In fact, the evidence shows Tom clearly emphasized that footballs be set at pressures within the rules. Tom also cooperated with the investigation and answered every question presented to him. The Wells Report presents significant evidence, however, that the NFL lacks standards or protocols with respect to its handling of footballs prior to games; this is not the fault of Tom or the Patriots. The report also presents significant evidence the NFL participated with the Colts in some type of pre-AFC Championship Game planning regarding the footballs. This fact may raise serious questions about the integrity of the games we view on Sundays. We will appeal, and if the hearing officer is completely independent and neutral, I am very confident the Wells Report will be exposed as an incredibly frail exercise in fact-finding and logic. The NFL has a well-documented history of making poor disciplinary decisions that often are overturned when truly independent and neutral judges or arbitrators preside, and a former federal judge has found the commissioner has abused his discretion in the past, so this outcome does not surprise me. Sadly, today’s decision diminishes the NFL as it tells its fans, players and coaches that the games on the field don’t count as much as the games played on Park Avenue."

Could it be Roger Goodell is too big for his britches?  Or perhaps he is bringing into question the integrity of the League with regards to his position.

"The League shall select and employ a person of unquestioned integrity to serve as Commissioner of the League...." NFL Bylaws.

According to Page 31 Goodell has broken the laws of the NFL. 

Robert Kraft, you are a man of upstanding character and a gem of an NFL owner.
Statement from Robert Kraft: “Despite our conviction that there was no tampering with footballs, it was our intention to accept any discipline levied by the league. Today’s punishment, however, far exceeded any reasonable expectation. It was based completely on circumstantial rather than hard or conclusive evidence. 

“We are humbled by the support the New England Patriots have received from our fans throughout the world. We recognize our fans’ concerns regarding the NFL’s penalties and share in their disappointment in how this one-sided investigation was handled, as well as the dismissal of the scientific evidence supported by the Ideal Gas Law in the final report.

“Tom Brady has our unconditional support. Our belief in him has not wavered.”

If Brady is suspended

the following individuals should face the same amount of suspension time.

1. The official responsible for testing the psi of the balls for the October 16, 2014 game against the Jets. A Google search didn't immediately identify the individual. The NFL keeps accurate records so I'm sure they can produce his name in .02 seconds. *snort*

If we are to take the words of Jastremski and McNally then there is one official out there who needs a little disciplinary action. 

Jastremski: I checked some of the balls this morn... The refs fucked us...a few of then were at almost 16 
Jastremski: They didnt recheck then after they put air in them 

Considering texts between Jastremski and McNally are being used to lead Brady to the gallows, I say they've laid a path for the official from that night. 

2. Whichever moron hired Exponent and which idiot at the NFL offices didn't question this decision and then question the decision to hire Wells.
As noted above, Paul, Weiss retained Exponent to assist with our investigation. Exponent is one of the leading scientific and engineering consulting firms in the country.

3. The crew for the AFC Championship game specifically Walt Anderson.
If you haven't read the Wells Report then you need to. Anderson lost the Patriots footballs twice after being told to keep an eye on them to preserve the integrity of the game. #epicfail

I'm thinking other members of his officiating crew need to be investigated as it appears as though they may have screwed up on the second/third biggest game of the NFL season.

4. Roger Goodell for allowing the NFL to become a joke. 
There really is no explanation needed. However, go read up on the Ray Rice scandal. It is enough evidence to support the idea Goodell has failed the NFL.

5. Dean Blandino
Lying Liar who Lies

there are questions I need answered.

1. How can you suspend a player when you have no evidence against him?

 The Wells Report is simply one man's (and his team all drawing a paycheck from him) translation of events. It certainly isn't proof Brady committed a crime. As a matter of fact they didn't establish any rules were broken. They forced a square peg into a round hole and called it craftsmanship.

2. Why did the NFL warn teams not to warm balls, but not warn the Patriots to maintain a proper psi level? 

I can't even get into this one without writing a novel. Had it been any team against the Patriots, you know they would have made this a national scandal. Instead it gets quietly swept aside along with the other QBs who have spoken publicly about their preferences for the balls. 

3. Could the officials have failed to properly inflate and inspect the balls during the AFC Championship game?

We are to accept the word of Walt Anderson he confirmed the Patriots balls were at 12.5 psi before the game. We are to accept the word of the officials the balls were pumped up to 12.5 psi during halftime. There is no record of this anywhere. There is plenty of record of what the psi recordings were when they are trying to condemn the Patriots, but no proof the Patriots started with balls approved by officials. The officials wrote nothing down. 

Anderson has officiated countless games during his career. We'd expect he knows what he is doing. However, when something becomes routine you can fail to give it the attention it deserves. You'd think the night of the AFC Championship game he'd have been on the ball. However, since he lost the balls, I say there is evidence he might not have been given the balls the responsibility the attention it required.

4. Were faulty gauges at play here? 
Please see footnotes 37, 38,  and 41. Also understand Anderson  used at least one gauge pre-game. 

5. Is your impression Tom Brady is too good for the rules and regulations of the game?

One common thought which has been voiced since the report was published is Tom Brady flaunts the rules because he is Tom Brady and a member of the New England Patriots. Apparently being a New England Patriots means you are a constant winner cheater.

From the Wells report.
Before the 2006-07 season, all game balls used during NFL games were supplied and prepared by the home team. The visiting team was dependent on the home team with respect to the preparation of game balls, a situation that Brady described in contemporaneous media reports as having led to sleepless nights.
According to Brady, he and then-Colts quarterback Peyton Manning had, on occasion, discussed how it would be better if all quarterbacks could prepare footballs to fit their individual preferences. As Brady stated in a 2006 media interview, the existing policy did not account for the fact that “every quarterback likes [footballs] a little bit different. Some like them blown up a little bit more, some like them a little more thin, some like them a little more new, some like them really broken in."
To address these concerns, Manning and Brady introduced a proposal to change the rule, which they circulated to quarterbacks across the League. Receiving approval from “basically everyone,” according to Brady, the proposal and the signatures gathered were presented to the NFL during the 2006 offseason. In March 2006, the NFL Competition Committee unanimously recommended that “each team‟s offense be permitted to use its own footballs, prepared by its equipment personnel, for its non-kicking snaps from scrimmage.”  
 Prior to the start of the next season, the NFL revised the guidelines to extend to visiting quarterbacks the requirement that “[a]ll game footballs must be prepared properly and consistently for use on game day, especially to the satisfaction of quarterbacks.” The new guidelines also provided: 
Each club (home and visitor) shall have available for inspection by the Referee a total of twelve (12), new Wilson Official NFL Footballs for all stadia (domed and outdoor) two hours and fifteen minutes before game time. Home clubs should have twelve (12) additional balls as backup for inclement weather or other reasons.  In addition, the 2006 guidelines reiterated the provisions of Rule 2 concerning the pre-game testing and approval by the referee of game and kicking balls. The guidelines retained the following disciplinary warning, which remains applicable: 
Once the balls have left the locker room, no one, including players, equipment managers and coaches are allowed to alter the footballs in any way. If any individual alters the footballs, or if a non-approved ball is used in the game, the person responsible and, if appropriate, the head coach or other club personnel will be subject to discipline, including but not limited to, a fine of $25,000.

So Brady and his QB friends introduced a proposal to address a situation he felt was frustrating QBs league-wide. It was presented and the NFL reviewed and approved. Sounds like a cheater to me. Rather than just doing his own thing he took the necessary steps to correct the situation for all QBs. What a horrible person he is. He should be tarred and feathered for his selfishness.

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).

Sounds suspect to me. After all if you are going to break the rules let's make sure the officials know which rules you intend on breaking. Before you rob the convenience store why don't you set off the alarm. It's a fun game those with less-than-ethical morals like to play.

6. If McNally can deflate 12 or 13 balls in a minute and a half why did the officials run out of time to test the Colts' balls?

7. Was the investigation and subsequent report on the findings unbiased?

Roger Goodell and his NFL hired Ted Wells to investigate Deflategate. 
On January 23, 2015, the NFL publicly announced that it had retained Theodore V. Wells, Jr. and the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison (“Paul, Weiss”) to conduct an investigation, together with NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Pash, into the footballs used by the Patriots during the AFC Championship Game. 

103 days later a 243 page report came out which killed a heck of a lot of trees and gave sports radio guys something to talk about for months to come. To paraphrase this report "we didn't find evidence anyone did anything wrong. we didn't find evidence everything was done right. we found nothing so we are going to sacrifice Tom Brady because his Colgate smile and cleft chin can survive this can of worms we just dumped on his head. we need to charge the NFL for something."

My theory is Roger Goodell needs to redeem himself after the Rice and Peterson missteps. Those are only two of his #epicfails during the 2014 season, but they are the most notable. His reputation took a huge hit. The league because a punchline. He's covering his balls because most NFL fans have him in their sites. 

Ted Wells is an attorney. Many cliches about attorneys exist including:

• They have too much money they are willing to gamble with. 
• They have drug addictions. 
• They are swimming in debt because they have to outdo Attorney Jones. 
• They are shady characters.
• You can pay them anything to say anything you want.

Wells hired Exponent to provide the scientific basis for the report. Exponent has made quite the name for itself. I don't want you to think it is only Boston newspapers calling Exponent's reputation into question. In case you don't like reading entire articles, let's chew on this for a second.

"The first thing you know is that when Exponent is brought in to help a company, that company is in big trouble," she said.

Given these facts. Roger Goodell had a vendetta against the Patriots and decided to perform reputation-saving resuscitation by slinging mud at the League's poster boy. Ted Wells lost money on the outcome of the Super Bowl and needed to get some of it back by dragging out the amount of time it took to complete the report. Exponent continues to be bought by cash  under the table by providing laughable results. 

No evidence to support the above statement. It is my opinion based on my feelings on Goodell, Wells, and Exponent and according to Wells it is all you need.

This report looks more and more like Swiss cheese every time I read it. Give me another week and I'll cook up a gourmet meal like the mice have never seen.

S-p-e-l-l i-t o-u-t

"A man who went to all this trouble will definitely use the nuke if he gets his hands on it." Paraphrasing Hawaii 5-0 tonight.

I've been scratching my head to answer the question "how do people find conclusive evidence Brady cheated in the Wells report?" I realized why. People need to be led by a collar and leash to a conclusion. A six or seven word headline is what most readers will comprehend. 1% of those who offer an opinion on Brady's guilt or innocence haven't read the entire report. Of those who did most need a clearly stated directive as they can't draw a conclusion to themselves.

It's a conspiracy by Hollywood to make stupid TV viewers so the NFL can brainwash us all to blindly follow their manipulations. /sarcasm

However, I am sincerely amazed at TV dialogue. If it doesn't lay a clear path....