#DFG: Canceling the Noise

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

I was in a pool! I was in a pool!!!!

 

[jimbobim]

Florio publishing this narrative buster at the dead of night..... 
 
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/24/still-waiting-for-deflategate-outcome/
 
But that doesn’t mean no one will be getting in trouble.
As one league source recently explained it to PFT, the league’s investigation has expanded to explore its own behavior, including for example the identity of person(s) who leaked to the media information that suggested the Patriots did something wrong.
Regardless of how it plays out, it needs to play out.  No matter how played out it all has become.

 

[soxhop411]

Florio publishing this narrative buster at the dead of night..... 
 
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/24/still-waiting-for-deflategate-outcome/
 
But that doesnt mean no one will be getting in trouble.
As one league source recently explained it to PFT, the leagues investigation has expanded to explore its own behavior, including for example the identity of person(s) who leaked to the media information that suggested the Patriots did something wrong.
Regardless of how it plays out, it needs to play out.  No matter how played out it all has become.

That's interesting

 

[CaptainLaddie]

Isn't it kinda what we expected?

I'd love to see the NFL throw Kensil or whomever on their own sword after this shit.
 
Still, whatever happens I'm sure plenty of NFL fans will just accuse the Pats of cheating again, even if they're cleared of everything.

 

[nattysez]

Isn't it kinda what we expected?

I'd love to see the NFL throw Kensil or whomever on their own sword after this shit.
 
Still, whatever happens I'm sure plenty of NFL fans will just accuse the Pats of cheating again, even if they're cleared of everything.

 
It's the absolute best-case scenario, which I think most of us assumed could never happen because a report that kills Kensil, Grigson and Irsay and vindicates the Pats does not "protect the Shield."  I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[nighthob]

It's the absolute best-case scenario, which I think most of us assumed could never happen because a report that kills Kensil, Grigson and Irsay and vindicates the Pats does not "protect the Shield."  I'll believe it when I see it.

Actually it does. What would damage the shield is the implication that the Super Bowl win was illegitimate.

 

[Kull]

Florio publishing this narrative buster at the dead of night..... 
 
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/24/still-waiting-for-deflategate-outcome/
 
But that doesn’t mean no one will be getting in trouble.
As one league source recently explained it to PFT, the league’s investigation has expanded to explore its own behavior, including for example the identity of person(s) who leaked to the media information that suggested the Patriots did something wrong.
Regardless of how it plays out, it needs to play out.  No matter how played out it all has become.

 
Hopefully that's a reference to the story which called out Pats employee Jim McNally for giving an "unapproved special teams football" to one of the officials. Even though whoever leaked it was almost certainly aware that the real culprit was an NFL employee stealing footballs intended for charity. As ridiculous as this entire "scandal" may have been, that was uniquely despicable.
 
With any luck, the reporter who was played on this is wiling to name names.

 

[soxhop411]

Btw. Isn't this what sharks of Vegas has been saying?

 

[E5 Yaz]

Btw. Isn't this what sharks of Vegas has been saying?

 
SoV hasn't said anything that others broke before them

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

 
SoV hasn't said anything that others broke before them

I'm having trouble finding the tweets right now, but I believe he tweeted a couple days after the AFCCG that the investigation had expanded beyond the Patriots to the Colts and officials. It's true, however, that he hasn't given much in the way of specifics and it's hard to tell when he's reporting what he's learned from his source, as opposed to his own speculation/predictions.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Mike Kensil, Vince McMahon would like to have a word with you.

 

[tims4wins]

$50 to the Jimmy Fund if Kensil and/or Grigson are found guilty - who else is in?

 

[Ed Hillel]

Also, this is actually gearing up towards a public apology from Goodell to Kraft and the Patriots. That one gets a special place in the links thread.

 

[tims4wins]

Also, this is actually gearing up towards a public apology from Goodell to Kraft and the Patriots. That one gets a special place in the links thread.

 
:fap:

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

Also, this is actually gearing up towards a public apology from Goodell to Kraft and the Patriots. That one gets a special place in the links thread.

Absent evidence of an actual conspiracy (as opposed to an earnest, but overzealous attempt to catch them red-handed) I see no way this happens.

I'm happy to give $50 to the JF if it does.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Absent evidence of an actual conspiracy (as opposed to an earnest, but overzealous attempt to catch them red-handed) I see no way this happens.

I'm happy to give $50 to the JF if it does.

If the Wells Report is investigating NFL FO employees who leaked slanted, derogatory information about the Pats, I don't see how Goodell avoids it. The FO is supposed to be Switzerland and, to the extent it's shown not to be, Goodell will be the one out there apologizing for it not acting in that capacity. If the Wells Report does identify individual(s) (MIKE KENSIL) who were leaking slanted information that damaged the Patriots' brand, what choice does Goodell really have? What other response could there be? It's going to be ugly for them.

I wonder if, and how far, they are looking into members of the Colts organization who did the same thing.

 

[Shelterdog]

If the Wells Report is investigating NFL FO employees who leaked slanted, derogatory information about the Pats, I don't see how Goodell avoids it. The FO is supposed to be Switzerland and, to the extent it's shown not to be, Goodell will be the one out there apologizing for it not acting in that capacity. If the Wells Report does identify individual(s) (MIKE KENSIL) who were leaking slanted information that damaged the Patriots' brand, what choice does Goodell really have? What other response could there be? It's going to be ugly for them.

I wonder if, and how far, they are looking into members of the Colts organization who did the same thing.

 
You've got it backwards.  In all likelihood the Wells Report will only cover NFL employees who leaked info if Goodell (or whoever is actually calling the shots on this) wants it to.  The Wells report isn't going to address topics the NFL doesn't want it to address.

 

[Ed Hillel]

 
You've got it backwards.  In all likelihood the Wells Report will only cover NFL employees who leaked info if Goodell (or whoever is actually calling the shots on this) wants it to.  The Wells report isn't going to address topics the NFL doesn't want it to address.

Not sure I agree, since we've already heard that information about the crooked NFL employee ballboy is in the report. Kraft has some say here, and if he finds the NFL is hiding anything, he may go off. What PFT doesn't make clear is what the "league investigation" is. I assumed it was the Wells Report, maybe not.

 

[pappymojo]

In Kraft's original press conference he demanded an apology if no evidence of the Patriots cheating is found.

 

[dcmissle]

I've been optimistic -- and I think realistic -- since those few days when BB held his tour-de-force presser, Wells' retention was announced, and Kraft went off when he arrived at the SB site. I continue to have faith in Wells the careful, honest lawyer. Few things in life are certain; one of them is that Kraft will get his hands on that report (and so will we all). Everything will flow from that.

It may be significant that this has been floated to Florio, who in turn posted it in the middle of the night. Expectations need managing as we get to the end game.

 

[Norm loves Vera]

If someone from the Well's Investigation team reached out to Kravitz, wouldn't he have written about it?  I mean, there can't be any binding legal reason Kravitz to keep quiet.  is there?
 
Kensil, however, could just have his NFL phone records pulled to see any and all conversations/texts before and during the game.  If there was an inner circle of anti Patriots who conspired, ala an NFL Trilateral Commission of sorts, well exposing that and cleaning them out could be a huge PR boon to Goodell as to him turning over a new leaf of accountability and transparency of the NFL FO.
 
I know this outcome is wishcasting upon my Patriot fanboyism.

 

[loshjott]

In Kraft's original press conference he demanded an apology if no evidence of the Patriots cheating is found.

 
I think if the report totally vindicates the Pats and an apology is warranted, Goodell will deliver it in private and Kraft will accept it in private. Kraft will then issue a bland statement along the lines of "I had a good discussion with the Commissioner and he reiterated that the report found no evidence that the Patriots tried to undermine the integrity of the game...yadda yadda yadda."
 
At this point I don't believe Kraft will find any value in making Goodell publicly humiliate himself. Kraft will have him by the balls and rather than squeezing now he'll keep holding in case he needs to squeeze later.

 

[Red Right Ankle]

If someone from the Well's Investigation team reached out to Kravitz, wouldn't he have written about it?  I mean, there can't be any binding legal reason Kravitz to keep quiet.  is there?
 
Kensil, however, could just have his NFL phone records pulled to see any and all conversations/texts before and during the game.  If there was an inner circle of anti Patriots who conspired, ala an NFL Trilateral Commission of sorts, well exposing that and cleaning them out could be a huge PR boon to Goodell as to him turning over a new leaf of accountability and transparency of the NFL FO.
 
I know this outcome is wishcasting upon my Patriot fanboyism.

Why would it be a PR boon to Goodell if it's discovered that a bunch of guys under his employ were trying to fuck over one of his employers?  Especially if they are not holdovers from the previous administration.  If anything, it burnishes his sterling reputation for incompetence.

 

[Hoya81]

If someone from the Well's Investigation team reached out to Kravitz, wouldn't he have written about it?  I mean, there can't be any binding legal reason Kravitz to keep quiet.  is there?
 
Kensil, however, could just have his NFL phone records pulled to see any and all conversations/texts before and during the game.

I imagine this may also apply to any Colts FO personnel up to and including Grigson and Irsay, given the precedent set by the Textgate/Noisegate investigations.

 

[steveluck7]

If someone from the Well's Investigation team reached out to Kravitz, wouldn't he have written about it?  I mean, there can't be any binding legal reason Kravitz to keep quiet.  is there?
 
Kensil, however, could just have his NFL phone records pulled to see any and all conversations/texts before and during the game.  If there was an inner circle of anti Patriots who conspired, ala an NFL Trilateral Commission of sorts, well exposing that and cleaning them out could be a huge PR boon to Goodell as to him turning over a new leaf of accountability and transparency of the NFL FO.
 
I know this outcome is wishcasting upon my Patriot fanboyism.

I don't really know if Wells would reach out to Kravitz since he wouldn't divulge his sources and isn't an NFL or team employee. Wells has probably spoken to folks in the Colts organization who were the likely culprits of the original leak. 

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

Why would it be a PR boon to Goodell if it's discovered that a bunch of guys under his employ were trying to fuck over one of his employers?  Especially if they are not holdovers from the previous administration.  If anything, it burnishes his sterling reputation for incompetence.

Agreed. And much of the country will view it as evidence of Goodell kowtowing to Kraft.

 

[dcmissle]

That's the third rail here, and my optimism falls short of it being exposed -- that an in house crew was hell bent on suspending BB for the Super Bowl. That is not the sort of thing anyone with any sense puts in writing. I think the crew would deny it to Wells, and I think Goodell would too. I think we're likely to get what Nixon's henchmen wanted in Watergate -- a "modified, limited hangout." Unlike the henchmen, maybe Goodell's crew get to keep their jobs.

EDIT. The case against the NFL office for harmful, systemic leaking is ironclad. All you have to do is a Google search. That I expect to be addressed.

 

[lithos2003]

Why would it be a PR boon to Goodell if it's discovered that a bunch of guys under his employ were trying to fuck over one of his employers?  Especially if they are not holdovers from the previous administration.  If anything, it burnishes his sterling reputation for incompetence.

 
It's all about perception IMO.  It's fairly obvious at this point that there are employees in the NFL front office who leak way more than they should and potentially have an agenda.  An action like this could be seen as Goodell trying to fix past mistakes.  Turning over a new leaf so to speak.

 

[Red Right Ankle]

 
It's all about perception IMO.  It's fairly obvious at this point that there are employees in the NFL front office who leak way more than they should and potentially have an agenda.  An action like this could be seen as Goodell trying to fix past mistakes.  Turning over a new leaf so to speak.

The scandal that harms you most is the one that feeds into the pre-existing narrative about you.
 
Perception doesn't start anew from the moment the report is released.  Goodell is already perceived as a floundering ninny - this just reinforces that narrative.  

 

[DJnVa]

Isn't it kinda what we expected?

 
 
Actually, I don't think it is.
 
Some folks in here have been posting thoughts similar to that, but usually within 5 minutes we would get a "It's the Patriots!!! They are going to BURN THEM!" type of response.
 
 

 

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

This ain't happening today, is it?

 

[soxhop411]

This ain't happening today, is it?

nope

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

One point for each correct answer. I will donate $50 to the charity of the winner's choice. Entries open until full report is released. Teams (Colts, Pats) are defined to include any player, employee, owner, GM, etc.

1. Is the report released before Memorial Day?

2. Do the Pats receive any discipline?

3. Do the Colts receive any discipline?

4. Does any other team receive any discipline?

5. Over/under on full Wells report length: 212 pages (including TOC, exhibits, etc).

6. Is Mike Kensil fired as a result of the report's findings?

7. Is anyone else in NFL game operations or officiating fired?

8. Does the report explicitly confirm Dr. Belichick's scientific explanation?

9. Does Goodell publicly apologize to the Pats?

10. Is anyone from the Pats fired as a result of the report's findings?

11. Is anyone from the Colts fired as a result of the report's findings?

Edit: In the event of a tie in points, winner is whoever posted first.
Edit: To clarify that "report" means the full Wells report for purposes of the o/u.

 

[Mooch]

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. No
4. No
5. Under
6. No
7. No
8. No
9. No
10. No
11. No

 

[RedOctober3829]

One point for each correct answer. I will donate $50 to the charity of the winner's choice. Entries open until full report is released. Teams (Colts, Pats) are defined to include any player, employee, owner, GM, etc.

1. Is the report released before Memorial Day? YES

2. Do the Pats receive any discipline? YES

3. Do the Colts receive any discipline? NO

4. Does any other team receive any discipline? NO

5. Over/under on report length: 212 pages (including TOC, exhibits, etc). UNDER

6. Is Mike Kensil fired as a result of the report's findings? YES

7. Is anyone else in NFL game operations or officiating fired? YES

8. Does the report explicitly confirm Dr. Belichick's scientific explanation? NO

9. Does Goodell publicly apologize to the Pats? NO

10. Is anyone from the Pats fired as a result of the report's findings? NO

11. Is anyone from the Colts fired as a result of the report's findings? NO

Edit: In the event of a tie in points, winner is whoever posted first.

 

[Average Reds]

There are some uncertainties with the assumptions you are making, but I'll include my assumptions in my answers:
 
1.  Yes
2.  Yes
3.  No
4.  No
5.  Over (This assumes you are referring to the Wells report itself.  If you just mean the synopsis the NFL releases, than Under.)
6.  Not fired.  But he might tender his resignation with the release of the report.
7.  Yes
8.  No
9.  No
10.  No
11.  No

 

[snowmanny]

1. yes
2. no
3. no
4. no
5. over
6. no (reassigned)
7. no
8. yes (the temperatuire part, not necessarily the specific friction leads to heat leads to temproarily increased pressure part)
9. yes
10 no
11. no

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

1. Is the report released before Memorial Day? YES

2. Do the Pats receive any discipline? NO

3. Do the Colts receive any discipline? YES (Grigson is fined)

4. Does any other team receive any discipline? NO

5. Over/under on report length: 212 pages (including TOC, exhibits, etc). OVER

6. Is Mike Kensil fired as a result of the report's findings? NO

7. Is anyone else in NFL game operations or officiating fired? YES

8. Does the report explicitly confirm Dr. Belichick's scientific explanation? NO

9. Does Goodell publicly apologize to the Pats? NO

10. Is anyone from the Pats fired as a result of the report's findings? NO

11. Is anyone from the Colts fired as a result of the report's findings? NO

Edit: In the event of a tie in points, winner is whoever posted first.

Just for shits and giggles.

 

[Ed Hillel]

One point for each correct answer. I will donate $50 to the charity of the winner's choice. Entries open until full report is released. Teams (Colts, Pats) are defined to include any player, employee, owner, GM, etc.

1. Is the report released before Memorial Day? YES.

2. Do the Pats receive any discipline? NO.

3. Do the Colts receive any discipline? YES (assuming we are including fines, which I think they get for leaking info).

4. Does any other team receive any discipline? NO.

5. Over/under on report length: 212 pages (including TOC, exhibits, etc). UNDER.

6. Is Mike Kensil fired as a result of the report's findings? YES.

7. Is anyone else in NFL game operations or officiating fired? YES.

8. Does the report explicitly confirm Dr. Belichick's scientific explanation? UNCLEAR QUESTION, MODERATOR DOCKED 3 POINTS. I will say this, science will be used to explain what could have happened, and perhaps the report will say what was likely to have happened. I'm not sure what that means in regards to the answer to this question. I will answer YES, because I think game day preparation of the Pats will be part of a control group study funded by Wells.

9. Does Goodell publicly apologize to the Pats? YES.

10. Is anyone from the Pats fired as a result of the report's findings? NO.

11. Is anyone from the Colts fired as a result of the report's findings? NO.

Edit: In the event of a tie in points, winner is whoever posted first.

 

[Hoya81]

1. Yes 2. No 3. No 4. No 5. Over 6. No 7. No 8. Yes 9. No 10. No 11.No

 

[snowmanny]

Am I mis-understanding question 8?  How would a three month investigation into ball pressure issues that we know included calls to physicists not report that temperature changes can influence ball pressure?

 

[BrazilianSoxFan]

1- No
2- No
3- Yes
4- No
5- Over
6- Yes
7- No
8- Yes
9- Yes
10- No
11- No 

 

[BusRaker]

1. Is the report released before Memorial Day? Yes

2. Do the Pats receive any discipline? No

3. Do the Colts receive any discipline? No

4. Does any other team receive any discipline? No

5. Over/under on full Wells report length: 212 pages (including TOC, exhibits, etc). Over (league recommendations for future "ball handling" procedures)

6. Is Mike Kensil fired as a result of the report's findings? No

7. Is anyone else in NFL game operations or officiating fired? Yes

8. Does the report explicitly confirm Dr. Belichick's scientific explanation? Yes for 11 of 12 balls

9. Does Goodell publicly apologize to the Pats? No

10. Is anyone from the Pats fired as a result of the report's findings? No

11. Is anyone from the Colts fired as a result of the report's findings? No

Edit: changed Yes to Over

 

[TomTerrific]

1. No -- my ETA for the report is Friday, July 3, 5pm
2. No
3. No
4. No
5. 415 (i.e., Over)
6. Yes--the only action of note to emerge from this investigation. Primarily used as a sop to Kraft in return for Goodell not apologizing
7. Yes--some other flunky will be booted as well
8. No--not explicitly, though probably implicitly
9. No--see answer to 6
10. No--nothing to see here, move on
11. No

 

[drbretto]

1: no
2: no
3: no
4: no
5: over
6: no
7: no
8: no
9: no
10: no
11: no
 
It will end as it began. As a complete and colossal waste of time over nothing at all.

 

[tims4wins]

1. Is the report released before Memorial Day? YES

2. Do the Pats receive any discipline? NO

3. Do the Colts receive any discipline? NO

4. Does any other team receive any discipline? NO

5. Over/under on full Wells report length: 212 pages (including TOC, exhibits, etc). OVER

6. Is Mike Kensil fired as a result of the report's findings? NO

7. Is anyone else in NFL game operations or officiating fired? NO

8. Does the report explicitly confirm Dr. Belichick's scientific explanation? NO

9. Does Goodell publicly apologize to the Pats? NO

10. Is anyone from the Pats fired as a result of the report's findings? NO

11. Is anyone from the Colts fired as a result of the report's findings? NO

 

[ifmanis5]

If Kensil leaves to 'explore other opportunities' or 'spend more time with his family,' does that count as a firing?

 

[soxhop411]

If Kensil leaves to 'explore other opportunities' or 'spend more time with his family,' does that count as a firing?

paid to leave so yes.....

 

[ifmanis5]

One point for each correct answer. I will donate $50 to the charity of the winner's choice. Entries open until full report is released. Teams (Colts, Pats) are defined to include any player, employee, owner, GM, etc.

1. Is the report released before Memorial Day? Yes. On that weekend.

2. Do the Pats receive any discipline? No.

3. Do the Colts receive any discipline? No.

4. Does any other team receive any discipline? No.

5. Over/under on full Wells report length: 212 pages (including TOC, exhibits, etc). Yes. It's lawyers here, people.

6. Is Mike Kensil fired as a result of the report's findings? Yes. Classic fall guy scenario.

7. Is anyone else in NFL game operations or officiating fired? No.

8. Does the report explicitly confirm Dr. Belichick's scientific explanation? No.

9. Does Goodell publicly apologize to the Pats? Sort of but No.

10. Is anyone from the Pats fired as a result of the report's findings? No.

11. Is anyone from the Colts fired as a result of the report's findings? No.

Edit: In the event of a tie in points, winner is whoever posted first.
Edit: To clarify that "report" means the full Wells report for purposes of the o/u.

12. Will the media report the Wells report findings with the same vigor as the original Ballghazi reportage: Hell no.
13. Will anyone care about this: Not really. The report won't change too many opinions.
14. Will the term Cheatriots continue to be used: Hell yes.

 

[lithos2003]

The scandal that harms you most is the one that feeds into the pre-existing narrative about you.
 
Perception doesn't start anew from the moment the report is released.  Goodell is already perceived as a floundering ninny - this just reinforces that narrative.  

 
I don't disagree but how did he handle the Ray Rice situation?  If anything, I'd almost expect an extreme overreaction.  If Kensil is mentioned negatively in the report and he still has a job afterwards, I'd be surprised.