BSPN about to drop bombshell article on Pats

[ToddHaleysNineIron]

Give me a good reason as to why the league would want, or need to fix games.

I'll give you one, 2013 season, week 17.

Chargers need a win to get into the playoffs - they are also going through stadium negotiations for a new stadium.

They go for a fake punt and not only is there no evidence the Eric Weddle makes the line for a first down, he also fumbles the ball and it's returned for a TD by the chiefs.

It not only gets called dead, they also give San Diego a first down. Sure this costs the Steelers a playoff spot - but for an owner in negotiations for a stadium.. it sure was a sweet gift to make the playoffs that year. Now sure - there were chances for the Chiefs to win that game - but the NFL saw it's chance and took it. Do they manipulate every single thing about a game? I don't think so - but if you give them a chance to take a few moments to think about things (ie through instant replay), I have no doubt ramifications are included in those decisions when given the chance.

If you need further proof - look at the gray areas used for "catches"... this isn't by accident - it's by design.

[FortyThree]

Give me a good reason as to why the league would want, or need to fix games.

I'll give you one, 2013 season, week 17.

Chargers need a win to get into the playoffs - they are also going through stadium negotiations for a new stadium.

They go for a fake punt and not only is there no evidence the Eric Weddle makes the line for a first down, he also fumbles the ball and it's returned for a TD by the chiefs.

It not only gets called dead, they also give San Diego a first down. Sure this costs the Steelers a playoff spot - but for an owner in negotiations for a stadium.. it sure was a sweet gift to make the playoffs that year. Now sure - there were chances for the Chiefs to win that game - but the NFL saw it's chance and took it. Do they manipulate every single thing about a game? I don't think so - but if you give them a chance to take a few moments to think about things (ie through instant replay), I have no doubt ramifications are included in those decisions when given the chance.

If you need further proof - look at the gray areas used for "catches"... this isn't by accident - it's by design.

So the coaches like Tomlin who are on the competition committee willingly let rules be written vaguely so that the league can screw them over if they want?

[Kodiak]

And don't forget - what the NFL hates more than anything is a blow out in a prime time/national game.

Pretty clear officials add some influence to keep/make games close into Q4...which would argue, at best, that you have 3-3.5 quarters of "entertainment" and a true competition only in the final minutes.

[Pabst]

Pro Tip:

[FortyThree]

Pro Tip:

Shocked to see Hitchens quoted here.

You a fan of his, Pabst?

[Pabst]

Shocked to see Hitchens quoted here.

You a fan of his, Pabst?

Fan might be too strong of a word - He was always a bit of a mixed bag for me. I haven't read any of his books, but I have watched plenty of his speeches/debates and read plenty of articles.

Let's say I enjoyed getting his take, but didn't necessarily agree with his conclusions.

[Jobu]

So you guys just gave me examples of fairly obvious bad calls/non calls as “proof” that the league is fixing games or manipulating outcomes. Think about that! If a multi-billion dollar company is going to put out a fraudulent product, they sure as hell can do a better job of covering it up, IMO.
Just incompetence, plain and simple.
The league is poorly officiated, the rules are a jumbled mess. The CTE issue has them by the balls. They’re whoring out the game to reach a kinder, more gentle audience. And while profits, attendance, and viewership is declining, they are still raking in the dough, hand over fist. It’s a professional sport...money drives the whole thing. If it ever got out that the games aren’t on the level, and I don’t believe for a second that they could keep something that big under wraps, the bottom would drop right out from under them. Why would they risk that?

And just for the record...the NFL can be a legitimate sport, business, and entertainment, all at the same time.

[Baltostiller]

Give me a good reason as to why the league would want, or need to fix games.

I'll give you one, 2013 season, week 17.

Chargers need a win to get into the playoffs - they are also going through stadium negotiations for a new stadium.

They go for a fake punt and not only is there no evidence the Eric Weddle makes the line for a first down, he also fumbles the ball and it's returned for a TD by the chiefs.

It not only gets called dead, they also give San Diego a first down. Sure this costs the Steelers a playoff spot - but for an owner in negotiations for a stadium.. it sure was a sweet gift to make the playoffs that year. Now sure - there were chances for the Chiefs to win that game - but the NFL saw it's chance and took it. Do they manipulate every single thing about a game? I don't think so - but if you give them a chance to take a few moments to think about things (ie through instant replay), I have no doubt ramifications are included in those decisions when given the chance.

If you need further proof - look at the gray areas used for "catches"... this isn't by accident - it's by design.

So the coaches like Tomlin who are on the competition committee willingly let rules be written vaguely so that the league can screw them over if they want?

I'll bet these competition committee meetings are a circle jerk where they have discussions and then come to some conclusion on specific rules that need to be changed. The league then sends out a conclusion 3 weeks later "Based on all of the suggestions/Feedback here is the rule change" Who knows if it even resembles what they discussed. They don't knowingly allowed them to get screwed.

[BethlehemSteel]

Give me a good reason as to why the league would want, or need to fix games.

I'll give you one, 2013 season, week 17.

Chargers need a win to get into the playoffs - they are also going through stadium negotiations for a new stadium.

They go for a fake punt and not only is there no evidence the Eric Weddle makes the line for a first down, he also fumbles the ball and it's returned for a TD by the chiefs.

It not only gets called dead, they also give San Diego a first down. Sure this costs the Steelers a playoff spot - but for an owner in negotiations for a stadium.. it sure was a sweet gift to make the playoffs that year. Now sure - there were chances for the Chiefs to win that game - but the NFL saw it's chance and took it. Do they manipulate every single thing about a game? I don't think so - but if you give them a chance to take a few moments to think about things (ie through instant replay), I have no doubt ramifications are included in those decisions when given the chance.

If you need further proof - look at the gray areas used for "catches"... this isn't by accident - it's by design.

That was a big one of many others.

[FortyThree]

I'll bet these competition committee meetings are a circle jerk where they have discussions and then come to some conclusion on specific rules that need to be changed. The league then sends out a conclusion 3 weeks later "Based on all of the suggestions/Feedback here is the rule change" Who knows if it even resembles what they discussed. They don't knowingly allowed them to get screwed.

You don't think that after a few years of the league conveniently taking their suggestions and making them vague enough to be able to manipulate that someone wouldn't get suspicious?

[stillthere]

I don’t like BB meeting with Roger Goodell for two hours...and why was Goodell up in New England anyway? He seems to visit up there a LOT.

I will be keeping a watchful eye on proceedings off the field to see if they ridiculously favor the Patriots.

I don't like it, either.....but Goodell was reportedly on his way to this place in Maine.

Who is actually trying to go to Maine in January? Or even December?

[BethlehemSteel]

GOOdell and his family have an estate there


Looks like snake oil guy felt compelled to make a statement. I think this whole thing was cooked up by BB himself. Sounds like Guerrero’s statement is a rebuttal of bills banishing him

https://nesn.com/2018/01/alex-guerrero- ... ots-drama/

[Suwanee88]

If Kraft is choosing Brady over Belicheck - that is the right move for sure.

Brady has made everybody in that organization great, not the other way around. We have seen BB win some regular season games without a great QB, but there is a huge track record of success without Brady.

If a huge record of success without Brady, then why is backing Brady the correct move? (Did you mean to say not a huge record of success?)

IDK...coaching skills have a longer shelf life than QB physical ability...not sure I'd be siding with the ancient QB over the coach...

Yes sorry - isn’t a huge track record

[Suwanee88]

If Kraft is choosing Brady over Belicheck - that is the right move for sure.

Brady has made everybody in that organization great, not the other way around. We have seen BB win some regular season games without a great QB, but there is a huge track record of success without Brady.

Wait, what? Hanging your future on a 40-year-old QB that is showing kinks in the armour is the right choice?

Wait, What???

WTF has B.B. won as a HC without Brady? He’s also 65. Brady is most likely the GOAT and he is still one of the best QB’s in the NFL at 40 and he says he wants to play until he’s 45.

[Obviously]

I don’t like BB meeting with Roger Goodell for two hours...and why was Goodell up in New England anyway? He seems to visit up there a LOT.

I will be keeping a watchful eye on proceedings off the field to see if they ridiculously favor the Patriots.

I don't like it, either.....but Goodell was reportedly on his way to this place in Maine.

Who is actually trying to go to Maine in January? Or even December?

People who enjoy skiing, ice fishing, and winter sports.

[randomsteelerfan]

If Kraft is choosing Brady over Belicheck - that is the right move for sure.

Brady has made everybody in that organization great, not the other way around. We have seen BB win some regular season games without a great QB, but there is a huge track record of success without Brady.

Wait, what? Hanging your future on a 40-year-old QB that is showing kinks in the armour is the right choice?

Wait, What???

WTF has B.B. won as a HC without Brady? He’s also 65. Brady is most likely the GOAT and he is still one of the best QB’s in the NFL at 40 and he says he wants to play until he’s 45.

WTF has Brady won without Belichick? See how that works? Belichick is the GOAT and I seem to remember Marino, Favre, Montana and others that wanted to keep playing. So what?

The truth is somewhere in between. One without the other will inevitably be lesser.

[BethlehemSteel]

It's the ny daily news....but the Giants brass were In foxboro today for coaching interviews

Maybe BB is on the move....that giants position again

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/footb ... ts+Twitter

[Suwanee88]

Hey Random - None of those guys we’re winning SB’s like Brady has been late in their careers.

If B.B. is tellling Kraft it’s me or Brady. I am choosing Brady. It’s a flag football league. It’s changed dramatically since Marino, Montana and even Farve last played. Brady is the king of flag football and i think he truly believes he can play another 5 years.

Either way, its a good thing for us to break up the evil empire.

[jebrick]

If Kraft is choosing Brady over Belicheck - that is the right move for sure.

Brady has made everybody in that organization great, not the other way around. We have seen BB win some regular season games without a great QB, but there is a huge track record of success without Brady.

Wait, what? Hanging your future on a 40-year-old QB that is showing kinks in the armour is the right choice?

Wait, What???

WTF has B.B. won as a HC without Brady? He’s also 65. Brady is most likely the GOAT and he is still one of the best QB’s in the NFL at 40 and he says he wants to play until he’s 45.

I personally think Brady's play is "too good to be true." Much like Barry Bonds and Lance Armstrong. I think there is more Cream and Clear to Brady's amazing physical abilities that the psudo-science BS that he peddles.

Anytime an athlete defies father time at a high level it has always been through the help of chemicals.

[swissvale72]

Local talk radio guys having a hoot on this story...said it wasn't a Patriots hit piece, but rather a BRADY hit piece. Talked about Brady being upset at not being named Patriot of the Week, no longer good with being criticized by Belichick during film sessions, into positive thinking....said, talking to Brady last couple of years, sounds like a Hare Krishna, whereas Belichick is unchanged.

[ToddHaleysNineIron]

Give me a good reason as to why the league would want, or need to fix games.

I'll give you one, 2013 season, week 17.

Chargers need a win to get into the playoffs - they are also going through stadium negotiations for a new stadium.

They go for a fake punt and not only is there no evidence the Eric Weddle makes the line for a first down, he also fumbles the ball and it's returned for a TD by the chiefs.

It not only gets called dead, they also give San Diego a first down. Sure this costs the Steelers a playoff spot - but for an owner in negotiations for a stadium.. it sure was a sweet gift to make the playoffs that year. Now sure - there were chances for the Chiefs to win that game - but the NFL saw it's chance and took it. Do they manipulate every single thing about a game? I don't think so - but if you give them a chance to take a few moments to think about things (ie through instant replay), I have no doubt ramifications are included in those decisions when given the chance.

If you need further proof - look at the gray areas used for "catches"... this isn't by accident - it's by design.

So the coaches like Tomlin who are on the competition committee willingly let rules be written vaguely so that the league can screw them over if they want?

I doubt the league's obvious various interpretations they've shown this and other past years are discussed at competition committee's, and based on the reading of how the rule is written compared to how it's interpreted at different times - I don't think Tomlin has any idea himself what is a catch or not and if if something is addressed one year, a whole new interpretation shows up next year.

Personally I find it far more likely that multi million dollar investments by owners and the benefits of new stadiums are things not exactly left to chance when golden opportunities present themselves to the league as they did in San Diego that day.

[ToddHaleysNineIron]

I'll bet these competition committee meetings are a circle jerk where they have discussions and then come to some conclusion on specific rules that need to be changed. The league then sends out a conclusion 3 weeks later "Based on all of the suggestions/Feedback here is the rule change" Who knows if it even resembles what they discussed. They don't knowingly allowed them to get screwed.

You don't think that after a few years of the league conveniently taking their suggestions and making them vague enough to be able to manipulate that someone wouldn't get suspicious?

Well the proof is in the pudding - I think we can all agree that 15 years ago it was far easier for people to see a play and say whether it was a catch or not... whereas today you get different opinions across the board.

[jeemie]

Please stop quoting the faulty statistical “study” in O’Leary’s dreck of a book.

[BethlehemSteel]

Please stop quoting the faulty statistical “study” in O’Leary’s dreck of a book.

Care to offer your Piled Higher and Deeper assessment?

[Kodiak]

I personally think Brady's play is "too good to be true." Much like Barry Bonds and Lance Armstrong. I think there is more Cream and Clear to Brady's amazing physical abilities that the psudo-science BS that he peddles.

Anytime an athlete defies father time at a high level it has always been through the help of chemicals.

All very true.

Take Belicheat's offense run by Ernie out of the equation and Brady becomes just a good, not great, QB. But then people will say Brady got old and wasn't just a good QB playing in the GOAT cheating system.