(Peter Haley/Tacoma News Tribune/MCT)
For the violation of the playing rules and the failure to cooperate in the subsequent investigation, the New England Patriots are fined $1 million and will forfeit the club’s first-round selection in the 2016 NFL Draft and the club’s fourth-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. If the Patriots have more than one selection in either of these rounds, the earlier selection shall be forfeited. The club may not trade or otherwise encumber these selections.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft advised Commissioner Roger Goodell last week that Patriots employees John Jastremski and James McNally have been indefinitely suspended without pay by the club, effective on May 6th. Neither of these individuals may be reinstated without the prior approval of NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent. If they are reinstated by the Patriots, Jastremski is prohibited from having any role in the preparation, supervision, or handling of footballs to be used in NFL games during the 2015 season. McNally is barred from serving as a locker room attendant for the game officials, or having any involvement with the preparation, supervision, or handling of footballs or any other equipment on game day.
Quarterback Tom Brady will be suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2015 regular season for conduct detrimental to the integrity of the NFL. Brady may participate in all off-season, training camp and pre-season activities, including pre-season games.
Commissioner Goodell authorized the discipline that was imposed by NFL Executive President Troy Vincent, pursuant to the commissioner’s disciplinary authority under the NFL Constitution and Bylaws and the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL Players Association.
“We reached these decisions after extensive discussion with Troy Vincent and many others,” Commissioner Goodell said. “We relied on the critical importance of protecting the integrity of the game and the thoroughness and independence of the Wells report.”
STATEMENT FROM NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS CHAIRMAN AND CEO 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.”
Cheaters are loosers not winners. Sit down, shut the FU and take it like a man. You deserve it.
A million dollars is a lot of money for something they didn’t even prove.
Thats chump change in the NFL, considering salaries, endorsements, $10 for a hot dog and a beer, its nothing.
Here we go with the NFL playing God over people’s lives again. I am not a Brady fan but, this sure seems like a overkill on a nothing subject.
Rules are dumb
You are correct LVS! The NFL has no business enforcing their own rules! I mean they are only paying these guys millions of dollars to play a game, they can’t expect them to have any integrity for the league and follow the rules. Maybe if they gave these guys a little bit more money they would start following the rules and the NFL would not have to “play God”
I have no problem with them enforcing the rules. I am not really a Brady fan, but, I think they need to “PROVE” he did something wrong before passing sentence. Is that to hard for your pea brain to understand?
At least my brain is still a pea, yours has turned into pea soup.
When you grow up and act like a child your brain will change too.
Shame on you LVS. No name calling…. remember the rules of playing nice or no more recess.
Sure Dunsel.