Quote :

"Seems like you've been alive long enough now to realize nothing in life is fair. You're gonna have a bad time if you keep holding onto the idea that it should be."

Haha, I'm fully aware it's not. But I mean especially when considering the NFL claims the integrity of the game is important & it has a hard salary cap in place in hopes of leveling the playing field outside of the actual field of play, it seems kind of odd for them to throw out arbitrary punishment like they do. Seems kind of equivalent to the refs being left to decide the yardage for penalties at their own discretion on each penalty

But, I suppose if the players were really bothered by the arbitrary punishment stuff then they'd make it some kind of sticking point in CBA talks. So if they don't care, I guess I shouldn't either

[Edited on May 13, 2015 at 1:23 PM. Reason : quote]

5/13/2015 1:22:35 PM

You say you're aware, but your entire argument was "well if x got this, then y should get this" which goes against that statement.

Quote :

" the NFL claims the integrity of the game is important & it has a hard salary cap in place in hopes of leveling the playing field outside of the actual field of play, it seems kind of odd for them to throw out arbitrary punishment like they do."

If the Patriots undermined the integrity of the game, and the NFL claims that's important, then the punishment isn't arbitrary now is it?

5/13/2015 1:41:04 PM

Chargers added adhesive to balls 2-3 years ago & got a $20K fine

If they say that Brady & NE obstructing the investigation is what got these punishments, then yes you could say it's not arbitrary. Otherwise, $20K fine vs 4 game suspension, loss of a 1st & 4th rounder & $1M fine seems a bit arbitrary. I guess their spygate thing from a decade ago makes them recidivists? So lying + recidivism = 4 game suspension, loss of picks & $980K fine? If so, then yes you could say it's not arbitrary. Maybe there's an added punishment for it occurring in a playoff game?

The NFL likes weighing public sentiment before handing out judgements these days. I see how some of the general public like that, but to me it seems kind of silly, especially when the NFL acts like that's not what they're doing

I don't like the Pats, so I'm not concerned with Brady's legacy or them losing picks & I hope Garoppalo bradies Brady, but doesn't mean I'm gonna be in favor of a league office that hands out punishments based on retweets, likes or upvotes. Like I said, some people like the whole swaying with public sentiment punishments, guess I'm just in the minority of not being a fan of that particular style

[Edited on May 13, 2015 at 2:05 PM. Reason : fine]

5/13/2015 2:04:36 PM

Quote :

"You say you're aware, but your entire argument was "well if x got this, then y should get this" which goes against that statement."

There you go thinking everything should be fair again.

[Edited on May 13, 2015 at 2:27 PM. Reason : This whole argument has become circular.]

5/13/2015 2:24:26 PM

So we both agree that it's unfair & arbitrary and the only difference is I just think the NFL shouldn't be arbitrary with the punishments (to the same degree that I think coaches should be able to review PI penalties)?

5/13/2015 2:53:00 PM

how many first round draft picks did the seahawks lose for having 6 guys busted for PEDs?

every other fan should be terrified of what could happen to their team the next time they cross goodell

[Edited on May 13, 2015 at 3:22 PM. Reason : .]

5/13/2015 3:21:07 PM

Fair or not fair is something 10 year olds whine about when another gets an extra scoop of ice cream. I'm still baffled that as an adult you use that as a rationalization to begin with.

And no, it's not arbitrary as I pointed out to you above.

Quote :

"how many first round draft picks did the seahawks lose for having 6 guys busted for PEDs?"

Failed drug tests have a standard punishment that was collectively bargained. Goodell has nothing to do with that.

[Edited on May 13, 2015 at 3:26 PM. Reason : .]

5/13/2015 3:24:23 PM

i know that. the point is the "integrity of the game" argument is arbitrary at best



[Edited on May 13, 2015 at 3:28 PM. Reason : .]

5/13/2015 3:27:41 PM

Nothing's Fair League

5/13/2015 3:32:36 PM

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"arbitrary"

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"arbitrary"

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"arbitrary"

5/13/2015 3:35:52 PM

Fairness on the field is a laudable goal, but preferring fairness in punishment for those in the league is an absurdly laughable ideal that should be chastised? Okay, my bad

Like I said, if this is the level of punishment for integrity of the game issues going forward then fine, but similar such recent issues led to far, far less stiff penalties. I suppose it's not too big a deal since it will get overturned on appeal anyway like most of the recent player punishments

5/13/2015 3:43:02 PM

"life isn't fair" isn't something to attempt to end a debate with, especially when there are valid points on both sides of an argument

if that's your go-to, why care about anything at all?

for a lot of people, it's fun to jump on the "lol it's the Patriots, fuck em" train, until the next team (who could be your favorite team) gets hit with a ridiculous, arbitrarily handed out penalty

[Edited on May 13, 2015 at 4:13 PM. Reason : .]

5/13/2015 4:11:12 PM

i think for some of us, once you hit a certain age and see how much bullshit the NFL is, you don't get as emotionally invested in it as when you were younger. none of what's been going on the past few season even fazes me anymore. same deal goes with the NCAA which is actually much worse. do we really need to list all the things that are wrong with the NFL and try to wrap our heads around how unfair and fucked up things are? or isn't it easier to suspend our disbelief that it's just a league of thugs run by a bunch of asshole billionaires who are continuing to rake us over the coals? if it bothers you so much, stop watching, buying merch, and talking about it.

[Edited on May 13, 2015 at 4:39 PM. Reason : .]

5/13/2015 4:39:01 PM

[Edited on May 13, 2015 at 4:53 PM. Reason : lol]

5/13/2015 4:49:10 PM

^^I, personally, am not emotionally invested & bothered by the punishment issue. I simply gave my 2-3 sentence opinion on it & then gave my reasoning/thought process behind it when called a pussy ass bitch for saying it would be cool if the NFL was more evenhanded in their punishments

I also think coaches should be able to challenge pass interference penalties. But me stating that does not mean I'm emotionally invested in that issue & am up in arms about it either. It's simply another thing that I would like to see the NFL change

5/13/2015 4:51:19 PM

hipster douche?

if you're gonna lob that bomb, why not make the point you were going to make?

5/13/2015 4:53:32 PM

i thought it described you perfectly

aren't you supposed to be raging against police or debating indy bands somewhere?

5/13/2015 4:54:28 PM

two edits to delete things directed to me in the same post?

are you not comfortable making your point?

5/13/2015 4:57:42 PM

Nah I've been openly hating you for years now

[Edited on May 13, 2015 at 5:02 PM. Reason : you're really the perfect foil. I respect you on that level.]

5/13/2015 5:01:42 PM

yet you more than likely couldn't describe why

which is both hilarious and pretty sad

but that's the life you live

5/13/2015 5:05:55 PM

5/16/2015 2:39:18 AM

So the news of today:

- Kraft will not appeal Brady's suspension, but the Players Association says they will still appeal
- Extra point attempts from the 15 yard line! 2 point conversions still from the 2 yard line
- Defensive players can now return interceptions, fumbles, blocked kicks etc on extra points / 2 point conversions for 2 points

5/19/2015 7:10:37 PM

lots of 4 game weed smoking suspensions:

- Sheldon Richardson
- Rolando McClain
- Antonio Gates

7/2/2015 5:01:34 PM

I thought gates was peds

7/2/2015 5:37:45 PM

Performance Enhancing WEED

7/2/2015 6:59:36 PM

^^i'm sure you're right, i just assumed they were all from smokin that dody

7/2/2015 9:19:25 PM

Hardy's suspension reduced to 4 games

7/10/2015 2:59:12 PM

I blame Hope Solo

7/10/2015 4:24:54 PM

5 years / $70M for Dez ($45M guaranteed)

Looks unlikely Demaryius will get anything done long term

7/15/2015 3:16:36 PM

Thomas just signed for 5yr 70mil too

7/15/2015 3:51:44 PM

yeah just saw haha

ONLY $43.5M guaranteed though

7/15/2015 3:54:55 PM

Lol I hope the cowboys have some outs in that contract for when Dez does something really stupid.

7/15/2015 5:29:08 PM

Demaryius Thomas is good, but compared to Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas ain't shit.

7/15/2015 10:47:01 PM

[Edited on July 24, 2015 at 3:45 PM. Reason : females only haha]

7/24/2015 3:44:46 PM

The Bills made him take down the invite, but the party's still on!

Me and HUR's mom are going.

7/24/2015 7:12:41 PM

Goodell upheld Brady's suspension

7/28/2015 4:17:15 PM

may the LOLs be many

7/28/2015 5:47:09 PM

I hate Goodell as much as the next guy, but it's pretty damn obvious the golden boy is guilty as charged.

7/28/2015 8:04:50 PM

So Hardy and Brady both get 4 games? Makes sense...

7/28/2015 10:35:42 PM

Goodell isn't physically afraid of Brady I guess

7/28/2015 10:47:08 PM

right up until you read something like this:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/28/brady-offered-to-help-nfl-gather-missing-text-messages/

So brady destroyed the phone, but provided the NFL with an exhaustive list of numbers with whom he communicated. But the NFL decided looking for the few cell phones was too much work for a high profile case. Most likely because they know they don't have the right to take personal phones and info from non-league employees.

So they leak some bullshit, the public, for whatever reason, keeps lapping up the NFL releases, and a narrative gets set so Adam Gold can sound like a jackass for a couple hours without taking the time to actually read anything.

The only thing I know is my my fantasy team name this year is gonna be "deflategate footnote"

7/28/2015 11:36:19 PM

didn't they already have transcripts from his texts with the equipment guys from their phones?

I'm so sick of the righteous indignation over this whole deal that I'm done with reading too much about it

people looooooove eating up the NFL as Serious Business sham

7/28/2015 11:45:30 PM

^yeah i don't give a shit about the whole "deflategate" and i really dislike the pats and brady. 4 games seems excessive imo. but i just can't bring myself to get all up in arms about this at all

7/29/2015 9:25:54 AM

He should have just been suspended for one game. The super bowl.

7/29/2015 9:36:49 AM

i loved his blog post almost as much as the steady stream of tears flowing in my FB feed from butthurt Pats fans.

7/29/2015 10:59:21 AM

Aldon Smith doesn't get it

[Edited on August 7, 2015 at 11:02 PM. Reason : 9ers are gonna suck]

8/7/2015 10:57:29 PM

helluva catch by Phillips

8/9/2015 8:56:43 PM

Last night's preseason game got higher ratings than Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, Game 1 of NBA Eastern and Western Finals, the Indy 500 and Game 1 of the NLCS and ALCS

In case you needed a reminder that the NFL is king.

8/10/2015 3:51:17 PM

So NFL Sunday Ticket is now available for people who don't have DirecTV

Big news, sorry Tony Romo

8/10/2015 5:41:37 PM

1 preseason game, 1 season ending injury. Suisham done for season with torn ACL.

8/11/2015 8:31:42 AM