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Leagues and Governing Bodies

Read & React: Did Patriots, Brady Bring Deflategate Ruling On Themselves?

The NFL yesterday upheld Patriots QB Tom Brady's four-game suspension in part because the team and Brady have "done off the field what they so rarely do on it -- contributed to their own demise with a series of miscues and poor decisions," according to Christopher Gasper of the BOSTON GLOBE. The Patriots "have brought the wrath" of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "down upon them by mishandling and misjudging their defense" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/29). In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy writes regardless of "what happens now, the hard-earned accomplishments of Brady and the Patriots are tarnished." This "just keeps getting worse for the Patriots" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/29). Also in Boston, Karen Guregian writes what has "gone down so far just keeps getting worse" for the Patriots and Brady, with "no end in sight" (BOSTON HERALD, 7/29). YAHOO SPORTS' Charles Robinson noted franchise leaders "have been defending Brady, saying there isn't any evidence." But now they "have to defend him while knowing he allegedly destroyed his phone" prior to his meeting with investigator Ted Wells (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/28). CSN New England's Gary Tanguay said brady looks "really, really bad right now." Tanguay: "He destroyed evidence, he did not cooperate with the investigation and his legal team has been concentrating on a not-guilty verdict as opposed to proving one's innocence. There’s a difference” ("Early Edition," CSN New England, 7/29). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio noted Brady’s "receipt of bad advice or his deliberate decision to ignore good advice has now extended from the decision not to accept the invitation to allow lawyer/agent Don Yee to personally review the text messages from the phone to the decision to admit that the cell phone was destroyed" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 7/28).

MAKING THE RIGHT CALL?
In Baltimore, Mike Preston writes Goodell "made the right decision" to uphold the suspension and "finally got one right" (Baltimore SUN, 7/29). CBSSPORTS.com's Jason La Canfora wrote there is "no doubt" that Goodell viewed Brady destroying his phone as "an absolute attempt to undermine this investigation and you can almost see him simmering as you delve deeper and deeper into the commissioner's decision." If there is "one thing that gets in Goodell's crawl it's being taken for a fool, and it's apparent that he looks at Brady's lack of cooperation on any matter related to his phone as just that" (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/28). In N.Y., Mike Vaccaro writes Brady "believed the guidelines ... didn't apply to him." He believed that he was "bigger than the league" and "bigger than the commissioner" (N.Y. POST, 7/29). ESPN BOSTON's Jackie MacMullan wrote Goodell is "all about transparency," and he is "trying to reclaim some semblance of authority and credibility." Nothing Brady does now can "reverse the court of public opinion," and what he "needs to do is swallow hard, accept the suspension and move on from this awful mess" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 7/28). In New Jersey, Tara Sullivan writes Brady should "accept his punishment, apologize and move on" (Bergen RECORD, 7/29). In Miami, Greg Cote writes Brady "needs to be a big boy, take his hard medicine and serve his suspension now" (MIAMI HERALD, 7/29).

LAW & ORDER
: In Orlando, Mike Bianchi writes fans should give Goodell a "standing ovation," as it is now known "why Goodell was so tough on the Patriots." Brady, the "face of the league, was dishonest and disingenuous" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/29). USA TODAY's Jarrett Bell writes under the header, "Brady Stains Own Image, Polishes Goodell's" (USA TODAY, 7/29). USA TODAY's Nancy Armour writes the destruction of the cell phone "makes Brady look worse than he did during the news conference a few days after the AFC title game," and the events since then "make Goodell look better." Armour: "Imagine that. You can't blame him for this now, not with busted-up cell phones in the equation" (USA TODAY, 7/29). YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Wetzel wrote once Goodell "could uphold the ruling on the basis of incriminating acts that work perfect in the media, all of the other facts in the case that Brady and the Patriots want to argue fall into the background." This "wasn't a court of law," and Brady knew that. It was "hand-to-hand public relations combat and Tom Brady showed up for a fistfight and then promptly handed Roger Goodell a howitzer" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/29).

IS BRADY'S LEGACY TARNISHED?
 ESPN.com's Ian O'Connor wrote Brady's decision to "destroy a cell phone that likely implicated him in a low-rent scheme with two team flunkies doesn't destroy his legacy as a four-time champ." But it "does make Brady look like a liar" (ESPN.com, 7/28). In Indianapolis, Gregg Doyel writes Brady is "worse than a liar, worse than a cheat." He is a "man of low integrity" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 7/29). In L.A., Bill Plaschke writes, "Does anybody still think his legacy should not include the word 'cheater?'" (L.A. TIMES, 7/29). The N.Y. Times' William Rhoden said this “completely changes" Brady's legacy. Rhoden: "This is not about football anymore. This is about almost borderline criminality.” Brady is "basically saying that, ‘I’m larger than the game,’” and there is "really no coming back from this in terms of his legacy” (“CBS This Morning,” 7/29). In Hartford, Jeff Jacobs writes only the "most ardent of Brady apologists would argue today that his credibility in Deflategate wasn't destroyed in the process." Goodell "exposed Brady as more than a man who would not cooperate" (HARTFORD COURANT, 7/29). In Philadelphia, John Smallwood writes, "The Scarlet Letter has now been officially attached to the golden boy" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 7/29). USA TODAY's Armour writes Brady "destroyed his credibility," and he "might have put a few dents in his legacy, too" (USA TODAY, 7/29). CBSSPORTS.com's Will Brinson: "When you start talking about the way this suspension and investigation affects the Patriots quarterback's legacy, this is a serious blow" (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/28). In N.Y., Michael Powell: "My natural inclination is to sympathize with defendants. Brady’s defense, however, has piled the improbable atop the unlikely and has tried my patience, not to mention my common sense" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/29). In Newark, Steve Politi writes this "simple act will forever make him look guilty in the court of public opinion" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 7/29). On Long Island, Bob Glauber writes in announcing his ruling, which was "at times blistering in its accusations against the quarterback ... Goodell may have taken something from Brady that he may never get back: the benefit of the doubt" (NEWSDAY, 7/29).

BAD OPTICS AT PLAY
: The HARTFORD COURANT's Jacobs notes Goodell "compared what Brady did in seeking a playing advantage to the use of PEDs, which carries a first-time four-game suspension." That is a "risky assertion by Goodell, the kind of thing that gets the law-and-order sheriff in trouble." Also, Goodell allowing Brady and Cowboys DE Greg Hardy to have "matching four-game suspensions is beyond comprehension" (HARTFORD COURANT, 7/29). ESPN’s Kate Fagan said it is "such a bad look for the NFL” that Brady and Hardy both get four games. Fagan: “The optics of that are terrible for the NFL.” But the L.A. Times' Plaschke said, “The optics would have been a lot worse for the NFL if this thing had been struck down or been eliminated. You cannot have them giving a break to his buddy Robert Kraft” ("Around The Horn,” ESPN, 7/28). 

SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL
: In N.Y., Gary Myers writes Goodell let the entire Deflategate controversy "get completely out of control." The Patriots yesterday "issued a scathing statement" that team Owner Robert Kraft "surely signed off on," and the "best was saved for last." The statement: "Given all of this, it is incomprehensible as to why the league is attempting to destroy the reputation of one of its greatest players and representatives” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/29). In DC, Dan Steinberg writes Goodell "repeatedly insisted in his decision that nothing less than the integrity of his sport was at stake, but it's hard to find many exemplars of integrity amid this ordeal's slapstick cast of characters." That "starts with Goodell himself" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/29). NBC’s Bob Costas said of the NFL, “They turned a misdemeanor into a federal case, both figuratively and literally” ("Today," NBC, 7/29).

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