After the Warren Report dropped last week, many wondered when the NFL would penalize the New England Patriots and how severe it would be.
The other shoe dropped today. Here are the highlights of the NFL’s press release…
The New England Patriots were notified today of the following discipline that has been imposed for violations of the NFL Policy on Integrity of the Game and Enforcement of Competitive Rules relating to the use of under-inflated footballs in the AFC Championship Game of this past season:
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.
So….
– $1 million fine
– loss of first round pick in 2016 and fourth round pick in 2017
– suspension of two employees involved
– four game suspension of Tom Brady
No matter how you slice it, that’s a stiff punishment. In the press release, the NFL mentions the Patriots “prior record” and brought up the 2007 videotape scandal. The NFL also brought up that the Patriots did not cooperate with the investigation. In addition to that, they essentially called Tom Brady and the other two employees liars
Finally, it is significant that key witnesses – Mr. Brady, Mr. Jastremski, and Mr. McNally – were not fully candid during the investigation.
We will have further reaction to this ruling by the NFL but without a doubt the Patriots and Tom Brady will begin the appeals process very soon.
There are a couple things to think about, whether you are for or against this ruling against the Patriots. Roger Goodell has made a point that he is the Sheriff in town but is the NFL better or worse for it and how long until one of the owners has enough of him and starts the posse to come for his job?
