Sherm Sticks Up For Tom Brady

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...gate-tom-brady-new-england-patriots/32027107/

While Sherman downplayed whether Brady was involved in a plot to intentionally deflate footballs, it’s the process of the NFL’s investigation and the discipline that strikes a nerve.

It is not surprising that Sherman, a strong supporter of the NFL Players Association, sees the punishment on Brady as another example that Goodell holds too much power in issuing discipline — a standard position by the players’ union that is being hashed out in court, but is essentially written into the collective bargaining agreement.

Still, it’s seemingly a gray area that is becoming more subject to interpretation with each of the legal challenges the union has waged against the league.

During a hearing in Manhattan on Wednesday, Sports Business Journal reporter Daniel Kaplan tweeted that Berman called it a “quantum leap” for Brady to be characterized in the Wells Report as “generally aware” of issues with the inflation of the team’s footballs to being considered as part of a scheme when Goodell ruled on his appeal, keeping the suspension intact.

Assistant equipment manager John Jastremski and Jim McNally, a game-day locker room attendant, were also implicated in the case and have been suspended by the team.

“It wasn’t just him,” Sherman said, referring to Brady. “There’s no way nobody else knows about it. So, he shouldn’t be punished so severely.”

I don't think he is necessarily sticking up for Brady as much as he is using that scenario to highlight the inequality in punishment between players and organizations/ front office.

Hawkintent":1ndux6zb said:

I don't think he is necessarily sticking up for Brady as much as he is using that scenario to highlight the inequality in punishment between players and organizations/ front office.

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http://deadspin.com/richard-sherman-sticks-up-for-tom-brady-1725344561

Deadspin's take:

Sherman has always been keenly aware of the power imbalances in sports, and he understands that Goodell’s harsh punishment on Brady, like all his other punishments, is nothing more than a PR maneuver. The easy thing for any player to do when asked about Ballghazi is to just fire off a few platitudes about “integrity,” which is why it’s so refreshing to see Sherman take the opportunity to provide an answer that is actually thoughtful.

Hawkintent":2lrs7qai said:

I don't think he is necessarily sticking up for Brady as much as he is using that scenario to highlight the inequality in punishment between players and organizations/ front office.

Click to expand...

This.

Yea, its click bait, but the facts are all there. Sherm is right, but at the same time, the NFLPA did this to themselves. Trying to blame the NFL and Goodell for exercising the rights that the NFLPA gave them is dumb.

He absolutely has a point that the team should be penalized more than any individual, right up until the refusal to cooperate with the investigation and the destruction of critical evidence.

He's also got a point that the Wells report should have focused on more than just Brady. I for instance don't for a second believe that Belichick wasn't aware of the ball shenanigans, anymore than he wasn't aware of spygate.

All in all; screw 'em, they deserve it.

Why do people always spin an argument to fit their point of view?

"Tom Brady is getting fined more millions than Robert Kraft."

That's a basically false argument because it doesn't include all of the penalties.

First, the check will be from the Patriots team, which will possibly cost some poor lacky his job. Want to fine the Patriots more? Go ahead, some more poor lackeys will be let go to cover the cost. But POOR Tom Brady is getting fined more!

Second, the Patriots are getting fined draft picks. Ask John Schneider how valuable those are. So who's getting hurt worse here? Tom Brady? Or the TEAM of the Patriots.

I would bet that Tom Brady would pay more fines in order to keep those draft picks. Why? Because draft picks are cheap players that allow the Patriots Cap Space to go to Tom Brady. 1 or 2 more offensive linemen, or 1 more wide receiver on the cheap would suit Tom Brady just fine.

It's easy to take one side or the other, then tailor one's argument to suit. Try looking at it from both sides, it educates.

I agree with Sherman. Patriots as an organization should have been severally punished. They weren't. Goodell works for the owners so it's not in his best interest to penalize an organization. Thus the penalty for Brady because someone needs to be punished. Brady is being used as a "scapegoat" in a way by the NFL. The real culprit is the front office and management of Patriots. It's BS they didn't know the balls were underinflated. They knew.