Who Thinks A Deal Has Already Been Cut Between The Patriots & The NFL To Sanction Them After....

[hughee99]

8. I don't think there's a "deal" to be cut. I'm not sure why the Patriots would have any input

into what the NFL's actions would be. They don't have any leverage. I think the thing the NFL most wants to avoid is announcing a penalty, then afterwords, getting more information and realizing that the penalty wasn't enough (like with Ray Rice). They had to bring in a former FBI director to investigate their investigation, and I'm sure Goodell wants to avoid that again.

I predict a $100K fine, a loss of a draft pick 3rd round or better, and if they can prove that Brady was actively involved in this, a 2 game suspension next season.

My hunch is that this will be all thrown on the "overzealous staffer". Brady will say he told the ball boy how he likes the balls, that he believed the balls all passed inspection, and didn't know anything was illegal about them. The NFL will probably need to be able to prove that he knowingly had the balls illegally doctored to suspend him, and I'm not sure they're going to get that admission from Brady or the ball boy.

The league will change it's policy in the off season and have all footballs handled by an NFL employee from now on.