[BostonCard]

Whether Lupica agrees or not, "more probable than not" is the established evidentiary standard used for disciplining NFL players, regardless of the offense.  That's a bit different than "because I think so", and it was also the report's finding.

Having found that Brady met the evidentiary standard, the punishment seems to me to be appropriate.  Brady may have wanted to have "plausible deniability" in the affair, but the message the NFL is sending is that merely distancing yourself from the matter is not enough; having had general knowledge of what was likely going on, Brady's responsibility was to tell the equipment guys that while he likes his balls on the low pressure side of things, that they are not to tamper with the balls or go outside of the NFL rules to get there.  Let's face it, the buck has to stop at Brady.

BC

[BostonCard]

Whether Lupica agrees or not, "more probable than not" is the established evidentiary standard used for disciplining NFL players, regardless of the offense.  That's a bit different than "because I think so", and it was also the report's finding.

Having found that Brady met the evidentiary standard, the punishment seems to me to be appropriate.  Brady may have wanted to have "plausible deniability" in the affair, but the message the NFL is sending is that merely distancing yourself from the matter is not enough; having had general knowledge of what was likely going on, Brady's responsibility was to tell the equipment guys that while he likes his balls on the low pressure side of things, that they are not to tamper with the balls or go outside of the NFL rules to get there.  Let's face it, the buck has to stop at Brady.

BC