[winflop]

I'm surprised the punishment is as severe as it is. I'm surprised the league and the Patriots didn't negotiate some sort of back-room compromise where the Patriots get a slap on the wrist just to show the league is doing it's job, all the while doing a spectacular job keeping the NFL in the news during the deadest time of their offseason.

Brady refused to cooperate with the investigation.  That certainly is his right, but I think part of the suspension was due to his decision.

Had he just come out after the Super Bowl and said, "yeah I like the ball a little flatter and I told the equipment guys that, but I never told anyone to break the rules" or something that a slick PR guy could wordsmith better than that, he'd have probably gotten 1-2 games.  And remember that the collectively-bargained standard here is preponderance of evidence not reasonable doubt.

[winflop]

I'm surprised the punishment is as severe as it is. I'm surprised the league and the Patriots didn't negotiate some sort of back-room compromise where the Patriots get a slap on the wrist just to show the league is doing it's job, all the while doing a spectacular job keeping the NFL in the news during the deadest time of their offseason.

Brady refused to cooperate with the investigation.  That certainly is his right, but I think part of the suspension was due to his decision.

Had he just come out after the Super Bowl and said, "yeah I like the ball a little flatter and I told the equipment guys that, but I never told anyone to break the rules" or something that a slick PR guy could wordsmith better than that, he'd have probably gotten 1-2 games.  And remember that the collectively-bargained standard here is preponderance of evidence not reasonable doubt.