Bob Lobel: Brady's Suspension Could Be a Blessing

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

So, it's cold and rainy, and people are grumpy in New England because Rodger Goodell won his game against Tom Brady… For now.  

I say don’t change a thing. Brady has taken lots of hits for his team, but this may be the biggest and most important of all. A four game suspension at the start of the season against pretty weak stuff? Big deal! 

Patriots Fans' "DeflateGate" Lawsuit Proves They're the Best/Worst

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

So, I know this story is a few days old, but you'll have to excuse me, because I've been on my Central Mass lacrosse grind for a few weeks now.

That said, I'd like to take time away from the cutthroat world of local high school sports to focus on something less serious: The NFL.

More specifically, a hilariously oblivious lawsuit filed by a few New England Patriots fans against the NFL, apparently attempting to get their favorite team's first round draft pick back, but probably just to get attention.

The suit, filed in Federal Court in Boston earlier this week, cites "emotional distress," and accuses the league and commissioner Roger Goodell of fraud and negligence.

Let's begin to unpack this ground-breaking case, with some quotes pulled from the suit by CBS Boston.

Bob Lobel: Revenge and Jealousy in New England

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Revenge! 

Pretty much a misguided word, since anger and hatred are usually the motives for it. Does this apply to Rodger Goodell in any way? I would have to say yes, from the northeast corner of our world, it appears to. 

Anywhere else: Satisfaction and cheers go with the commissioner. 

Bob Lobel: Aqib Talib and Other NFL Punks

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Why don’t we get players like that #aqibtalib Bronco punk? 

Oh, we did have him? The key word being “did." D-I-D.  

Sounds like another former loser no longer in Foxboro. Just unload the bad character guys and you have a chance at something. Maybe it's just respect, one of the hardest earned concepts that is not a visual.

Ok, draw some respect.    

Bob Lobel: What to Make of Brady and Trump

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

It might not have been a problem if Brady had came out and stumped for a candidate that was on my “maybe” list.  

However, it did get my attention when I thought I heard on the radio that TB12 was endorsing, so to speak, Donald Trump! They have a lot in common, and much of it may not be how to rule the world. There is the money, which leads to being a true A list celebrity, which both of these guys are.

The True Victims of "DeflateGate"

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

It's over.

Brady is free, Goodell is embarrassed, and all of New England is tasting sweet redemption for its Golden Boy and prized franchise.

Lost in all of this are the real victims of "DeflateGate:" Fans of every other team.

Not because Tom Brady will be allowed to play on opening night. That should have never been in question. Plus, did anyone really think Brady's suspension would affect New England's season in a real way? The Patriots were going to win at least two of those games he was out, then win 11 or 12 to take home that garbage division, and enter the playoffs with business running as usual.

Bob Lobel: Brady Wins Another Big One

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

"Go ahead, make my day.” 

There are many ways to describe the anguish fans have been put through during the last seven months, which I believe is the gestation period for an ostrich. You know, the one that puts its head in the sand. Heads have been in the sand for a long time on this story, which wasn’t a story, but became one when nobody had a clue as to why it took seven months to talk about and decide it. 

Call it a storybook ending. 

Bob Lobel: I Don't Even Care About the Brady Decision Anymore

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

There comes a point when news becomes old and part of the “who cares” trash. That is where the Brady Ball is for me. 

It just hit me today that I really don’t care anymore what happens. Four games, one fourth of a game, 104 games: It's no longer my problem. Or, I should say, I have reached the point where I have become unattached to whatever the outcome turns out to be. 

I suspect I'm not alone. 

Bob Lobel: Making Sense of the Red Sox Shakeup

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

One of the fascinating things about hanging around the Boston sports universe is that things seem to happen all at once.

It can be dead quiet and then, BOOM, the world as we know it changes in ways we never thought possible. Larry leaves, Ben leaves without a gorilla suit and here comes Dave. Just when you try to grasp all the machinations and who is the real front office power now, the Brady feud looks closer to resolution than ever before.

Podcast: Bob Lobel and Joe Parello on the NFL vs Tom Brady

Join legendary sportscaster Bob Lobel and SuiteSports editor Joe Parello as they break down the aftermath of the NFL's decision to deny Tom Brady's appeal of his four-game suspension.

What happens now as Brady takes the league to court? Was Brady's statement on social media convincing? What is to be made of this alleged cell phone destruction? How will it affect Brady's legacy, and much more.

Listen in below.

Bob Lobel: Pats Fans Still Await Brady's Fate

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Just how long should it take to get a Brady decision from the NFL?  

Not this long. OK, Tom, go to federal court. Get an injunction, play when the season starts and let the court process work itself out. I find it hard to believe that the NFL has an appetite for public litigation involving one of, if not the, biggest face of the league.  

Public relations is a huge part of the league's presentation. 

Bob Lobel: The Dark Matter of Boston Sports

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

One of the great mysteries of the universe is the dark matter that seems to hold all things together. 

Here on this part of the planet we are very unaccustomed to dark matter, which is now surrounding our boys in Boston uniforms. I mean really. It's crazy how the Bruins and Celtics seem to have mirrored each other in their front office building plan. Seems like their theory has been taken from the Red Sox handbook.

Chapter one: Throw money at the problem. 

Bob Lobel: From Bert Bell to Roger Goodell

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Starting with the stupid subject of transparency, I offer this brief explanation: I have worked with and have known Upton Bell for over thirty years. He was a great partner on the radio and brought cache to the table at a time when I had none. He always was a little eccentric, but that’s a plus, and perhaps should be mandatory for a radio host. 

His cache came from being the son of Bert Bell, the NFL's first commissioner following World War II, and a founding father of the modern league. Since Upton has been inside the NFL ropes from day one, I thought it might be interesting to compare the job of commissioner and the league since Bell to Goodell. 

Bert Bell was followed by Pete Rozelle, then Paul Tagliabue and now Roger Goodell. Four commissioners, one league, and a much different mission statement.

Bob Lobel: The US Open and Brady's Appeal

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Let's start off with a quick quiz: The phrase pandemonium is-

A. A new cleaning agent that attacks poison gas.
B. A new type of high speed train that runs on a unique fuel made from the dung of a species found only in China or,
C. The name given to really curious people, who do really curious things in really curious places, and lack judgement in the work place. 

Ok, Sandoval, the error machine at third base for the local 9, who seems to unwind in unique ways at unique times. #Panda!

Bob Lobel: The End of "Too Good to be True" Tom?

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

What or who do you that know qualifies as the elusive “too good to be true”?

I won't waste your time by nominating Tom Brady. It's not a happy place right now. You think it is, but it's not. Let's start by trying to find the ways you can break the rules in the National Football League- 

Murder, domestic violence, stomping your foot down on an opposing player, stealing signals or disrupting on-field communications are starters. It's not easy to figure out how to break the rules with mayhem in mind. 

The game police in stripes and whistles have replays at their disposal to help keep the game on the up and up. Gambling is of course a big element in the popularity of the game. Fantasy leagues are money makers, or money losers depending on being in the right place at the right time, and making the right decisions. 

Ok football fans, let's find some other ways the players can screw up the level playing field. 

Bob Lobel: The Insanity and Stupidity of "DeflateGate"

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

There is a great temptation to try to define exactly what we have been foaming about for the past 10 days. 

Cheating is a brutal and unfortunate description of letting air out of a football. Is counting cards at a Vegas table labeled as cheating? The frustrating part of this argument is the attempt to change an opinion or two about an emotionally charged subject that has seemingly polarized the outside sporting world from our little corner of the world. What ever happened to "Boston Strong" and the soothing feelings it seemed to have in moments of crisis? 

Trust me, Tom Brady and the two guys in the clubhouse that were supposed to be doing his bidding are not exactly the Jesse James gang. Bonnie and Clyde are not walking through that door.

How about this? Let's write down a few comparable crimes against humanity that are about the level of emptying a football of the air that keeps it a viable part of this game. Actually, this seems to be a game no longer. It’s a soap opera, turned CSI: Foxboro. 

Nobody Wins in the NFL's Handling of "DeflateGate"

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

By now you've probably heard that the NFL absolutely hammered the New England Patriots and star quarterback Tom Brady for the alleged intentional deflating of game footballs during last January's AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts.

For Brady and the Patriots' role in "DeflateGate" (or, as I prefer to call it, Ballghazi), the quarterback was suspended four games and the organization was docked both a 1st and 4th round draft pick, along with a $1 million fine.

That is insane.

Bob Lobel: The NFL to Blame for "DeflateGate"

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Now that we know the punishment, the appeal becomes anti-climatic. The Patriots have surrendered draft picks before. A million dollar fine might knock off at least one trip to some Hollywood award night for the owner, but that's about it.

Doesn't look like an apology is on the way any time soon. But, honestly, this has been an emotionally unsettling week. Don't mistake these feelings for the Bill Simmons fiasco. While I have my own feelings about the Massachusetts native, I really could care less at the moment. The only thing I will say has the word "narcissistic" in it. 

The Brady damage has been my damage. That's my problem. When the Brady championships were there, they were my championships. I guess that's the definition of a fan. It's supposed to work that way. The whole structure of professional sports is built on that relationship. 

They win, I win. They lose, and it's a bad emotional ride.

Bob Lobel: Turkey and Rice

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

It's entirely possible that turkey and rice on any menu would urge you to say, "I'll take the  Roger and Ray  special."  

The question has become will Ray Rice and Roger Goodell work for the same boss once again? That  boss would be the NFL, and making them co workers again depends on if a team team signs Ray Rice as a running back in need. 

There are a few teams that would be tempted since they could use a semblance of a running game. Why not sign Ray Rice? There is a fairly obvious answer to that question. I have to say that most people who responded to our poll question about Rice coming back and playing came up with a resounding “no way.” 

I'm not sure I agree, and I'll tell you why. 

Lobel's Question of the Week: Would You Sign Ray Rice?

Every week, legendary sportscaster Bob Lobel wants to hear your opinion on something that caught his eye over the weekend.

Though the Patriots and teams like the Broncos have found ways to run the ball with castoffs, undrafted free agents and unheralded homegrown talent, there are teams in the playoff hunt that could use some help at running back.

Teams like the Indianapolis Colts, who are relying on first-round bust Trent Richardson to carry the ball, or the Arizona Cardinals, who have seen Andre Ellington's ineffectiveness amplified by the absence of starting quarterback Carson Palmer.

Those are just two of many teams within striking distance of the postseason that may be interested in a talented and experienced running back. Luckily for them, one is available.