Unless you have been asleep for three days or dead, DeflateGate was discussed at length Tuesday.
The NFL upheld its decision to suspend Tom Brady for four games. In a mild upset, he world did not stop spinning.
But in the course of the discourse Tuesday, the narrative for a lot of us changed from the act to the cover-up.
From the NFL's point of view, commissioner Roger Goodell said Brady being party to breaking the rules of competition is akin of steroid use.
From the pro-Brady camp, there's the scientific discussion of the Wells Report and the questions about how much does a couple of PSIs matter in a 45-7 game.
Now, however, for most of us, this is now about the NFL saying Brady destroyed his cell phone on the very day that the NFL investigators wanted to discuss alleged texts between Brady and the Patriots employees who allegedly tampered with the equipment.
FILE - In this May 7, 2015, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady gestures during an event at Salem State University in Salem, Mass. Brady's four-game suspension for his role in using underinflated footballs during the AFC championship game last season has been upheld by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. The league announced the decision Tuesday, July 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) It's now about the very truth we have been told since we were tots and that we try to convey to our children now: Doing something you know is not right is wrong, but it's also unmistakably human. Telling the truth and being out front of the situation makes almost every mistake less stinging.
In Brady's case, if the Wells Report is correct and he had knowledge of the events - which we, and every quarterback who has ever spoken on this matter, believe he had to know about the differences - think how much better this chain of events would have played.
You hold the initial news conference before the Super Bowl and say you did nothing wrong, knowingly. After the Super Bowl, you ask Goodell for a meeting and explain that you were tough on Moe and Curly Patriots Employees, and said you wanted the balls as flat as they could make them, and if that led them to make a bad decision, you're sorry for how this has embarrassed the league.
You then have another news conference and apologize for any role you may have had in any incident that - dramatic pause (and maybe even wipe a tear) - could damage or taint a game that you love so much.
What's the punishment then? A fine? Maybe one game?
And then the camps debate whether the league is over the top or how the Patriots are cheaters and never the 'twain shall meet.
And Brady walks away with a mild blip on his legacy.
Now, with the cover-up and the phone destruction, which gives the overarching appearance of guilt and shame, this changes the talking points. Yes, Brady said he destroys his cell phone every time he gets a new one. But if that was his thought process and he didn't concern himself about the timing of this, then he's way too dumb to win a single football game never mind four Super Bowls and way too obtuse to ever get a date nevermind be married to a Brazilian supermodel.
The phone destruction changes almost everything in this. Now, Brady's career epithet will be he won four (or more) Super Bowls, he was drafted 199th overall, and he was suspended for four games for DeflateGate and not cooperating with the NFL.
And that last line is the kicker. The league has said multiple times that it is taking seriously any player or official or employee that is not complicit in investigations.
For the first time, it appears that Goodell and Co. have stuck to their word in policing the game.
That's a good thing - and one that likely will land in Federal Court when Brady appeals.
If Brady appeals, though, it's certainly a gamble as TFP ace columnist Mark Wiedmer wrote here. It also would be a scenario in which the Feds do not ask for your cooperation; they demand it.
So, what say you: Did the NFL get it right and know with the phone destruction, will this change Brady's legacy?
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More NFL news
While the world is kicking around Tom Brady's phone destruction, there was great, Great, GREAT news in the NFL.
FILE - In this Nov. 16, 2014, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Berry enters the field prior to an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Kansas City, Mo. Berry, cleared by the Kansas City medical staff and his own doctors after a battery of tests Tuesday, July 28, 2015, is returning to the practice field, less than eight months after a stunning cancer diagnosis threatened to derail his Pro Bowl career. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga, File) Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro safety Eric Berry was cleared to practice.
Berry, the former UT All-American, battled Lymphoma and has returned to a spot where he's now physically ready to get back on the field.
This is awesome in its awesomeness.
And know this: We went to Auburn so you know where our allegiances fall, but if we had to list our favorite players at the other SEC schools, Eric Berry is our favorite Vols player.
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Speaking of Tennessee
We are a fan of Jack Daniel's work, especially when he acts like a Gentleman.
That said, we're curious about the decision of the Tennessee football program to make the Vols' season tickets look like the labels of the classic Jack Daniel's bottle.
Hey, we believe there are far too many folks far too worried about the political correctness of everyone else. We have even dubbed them the internet morality mob.
But we do have a question about this decision. Why?
University of Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs, right, is a major reason their is optimism surrounding the Volunteers as they prepare for their third season under coach Butch Jones, left.From point A to now, Butch Jones and his staff have aced every marketing challenge before them. From the slogans to the new uniforms and every thing in between, the Vols have amassed a ton of off-the-field momentum with one great move after another.
But, in a climate in which binge drinking on college campuses in general is a real issue - and on the Tennessee campus in particular, since it is the home of "Butt Chugging" - this seems out of character.
Are we offended by it? No, not in the least, and this is hardly a call for Tennessee to change it. There are far too many things around - real things that deserve real attention - us every day that call for outrage more than the face of a ticket stub.
No, this is about the marketing side more than anything. We are puzzled by the choice, since it's completely out of character for the program under Jones, who almost assuredly had nothing to do with it.
Does this push the edge of "there's no such thing as bad publicity" mantra?
Sure, serious and heinous crimes allegations are no-brainers. Bill Cosby, O.J., Jack the Ripper, those folks certainly did not enjoy the negative spotlight they found.
But we are discussing UT season tickets, which hardly is a normal talking point. So in that regard, this move like so many others in the Butch Jones era, has generated buzz. (See what we did there?)
But will that buzz lead to a hangover?
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This and that
- Not sure what to make of this but someone has crafted a life-sized statue of The Ohio State coach Urban Meyer out of 2,000 pounds of butter. So there's that.
FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2014, file photo, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer looks on in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland in College Park, Md. Most of his standout players from last year's national championship team are back. But that hasn't kept coach Urban Meyer from driving his Ohio State players hard during spring workouts to avoid complacency. (AP Photo/Gail Burton, File) - The five things series starts for UTC and continues for UT in the pages of the TFP.
- The Shaq-Scottie Pippen feud continues as Shaq refuses to let it die. C'mon BIg Guy, just let it go.
- Add Paul Pierce to the list of folks who have made horrible first pitches at MLB games. This one travels about 40 feet.
- The Nationals fired the first shot in the National League trade deadline discussions by landing closer Jonathan Papelbon from the Phillies.
- LeBron James held social media court and touched on how Rhonda Rousey intimidates him. On a similar note, is there a bigger lose-lose proposition in sports than the high school wrestler who has to go against a female? You win, you beat a girl. You lose, and well, you may have to transfer.
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Today's question
There's a lot to digest here so fire away.
In fact, there's a question to chew on each of the main topics:
Your reaction to Brady's cell phone destruction?
Your favorite SEC player who did not play for your favorite SEC team?
Is there such a thing as bad publicity?