Document text
1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Ashland Creek Park opens Principal Zundel looks to next challenge The seven wonders of southwest Oregon Welcome Center plans can proceed Sharing time with the Ashland Cohousing Community Education Principal Zundel looks to next challenge Youth Activities and Academics Levy rolls in early returns It takes a village to raise a child Ashland High's Michelle Zundel heading to Medford district John Muir students need help producing eighth-grade yearbook Environment Demonstrators hope to save tree Documentary 'When Giants Fall' tells tragic story of elephant poaching Mt. Ashland Ski Area proposes summer adventure center Long drought, big storm make for a dirty Bear Creek Jackson County declares drought disaster Business Makeover brings new look to old clinic Cars We Remember: 1955 and 1956 Plymouth memories Ashland's CD Or Not CD will carry on Sawyer Paddles sues manufacturer, alleging breach of contract Ashland seminars focus on employment law Politics and elections Welcome Center plans can proceed Ashland council to consider water rate surcharge, Welcome Center agreement Jackson County district election turnout under 17 percent Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability City of Ashland to consider making recorder position appointive, not elective State News Oregon's snowpack at just 11 percent of average Lack of snow nixes ski portion of popular Central Oregon race Bill under debate in Oregon would limit livestock antibiotics Nation - World Uh oh .... Apple Watch demand is weak There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Death Notices Death Notices Patricia Carole-Mae Perrin Alpha W. Crews Brian Erskine Fletcher Shareable Check out top import and export for every U.S. state Patriots fan sets up GoFundMe page to help pay for team's Deflategate fine Sports Latest Stories SOU's sweet 16 heads to nationals Grizzlies push defending 6A champs but fall in extras O'Brien goes for rare four-peat AHS decathlete Thompson-Siporen overcomes knee surgery to shine at districts George Barnes: We need to help free Tom Brady High school Grizzlies push defending 6A champs but fall in extras O'Brien goes for rare four-peat AHS decathlete Thompson-Siporen overcomes knee surgery to shine at districts O'Brien, Kim claim MWL doubles title Thompson-Siporen earns three MWL titles in first day of district meet Southern Oregon University SOU's sweet 16 heads to nationals O'Brien, Kim claim MWL doubles title Ashland heads to Eugene for MWL district meet Raiders Maguin, Parks, Sanders highlight first day of CCC track meet SOU lands two on all-CCC softball team Voices Latest Stories Our View: Bravo, Ashland voters Granlund cartoon: Hillary and the press Landgren cartoon: College loans and graduation Robert DeWitt: WWII veterans are pieces of living history Our View: AHS loses a leader Editorial Our View: Bravo, Ashland voters Our View: AHS loses a leader Other Views: Vaccine rate improves Our View: Focus on the basics Our View: Elected or appointed? Letters Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 19 Letters to the Editor, May 14 (No heading) Letters to the editor: Tuesday, May 12 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: A day in the life of ScienceWorks Guest Opinion: Ambrose spins a conservative fantasy Guest Opinion: Restoring the Plaza's sense of place Guest Opinion: Making conservation a game Guest Opinion: A good day to act Columns Council Corner: Citizens on the move Guest Opinion: A day in the life of ScienceWorks Council Corner: Please help me with my list George Barnes: We need to help free Tom Brady Chris Honoré: The journey of the African elephant Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Movie listings: May 22-28 5 things to do in the Rogue Valley Sly & Robbie play Historic Ashland Armory SOU presents Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale' 'Mad Max: Fury Road' brings the crazy like no other Theater SOU presents Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale' Ticket Availability Ashland-originated plays to tour throughout country Ticket Availability Ticket availability Music Interview: Country mainstay T. Graham Brown reflects on career The Farr Side: Contest open for singer-songwriters The Farr Side: Mumford & Sons’ latest is full-on rock Interview: Country singer Suzy Bogguss enjoying life on the road The Farr Side: CMAs do it right, in many ways Visual Art Movies Movie listings: May 22-28 'Mad Max: Fury Road' brings the crazy like no other Movie review: Cast keeps laughs coming in ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ Documentary 'When Giants Fall' tells tragic story of elephant poaching Movie review: ‘Mad Max’ is a fresh, fantastic approach to a classic idea Food and Drink Taqueria Picaro takes over Tabu space Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Marketta Gregory: Thankful for those who made the ultimate sacrifice The seven wonders of southwest Oregon Study finds family rules about screen time, eating seem to work Gift of time: Instead of presents, share experiences with kids Reading can keep young minds fresh over summer break Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Mocha Musings Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Kerry tries to dampen fuss over Israeli PM's speech ... 30,000 marchers in Moscow mourn slain Putin foe ... Dems call GOP Homeland Security strategy a political blunder ... Kerry tries to dampen fuss over Israeli PM's speech ... 30,000 marchers in Moscow mourn slain Putin foe ... Dems call GOP Homeland Security strategy a political blunder ... Tom Brady suspended 4 games for Deflategate The NFL dropped the hammer on Tom Brady and the Patriots on Monday over the results and findings of Ted Wells' investigation into Deflategate. Comment By Mark Daniels, More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Mark Daniels, More Content Now Posted May. 12, 2015 at 6:12 AM By Mark Daniels, More Content Now Posted May. 12, 2015 at 6:12 AM » Social News The NFL dropped the hammer on Tom Brady and the Patriots on Monday over the results and findings of Ted Wells' investigation into Deflategate. And it isn’t pretty. Brady will be suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2015 regular season for “conduct detrimental to the integrity of the NFL.” The team has been fined $1 million and will lose two draft picks: a 2016 first-round pick and a fourth-round pick in 2017. Brady's agent, Don Yee, said in a statement Monday night that Brady will challenge the four-game ban. "We will appeal, and if the hearing officer is completely independent and neutral, I am very confident the Wells Report will be exposed as an incredibly frail exercise in fact-finding and logic," Yee's statement read in part. Furthermore, the NFL’s press release announced that Patriots owner Robert Kraft had suspended team employees John Jastremski and James McNally without pay, effective on May 6. Both individuals will have to be reinstated by NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent. If they are allowed back, “Jastremski is prohibited from having any role in the preparation, supervision, or handling of footballs to be used in NFL games during the 2015 season. McNally is barred from serving as a locker room attendant for the game officials, or having any involvement with the preparation, supervision, or handling of footballs or any other equipment on game day.” The NFL announced that the discipline is “for violations of the NFL Policy on Integrity of the Game and Enforcement of Competitive Rules.” “We reached these decisions after extensive discussion with Troy Vincent and many others,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “We relied on the critical importance of protecting the integrity of the game and the thoroughness and independence of the Wells report.” The Wells report was released Wednesday and has been met with criticism from some corners. But in the end, none of that mattered to the NFL. In the 243-page document, Wells says that it’s “more than probable” that the Patriots personnel participated in a deliberate effort to release air from game balls prior to the AFC Championship Game against Indianapolis. The investigation pointed at McNally (the team's officials locker room attendant), Jastremski (an equipment assistant) and Brady as 11 of the team’s 12 game balls were found under the legal psi limit at halftime. For the quarterback, the report said that it was “more probable than not that” that Brady was “at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities.” On Monday night, team owner Robert Kraft issued a statement saying Monday's “punishment ... far exceeded any reasonable expectation” and backing Brady. “Tom Brady has our unconditional support,” Kraft said. “Our belief in him has not wavered.” In the NFL release, two letters from Vincent were published, one to the Patriots and one to Brady. To the Patriots, he details the reasoning for the disciplinary action. “Based on the extensive record developed in the investigation and detailed in the Wells report, and after full consideration of this matter by the Commissioner and the Football Operations department, we have determined that the Patriots have violated the NFL's Policy on Integrity of the Game and Enforcement of Competitive Rules, as well as the Official Playing Rules and the established guidelines for the preparation of game footballs set forth in the NFL’s Game Operations Policy Manual for Member Clubs. In making this determination, we have accepted the findings contained in the comprehensive report independently prepared by Mr. Wells and his colleagues.” In the end, the NFL’s punishment factored in several variables, according to Vincent. One factor was the Patriots’ “prior record,” referencing Spygate in 2007 when the Pats were handed a fine and loss of a first-round draft pick for videotaping signals of another team. “This prior violation of competitive rules was properly considered in determining the discipline in this case,” Vincent wrote. Another factor was “the extent to which the club and relevant individuals cooperated with the investigation.” The Patriots were criticized in the report for failing to make McNally available for an additional interview. The second was Brady’s refusal to produce any electronic evidence such as emails or text messages. “Finally, it is significant that key witnesses — Mr. Brady, Mr. Jastremski, and Mr. McNally — were not fully candid during the investigation,” Vincent added. Vincent also released a statement to Brady. He chastises the quarterback for his involvement in the scandal and his lack of cooperation in the investigation. “Your actions as set forth in the report clearly constitute conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the game of professional football,” Vincent wrote. “The integrity of the game is of paramount importance to everyone in our league, and requires unshakable commitment to fairness and compliance with the playing rules. Each player, no matter how accomplished and otherwise respected, has an obligation to comply with the rules and must be held accountable for his actions when those rules are violated and the public’s confidence in the game is called into question.” Under the terms of the suspension, Brady is allowed to participate in all offseason workouts, training camp and preseason activities, including preseason games. Monday night, Brady's agent said there would be an appeal, which is standard in the NFL. But for the time being, it looks like the 2015 Super Bowl champions will begin the season with Jimmy Garoppolo as their starting quarterback. The only other quarterback on the roster is Garrett Gilbert, who was signed to the practice squad on Dec. 17 and signed to a futures contract in February. It remains to be seen if the Patriots will add another veteran to the group. Available free agents include Matt Flynn, Jason Campbell, Ryan Lindley, Michael Vick and Tarvaris Jackson. Losing Brady for four games will undoubtedly be a hit, but the team has made deep runs after slow starts. The Patriots started out last season with a 2-2 record after four games before winning the Super Bowl. In 2012, they also started out 2-2 before making it to the AFC Championship Game. The biggest loss is the 2016 first-round draft pick. Brady is scheduled to miss games against Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Jacksonville and Dallas. His return, at the moment, is scheduled to be in Week Six against the Indianapolis Colts — who tipped the NFL off to Deflategate in the first place. [email protected] By Mark Daniels, More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Mark Daniels, More Content Now Posted May. 12, 2015 at 6:12 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501