There Will Be Blood:

[El Supremo]

Mark Cuban predicts $1 million fine for Patriots

Gosselin: NFL can't just slap Tom Brady on wrist

In January, Aikman called for strong Patriots punishment

NFL finds Brady 'generally aware' of Patriots' scheme

http://www.dallasnews.com/

[hughee99]

1. Can the nfl do anything at all to Brady?

Sure, they can fine the team or take away draft picks for any reason, but can they do anything to a player for something they investigated for 4 months and THINKS he PROBABLY did? I don't think that will fly with the players union.

[El Supremo]

2. I think they will slap him on the wrist...

with a small fine an a small suspension. After all, it isn't like he smoked dope or something.

[hughee99]

3. Yes, but the people who got caught smoking

Dope actually got caught. If the NFL is going to penalize players for something they investigated for months and in the end concluded that it is "more likely than not" that he knew about breaking a rule, I don't see how the union could let stand.

[El Supremo]

4. The Black Sox were found not guilty in a court of law.

But Judge Landis banned them anyway.

Which is what I wish Manfred would do to Bonds.

[hughee99]

6. Yes, more than 30 years before there was

a players union.

[mythology]

7. Ben Roethlisberger was suspended but never charged after allegations of rape

Greg Hardy wasn't convicted (in North Carolina's weird two trial system, but yeah he was guilty) and he was suspended. Granted part of Roethlisberger's suspension was overturned and almost certainly part of Hardy's will be, but there's certainly precedent for Brady to be suspended, especially since his cheating wasn't just an off-field PR disaster, but instead goes to the core of fair competition.

[hughee99]

8. Legal versus league issues.

The NFL can investigate and suspend without having to meet a legal burden of proof, and there's a "personal conduct" policy, but this isn't about breaking laws, it's about breaking league rules. Once the police get involved, it's a whole different game. Hell, Ray Rice had the charges dropped but the NFL conducted it's own investigation and Rice admitted to it (or at least some of it, depending on who you believe).

Think of suspending a person for being suspected of taking performance enhancing drugs but the league not being able to show they actually violated any rules. Think of suspending individual players for things like bountygate without being able to actually prove that the players were intentionally violating any rules.

I expect the Patriots to receive a punishment (probably a fine), but if 4 months of investigation only concludes it's "more likely than not" that Brady knew, I think it will be hard to suspend him.

[GusBob]

5. I don't think we have heard the last from McNally

In the texts he comes across as disgruntled. I think he has an axe to grind and will come out swinging soon for the right price.

Then, blood