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Football Nation proudly presents the third episode in Season 4 of "Monday Morning Huddle" with host Dave Holcomb.

On this week's show, Holcomb keeps the guest list rolling as he welcomes on FN Senior Writer Doug Tozier and Mechanical Engineer Gary Holcomb.

In the first segment, Dave Holcomb asks Tozier several questions regarding deflate gate in an attempt to objectively share their thoughts and concerns of the Wells Report, which has its obvious flaws. Tozier also argues the punishment handed out to quarterback Tom Brady and the New England Patriots is unjust but does indicate that Brady's legacy has change in the eyes of the public.

During the second segment of this episode, Dave brings on Gary Holcomb, who has a BS in mechanical engineering from Cornell University and a MBA from Harvard Business School. In the segment, Gary provides the listeners specific reasons as to why the conclusions the Wells Report provides based on the testing the footballs underwent at halftime of the AFC Championship Game is seriously flawed.

Finally, Dave Holcomb provides his own opinions on the Patriots rebuttal of Jim McNally's use of the word "deflator", the Patriots punishment and finally Brady's legacy. All that and more in this episode of "Monday Morning Huddle."

The next episode of MMH will appear on June 1.

Previous Season 4 Episodes
- 2015 NFL Draft Recap
- 2015 NFL Draft Preview

This Week's Recommended Work
- Best Pick for Every Team in the 2015 NFL Draft by Brendan Cassidy and Dave Holcomb
- Worst Pick for Each Team in the 2015 NFL Draft by Brendan Cassidy and Dave Holcomb
- Deflate Gate: How the NFL Will Benefit from the Controversy by Dave Holcomb

This Week's Music
Album: Singles (These songs did not appear on an album)
Artist: The Who
Songs: I'm a Boy, Happy Jack & Pictures of Lily

Theme Song: Monday Morning by Fleetwood Mac

Dave Holcomb’s Contact Information
Twitter: @dmholcomb
E-mail: holcombmdavid@gmail.com
Facebook: Dave's Football News

Football Nation proudly presents the third episode in Season 4 of "Monday Morning Huddle" with host Dave Holcomb.

On this week's show, Holcomb keeps the guest list rolling as he welcomes on FN Senior Writer Doug Tozier and Mechanical Engineer Gary Holcomb.

In the first segment, Dave Holcomb asks Tozier several questions regarding deflate gate in an attempt to objectively share their thoughts and concerns of the Wells Report, which has its obvious flaws. Tozier also argues the punishment handed out to quarterback Tom Brady and the New England Patriots is unjust but does indicate that Brady's legacy has change in the eyes of the public.

During the second segment of this episode, Dave brings on Gary Holcomb, who has a BS in mechanical engineering from Cornell University and a MBA from Harvard Business School. In the segment, Gary provides the listeners specific reasons as to why the conclusions the Wells Report provides based on the testing the footballs underwent at halftime of the AFC Championship Game is seriously flawed.

Finally, Dave Holcomb provides his own opinions on the Patriots rebuttal of Jim McNally's use of the word "deflator", the Patriots punishment and finally Brady's legacy. All that and more in this episode of "Monday Morning Huddle."

The next episode of MMH will appear on June 1.

Previous Season 4 Episodes
- 2015 NFL Draft Recap
- 2015 NFL Draft Preview

This Week's Recommended Work
- Best Pick for Every Team in the 2015 NFL Draft by Brendan Cassidy and Dave Holcomb
- Worst Pick for Each Team in the 2015 NFL Draft by Brendan Cassidy and Dave Holcomb
- Deflate Gate: How the NFL Will Benefit from the Controversy by Dave Holcomb

This Week's Music
Album: Singles (These songs did not appear on an album)
Artist: The Who
Songs: I'm a Boy, Happy Jack & Pictures of Lily

Theme Song: Monday Morning by Fleetwood Mac

Dave Holcomb’s Contact Information
Twitter: @dmholcomb
E-mail: holcombmdavid@gmail.com
Facebook: Dave's Football News

At first glance New England’s chances to repeat just got longer… about four games longer. Reigning Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady has been suspended for the first quarter of the season. Not good news for a team that lost four cornerbacks (Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, Alfonzo Dennard, and Kyle Arrington), a stalwart on the defensive line (lineman Vince Wilfork), and their most versatile offensive player (running back Shane Vereen) since the end of the season.

However, it’s at least a little ironic that in meting out his own brand of “frontier justice,” Goodell significantly increased the chances of a Patriots championship this season. Not that the odds were stellar to start with -- not with all those free agent defections. But any team with New England’s pedigree would be given at least a puncher’s chance of winning it all. And the NFL just upgraded them to “true contender.

Here are three ways in which the Brady suspension will help the Patriots in 2015.

1. Quarterback Health

Quarterback is the most important position in American team sports (just behind ice hockey goalie), so consider that the suspension reduces the chances of Brady suffering an injury. And not just a catastrophic season-ending injury. Remember that Brady’s peer, quarterback Peyton Manning, saw a steep decline in his ability to throw the football as the 2014 season progressed.

Some have suggested that Manning skip the first four games of 2015 so he will be fresher for the playoffs. Well, the NFL office just instituted that plan in New England. And that just about guarantees Brady will be sharper and better-rested come next January.

2. Patriots Against the World

The suspension is ready-made for a team that perfected “no one respects us” and “us against the world.” The New England Patriots won’t need to invent slights or disrespect; not this season. The NFL Office just gave them all the ammo they need.

Want evidence the league is out to get you? Well, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers admitted to doing just about the same thing as the Patriots (only he over-inflated the footballs) and he hasn’t been investigated or sanctioned. The Jaguars and Vikings doctored balls during a game last year; and the entire thing was broadcast for all to see. The NFL response: a warning letter. Not a suspension, no fine, and no lost draft picks.

And when the coaches need additional motivation, there’s more to be had. After all, Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick were exonerated in the Wells Report. Yet Kraft was fined $1,000,000, more than for Spygate. And general manager Belichick lost draft picks in 2016 and 2017 -- again, a harsher penalty than the 2007 first-rounder.

Every team plays the disrespect card, but no team uses it as effectively as the Patriots. And Goodell just lobbed up a nice easy softball for them to crush out of the park whenever they need a little extra motivation.

3. F.U. Season Redux

The 2007 post-Spygate season was dubbed the “F.U. Season” by fans across New England. The team seemed to make it its personal mission to destroy every opponent. The result was a 16-0 record, an average 37-17 game, and ten wins by 21-or-more points. There were also some calls for a “mercy rule” in the NFL, but of course, those did not come from inside the halls at 1 Patriot Place.

Cynics will point out that the 2007 Patriots added receivers Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donté Stallworth, along with top free agent linebacker Adalius Thomas. But before the season started, no one knew if any of those receivers would help at all -- the Patriots had whiffed on a number of receivers over the years. And while Thomas was decent that year, he was far from the impact force one would expect from such a high-profile signing.

16-0 wasn’t just about great players. It wouldn’t have happened without a driven coach who pushed his players, his coaches, and himself harder than ever before. And in 2015, not only has his own reputation been sullied, so has that of his quarterback. F.U. indeed -- from both Brady and Belichick this time around.

Summary

Of course it’s hyperbole to say Goodell handed the Pats the Super Bowl. There is a lot of ground to cover before then, including Brady’s appeal, OTAs and training camp, decisions at cornerback and tight end, and how well backup quarterback Jimmy Garappolo plays in Brady’s absence.

But if New England was a semi-contender to get back to the Super Bowl before the suspension, they are more likely now that they have a rallying cry. Goodell might get a temporary public relations bump. But he’ll have to swallow hard to choke down the crow if Brady, Belichick, and Kraft join him on stage February 7, 2016.

The NFL handed down its punishment for Deflategate, and Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were hit hard.

In a story initially reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, Brady has been suspended four games, and the Patriots will lose two draft picks -- 2016 first rounder and 2017 fourth rounder -- in addition to a $1 million fine. Brady will be allowed to participate in all offseason activities, including preseason games.

"We reached these decisions," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement, "after extensive discussion with Troy Vincent and many others. We relied on the critical importance of protecting the integrity of the game & thoroughness and independence of the Wells report."

Goodell said Brady was suspended for "conduct detrimental to the integrity of the NFL."

You can read the full statement here, as well as a letter from Vincent, the NFL executive vice president of football operations, to the Patriots organization. 

Brady and the Patriots will likely appeal. If the suspension holds, Brady will miss games against Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Jacksonville and Buffalo.

Since the Patriots, the reigning Super Bowl champs, have a Week 4 bye, Brady's first game will be -- ironically enough -- Week 6 at Indianapolis.

Jimmy Garoppolo is New England's backup quarterback. Garoppolo was selected in the second round of the 2014 draft. In four preseason games a year ago, he was 46-of-79 (58.2 percent) for 618 yards with five touchdowns and one interception (99.0 passer rating).

It's a stiffer penalty than most expected, especially when juxtaposed to the two-game ban Ray Rice initially received for his domestic violence incident.

We'll have more as it unfolds.

I will defend Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and Robert Kraft in the face of the haters and those who want to deflate the legacy of a great organization. The New England Patriots have proven that it is possible to dominate in a league where parity, a level playing field, and free agency have become status quo.

They are a dynasty. They have won consistently for a decade and a half, including seven Super Bowl appearances (Drew Bledsoe led the team to one in addition to Brady's six), winning four of those under Kraft and Belichick.

The Patriots also have violated league rules, and despite my feelings about some of those assinine rules, it happens, and teams need to be held accountable to uphold the integrity of the game.

It is my belief that "the integrity of the game" is a loosely defined idea that may or may not be accurately reflected in the rules passed each year, especially under the reign of Roger Goodell. Does it reflect on the "integrity" of football for receivers to wear special gloves (as opposed to stick um) to more easily catch the ball? That may affect outcomes just as much as inflation levels and PEDs.

But to the issue at hand, how much does PSI affect throwing and catching? Opinions seem to vary. Brady likes the balls a bit softer, but Aaron Rogers likes them a bit harder. Personal preference makes this a tricky question. Perhaps Mr. Rogers is just as guilty of tampering?

It seems that the league office has opened a can of worms with this ruling; sure, the bigger issue has been pinpointed in that Brady and the Patriots were less than forthcoming and withheld information that could either have exonerated or accused them of specific wrongdoing.

We may never know the whole truth. But what we do know is that Brady's preference became a mission to circumvent protocol at some point in the process of regulating game ball pressure. But the Wells report seems to deflect any doubt as to the true culprit in favor of lambasting those who did not cooperate to the satisfaction of the investigation.

Whether or not sufficient and specifically, damning evidence actually existed, the punishment appears to be more of a "let's make an example" than simply handing down a sentence. And those who still maintain that this offense is equal to domestic abuse and drug abuse are holding a double standard.

The Patriots should not be punished for the failure of the investigation to find the evidence they "needed", only for any clear violation (with intent) of the rules. Again, the suspension and draft picks appear to be the commissioner trying to flex his muscles and affect "the playing field", rather than enforce the rule book.

Remember that in the Ray Rice fiasco, the Ravens were never held accountable for anything related to the case. Both the Ravens and the NFL got away with denying any prior knowledge of the video tape. But it seems that the Patriots and Brady have been denied the same privilege in Deflategate. That is a double standard.

It is entirely possible that Brady may have requested some slight deflation of footballs, never considering that they would be deflated beyond the legal limit. The Patriots surely could be held harmless as well. And if officials can't accurately attest to the level of inflation of ALL footballs in the game, then the point becomes moot.

It is not possible to establish motive or collusion; but Tom Brady's lack of cooperation should certainly be questioned, as far as that takes us. Is that far enough to doubt his integrity, especially back to his original Super Bowl titles?

Tom was never REQUIRED to surrender his phone. The rest is just too circumstantial to bring down the hammer. Too many veteran QBs have testified that doctoring of footballs is common practice and shows no tendency toward cheating to gain a competitive advantage. Every athlete seeks a competitive advantage, normally within the rules of play.

Brady should have admitted the latter, that he asks his equipment assistants to favor his preference with the footballs. He should have made some phone records available to Ted Wells with a reasonable explanation of his preferences.

But he chose to exercise his right to privacy and has received ridicule for doing so.

If we look at the complete history of cheating in the NFL, the Patriots do not deserve the reputation they have been given as the worst offenders... far from it. Many teams have been, and continue to be, egregious rule-breakers by comparison, BY FAR!

So why have the Patriots been hammered in this case? It would seem that the best are always the target for the rest. They have made it a habit to be at the top, and that brings the crosshairs to bear.

But that does not make the punishment fit the crime (if there was one). Go ahead and fine the team and the player, but don't try to destroy and humiliate them. The rules (with sentencing guidelines) are there for a reason. This is not the time to grandstand for public approval.

If anything, Mr. Goodell is placing himself above the game of football and the rules he claims to love so much. I have never claimed to be a fan of Goodell; this only shows me that he loves himself too much. He cares about his power more than a fair game. The Commish may have pleased a lot of football fans, but he did so at the expense of the very integrity he preaches.

This is not integrity; it is travesty. The length of the investigation is evidence enough that the league only cared to save face, not to see justice done. Justice would have been summed-up in 50 pages, not 243 (and a month... tops).

When lawyers want to pull wool over our eyes, they do it with wordiness and manipulation. If the actions of Brady and the Patriots violates a rule, then that is all we need to know. Follow through with the proper ruling and punishment and be done with it.

It is obvious from recent history that Goodell and the NFL do not know how to do that.

I will defend Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and Robert Kraft in the face of the haters and those who want to deflate the legacy of a great organization. The New England Patriots have proven that it is possible to dominate in a league where parity, a level playing field, and free agency have become status quo.

They are a dynasty. They have won consistently for a decade and a half, including seven Super Bowl appearances (Drew Bledsoe led the team to one in addition to Brady's six), winning four of those under Kraft and Belichick.

The Patriots also have violated league rules, and despite my feelings about some of those assinine rules, it happens, and teams need to be held accountable to uphold the integrity of the game.

It is my belief that "the integrity of the game" is a loosely defined idea that may or may not be accurately reflected in the rules passed each year, especially under the reign of Roger Goodell. Does it reflect on the "integrity" of football for receivers to wear special gloves (as opposed to stick um) to more easily catch the ball? That may affect outcomes just as much as inflation levels and PEDs.

But to the issue at hand, how much does PSI affect throwing and catching? Opinions seem to vary. Brady likes the balls a bit softer, but Aaron Rogers likes them a bit harder. Personal preference makes this a tricky question. Perhaps Mr. Rogers is just as guilty of tampering?

It seems that the league office has opened a can of worms with this ruling; sure, the bigger issue has been pinpointed in that Brady and the Patriots were less than forthcoming and withheld information that could either have exonerated or accused them of specific wrongdoing.

We may never know the whole truth. But what we do know is that Brady's preference became a mission to circumvent protocol at some point in the process of regulating game ball pressure. But the Wells report seems to deflect any doubt as to the true culprit in favor of lambasting those who did not cooperate to the satisfaction of the investigation.

Whether or not sufficient and specifically, damning evidence actually existed, the punishment appears to be more of a "let's make an example" than simply handing down a sentence. And those who still maintain that this offense is equal to domestic abuse and drug abuse are holding a double standard.

The Patriots should not be punished for the failure of the investigation to find the evidence they "needed", only for any clear violation (with intent) of the rules. Again, the suspension and draft picks appear to be the commissioner trying to flex his muscles and affect "the playing field", rather than enforce the rule book.

Remember that in the Ray Rice fiasco, the Ravens were never held accountable for anything related to the case. Both the Ravens and the NFL got away with denying any prior knowledge of the video tape. But it seems that the Patriots and Brady have been denied the same privilege in Deflategate. That is a double standard.

It is entirely possible that Brady may have requested some slight deflation of footballs, never considering that they would be deflated beyond the legal limit. The Patriots surely could be held harmless as well. And if officials can't accurately attest to the level of inflation of ALL footballs in the game, then the point becomes moot.

It is not possible to establish motive or collusion; but Tom Brady's lack of cooperation should certainly be questioned, as far as that takes us. Is that far enough to doubt his integrity, especially back to his original Super Bowl titles?

Tom was never REQUIRED to surrender his phone. The rest is just too circumstantial to bring down the hammer. Too many veteran QBs have testified that doctoring of footballs is common practice and shows no tendency toward cheating to gain a competitive advantage. Every athlete seeks a competitive advantage, normally within the rules of play.

Brady should have admitted the latter, that he asks his equipment assistants to favor his preference with the footballs. He should have made some phone records available to Ted Wells with a reasonable explanation of his preferences.

But he chose to exercise his right to privacy and has received ridicule for doing so.

If we look at the complete history of cheating in the NFL, the Patriots do not deserve the reputation they have been given as the worst offenders... far from it. Many teams have been, and continue to be, egregious rule-breakers by comparison, BY FAR!

So why have the Patriots been hammered in this case? It would seem that the best are always the target for the rest. They have made it a habit to be at the top, and that brings the crosshairs to bear.

But that does not make the punishment fit the crime (if there was one). Go ahead and fine the team and the player, but don't try to destroy and humiliate them. The rules (with sentencing guidelines) are there for a reason. This is not the time to grandstand for public approval.

If anything, Mr. Goodell is placing himself above the game of football and the rules he claims to love so much. I have never claimed to be a fan of Goodell; this only shows me that he loves himself too much. He cares about his power more than a fair game. The Commish may have pleased a lot of football fans, but he did so at the expense of the very integrity he preaches.

This is not integrity; it is travesty. The length of the investigation is evidence enough that the league only cared to save face, not to see justice done. Justice would have been summed-up in 50 pages, not 243 (and a month... tops).

When lawyers want to pull wool over our eyes, they do it with wordiness and manipulation. If the actions of Brady and the Patriots violates a rule, then that is all we need to know. Follow through with the proper ruling and punishment and be done with it.

It is obvious from recent history that Goodell and the NFL do not know how to do that.

I will defend Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and Robert Kraft in the face of the haters and those who want to deflate the legacy of a great organization. The New England Patriots have proven that it is possible to dominate in a league where parity, a level playing field, and free agency have become status quo.

They are a dynasty. They have won consistently for a decade and a half, including seven Super Bowl appearances (Drew Bledsoe led the team to one in addition to Brady's six), winning four of those under Kraft and Belichick.

The Patriots also have violated league rules, and despite my feelings about some of those assinine rules, it happens, and teams need to be held accountable to uphold the integrity of the game.

It is my belief that "the integrity of the game" is a loosely defined idea that may or may not be accurately reflected in the rules passed each year, especially under the reign of Roger Goodell. Does it reflect on the "integrity" of football for receivers to wear special gloves (as opposed to stick um) to more easily catch the ball? That may affect outcomes just as much as inflation levels and PEDs.

But to the issue at hand, how much does PSI affect throwing and catching? Opinions seem to vary. Brady likes the balls a bit softer, but Aaron Rogers likes them a bit harder. Personal preference makes this a tricky question. Perhaps Mr. Rogers is just as guilty of tampering?

It seems that the league office has opened a can of worms with this ruling; sure, the bigger issue has been pinpointed in that Brady and the Patriots were less than forthcoming and withheld information that could either have exonerated or accused them of specific wrongdoing.

We may never know the whole truth. But what we do know is that Brady's preference became a mission to circumvent protocol at some point in the process of regulating game ball pressure. But the Wells report seems to deflect any doubt as to the true culprit in favor of lambasting those who did not cooperate to the satisfaction of the investigation.

Whether or not sufficient and specifically, damning evidence actually existed, the punishment appears to be more of a "let's make an example" than simply handing down a sentence. And those who still maintain that this offense is equal to domestic abuse and drug abuse are holding a double standard.

The Patriots should not be punished for the failure of the investigation to find the evidence they "needed", only for any clear violation (with intent) of the rules. Again, the suspension and draft picks appear to be the commissioner trying to flex his muscles and affect "the playing field", rather than enforce the rule book.

Remember that in the Ray Rice fiasco, the Ravens were never held accountable for anything related to the case. Both the Ravens and the NFL got away with denying any prior knowledge of the video tape. But it seems that the Patriots and Brady have been denied the same privilege in Deflategate. That is a double standard.

It is entirely possible that Brady may have requested some slight deflation of footballs, never considering that they would be deflated beyond the legal limit. The Patriots surely could be held harmless as well. And if officials can't accurately attest to the level of inflation of ALL footballs in the game, then the point becomes moot.

It is not possible to establish motive or collusion; but Tom Brady's lack of cooperation should certainly be questioned, as far as that takes us. Is that far enough to doubt his integrity, especially back to his original Super Bowl titles?

Tom was never REQUIRED to surrender his phone. The rest is just too circumstantial to bring down the hammer. Too many veteran QBs have testified that doctoring of footballs is common practice and shows no tendency toward cheating to gain a competitive advantage. Every athlete seeks a competitive advantage, normally within the rules of play.

Brady should have admitted the latter, that he asks his equipment assistants to favor his preference with the footballs. He should have made some phone records available to Ted Wells with a reasonable explanation of his preferences.

But he chose to exercise his right to privacy and has received ridicule for doing so.

If we look at the complete history of cheating in the NFL, the Patriots do not deserve the reputation they have been given as the worst offenders... far from it. Many teams have been, and continue to be, egregious rule-breakers by comparison, BY FAR!

So why have the Patriots been hammered in this case? It would seem that the best are always the target for the rest. They have made it a habit to be at the top, and that brings the crosshairs to bear.

But that does not make the punishment fit the crime (if there was one). Go ahead and fine the team and the player, but don't try to destroy and humiliate them. The rules (with sentencing guidelines) are there for a reason. This is not the time to grandstand for public approval.

If anything, Mr. Goodell is placing himself above the game of football and the rules he claims to love so much. I have never claimed to be a fan of Goodell; this only shows me that he loves himself too much. He cares about his power more than a fair game. The Commish may have pleased a lot of football fans, but he did so at the expense of the very integrity he preaches.

This is not integrity; it is travesty. The length of the investigation is evidence enough that the league only cared to save face, not to see justice done. Justice would have been summed-up in 50 pages, not 243 (and a month... tops).

When lawyers want to pull wool over our eyes, they do it with wordiness and manipulation. If the actions of Brady and the Patriots violates a rule, then that is all we need to know. Follow through with the proper ruling and punishment and be done with it.

It is obvious from recent history that Goodell and the NFL do not know how to do that.

At first glance New England’s chances to repeat just got longer… about four games longer. Reigning Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady has been suspended for the first quarter of the season. Not good news for a team that lost four cornerbacks (Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, Alfonzo Dennard, and Kyle Arrington), a stalwart on the defensive line (lineman Vince Wilfork), and their most versatile offensive player (running back Shane Vereen) since the end of the season.

However, it’s at least a little ironic that in meting out his own brand of “frontier justice,” Goodell significantly increased the chances of a Patriots championship this season. Not that the odds were stellar to start with -- not with all those free agent defections. But any team with New England’s pedigree would be given at least a puncher’s chance of winning it all. And the NFL just upgraded them to “true contender.

Here are three ways in which the Brady suspension will help the Patriots in 2015.

1. Quarterback Health

Quarterback is the most important position in American team sports (just behind ice hockey goalie), so consider that the suspension reduces the chances of Brady suffering an injury. And not just a catastrophic season-ending injury. Remember that Brady’s peer, quarterback Peyton Manning, saw a steep decline in his ability to throw the football as the 2014 season progressed.

Some have suggested that Manning skip the first four games of 2015 so he will be fresher for the playoffs. Well, the NFL office just instituted that plan in New England. And that just about guarantees Brady will be sharper and better-rested come next January.

2. Patriots Against the World

The suspension is ready-made for a team that perfected “no one respects us” and “us against the world.” The New England Patriots won’t need to invent slights or disrespect; not this season. The NFL Office just gave them all the ammo they need.

Want evidence the league is out to get you? Well, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers admitted to doing just about the same thing as the Patriots (only he over-inflated the footballs) and he hasn’t been investigated or sanctioned. The Jaguars and Vikings doctored balls during a game last year; and the entire thing was broadcast for all to see. The NFL response: a warning letter. Not a suspension, no fine, and no lost draft picks.

And when the coaches need additional motivation, there’s more to be had. After all, Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick were exonerated in the Wells Report. Yet Kraft was fined $1,000,000, more than for Spygate. And general manager Belichick lost draft picks in 2016 and 2017 -- again, a harsher penalty than the 2007 first-rounder.

Every team plays the disrespect card, but no team uses it as effectively as the Patriots. And Goodell just lobbed up a nice easy softball for them to crush out of the park whenever they need a little extra motivation.

3. F.U. Season Redux

The 2007 post-Spygate season was dubbed the “F.U. Season” by fans across New England. The team seemed to make it its personal mission to destroy every opponent. The result was a 16-0 record, an average 37-17 game, and ten wins by 21-or-more points. There were also some calls for a “mercy rule” in the NFL, but of course, those did not come from inside the halls at 1 Patriot Place.

Cynics will point out that the 2007 Patriots added receivers Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donté Stallworth, along with top free agent linebacker Adalius Thomas. But before the season started, no one knew if any of those receivers would help at all -- the Patriots had whiffed on a number of receivers over the years. And while Thomas was decent that year, he was far from the impact force one would expect from such a high-profile signing.

16-0 wasn’t just about great players. It wouldn’t have happened without a driven coach who pushed his players, his coaches, and himself harder than ever before. And in 2015, not only has his own reputation been sullied, so has that of his quarterback. F.U. indeed -- from both Brady and Belichick this time around.

Summary

Of course it’s hyperbole to say Goodell handed the Pats the Super Bowl. There is a lot of ground to cover before then, including Brady’s appeal, OTAs and training camp, decisions at cornerback and tight end, and how well backup quarterback Jimmy Garappolo plays in Brady’s absence.

But if New England was a semi-contender to get back to the Super Bowl before the suspension, they are more likely now that they have a rallying cry. Goodell might get a temporary public relations bump. But he’ll have to swallow hard to choke down the crow if Brady, Belichick, and Kraft join him on stage February 7, 2016.

The NFL handed down its punishment for Deflategate, and Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were hit hard.

In a story initially reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, Brady has been suspended four games, and the Patriots will lose two draft picks -- 2016 first rounder and 2017 fourth rounder -- in addition to a $1 million fine. Brady will be allowed to participate in all offseason activities, including preseason games.

"We reached these decisions," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement, "after extensive discussion with Troy Vincent and many others. We relied on the critical importance of protecting the integrity of the game & thoroughness and independence of the Wells report."

Goodell said Brady was suspended for "conduct detrimental to the integrity of the NFL."

You can read the full statement here, as well as a letter from Vincent, the NFL executive vice president of football operations, to the Patriots organization. 

Brady and the Patriots will likely appeal. If the suspension holds, Brady will miss games against Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Jacksonville and Buffalo.

Since the Patriots, the reigning Super Bowl champs, have a Week 4 bye, Brady's first game will be -- ironically enough -- Week 6 at Indianapolis.

Jimmy Garoppolo is New England's backup quarterback. Garoppolo was selected in the second round of the 2014 draft. In four preseason games a year ago, he was 46-of-79 (58.2 percent) for 618 yards with five touchdowns and one interception (99.0 passer rating).

It's a stiffer penalty than most expected, especially when juxtaposed to the two-game ban Ray Rice initially received for his domestic violence incident.

We'll have more as it unfolds.

The Miami Dolphins, one of the more tradition-rich organizations in the NFL, haven't won a playoff game since 2000. Heck, since 2000, the Dolphins have only made the playoffs twice, with the most recent berth coming during an 11-win campaign in 2008.

Their biggest obstacle in that time has been the rise of the New England Patriots, Miami's AFC East rival, as the NFL's premier organization. Since the Dolphins last division title in 2000, New England has won the AFC East 12 times in 14 years. In that 14-year stretch, Miami has a lowly 9-21 record against the Patriots.

Someday -- it probably can't come soon enough for Miami fans (or supporters of any other AFC East team) -- Tom Brady will retire and the door will open for someone else to become kings of the division. Until then, though, New England has to enter any season as the favorite in the AFC East.

Under Joe Philbin, Miami and young quarterback Ryan Tannehill have been improving, albeit slowly, these past two seasons. After being under .500 four consecutive years, the Dolphins won eight games in both 2013 and 2014, flirting with a playoff berth last year until losing three of their final four contests.

Their performance against New England, the divisional bully, has improved, as well, with Miami winning their last two home games versus the Patriots.

Miami may have made more headlines than any other team this offseason. It's not sure sign of success, but they're not standing by idly.

Defensively, the Dolphins landed a cornerstone of their unit in free agency, spending $114 million on Ndamukong Suh, one of the game's top interior defensive linemen. Also in free agency, Miami inked athletic tight end Jordan Cameron, who has a pro bowl season on his resume.

Via trade, the Dolphins landed promising young receiver Kenny Stills. They shipped off wideout Mike Wallace and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe in separate deals. Miami also resigned center Mike Pouncey to a gigantic five-year, $52.2-million extension.

In the draft, Miami's notable selections included receiver DeVante Parker in the first round and running back Jay Ajayi, whose stock suffered a free fall amid knee concerns, in the fifth. The Dolphins also added guard Jamil Douglas (fourth round) and cornerback Bobby McCain (fifth round).

With the financial investment ownership has made, the Dolphins are certainly in win-now mode. But will all the offseason moves get Miami over the 8-8 hump? Let's go through the Dolphins upcoming schedule and see how it shakes out.

Week 1: Washington 24, Miami 21

This was a toss-up for me. If the game was in Miami, I'd have the Dolphins winning, but it's a road contest. These are the type of games -- on the road against a bottom-third team -- that a team with playoff aspirations needs to win. Robert Griffin III doesn't excel, but he doesn't make any crucial mistakes, either, as he bests Tannehill, his fellow fourth-year quarterback.

Week 2: Miami 31, Jacksonville 23

The Jaguars have added a lot of young talent on offense the last two seasons, but Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake should destroy Jacksonville's porous offensive line and hand Miami their first road win of the season.

Week 3: Miami 24, Buffalo 13

The Bills have one of the NFL's premier front sevens, limiting Lamar Miller and the run game, but Tannehill and his new weapons help Miami win its home debut.

Week 4: Miami 20, New York Jets 14

Much like Buffalo, the Jets have an elite defensive line, but Brandon Marshall, Geno Smith, Eric Decker and New York's stable of running backs can't do enough offensively. Miami relies on it's air attack, with new additions Stills and Parker making the difference.

Week 5: Bye

Week 6: Miami 30, Tennessee 13

Rookie Marcus Mariota and the Titans' weak offensive line are an awful recipe when facing Suh and Wake. Mariota will make some plays with his legs, but he can't do nearly enough with his arm. After two games against stout run defenses, Lamar Miller erupts in this one.

Week 7: Miami 24, Houston 14

Coach Bill O'Brien has done well with a pretty solid Houston roster, but as of now, Ryan Mallett is the Texans signal caller. That's not going to be good enough to get a road win at Miami. The Brent Grimes-DeAndre Hopkins battle will be a treat to watch. Oh, yeah, J.J. Watt and Suh in the same game, that'll be fun -- and a little scary.

Week 8: New England 34, Miami 24

In a Thursday tilt, the Patriots continue their mastery of the Dolphins in Foxboro. Miami has lost its last six games at Gillette Stadium, with only one of those being a single-digit defeat. The loss starts a tough three-game road trip for the Dolphins.

Week 9: Buffalo 17, Miami 14

Grimes bottles up Sammy Watkins, but the combination of LeSean McCoy and coach Rex Ryan's defense is too much for Miami to overcome. McCoy does most of his damage catching balls out of the backfield.

Week 10: Philadelphia 30, Miami 17

The Eagles make it three straight losses for the Dolphins. I don't know if Sam Bradford is still playing quarterback for Philadelphia, but Chip Kelly proved last season, when the Eagles finished third in points per game with Mark Sanchez getting eight starts, that he doesn't need a top-tier quarterback to score points.

Week 11: Miami 24, Dallas 20

In a hard-fought battle, Miami halts the skid and edges the Cowboys in their return home. Dallas still has a premier offensive line, but Darren McFadden and Joseph Randle aren't giving the Cowboys the same level of production as DeMarco Murray did a year ago. Grimes, in a showdown with Dez Bryant, two of the NFL's best at their positions, does just enough to get his team the victory.

Week 12: Miami 17, New York Jets 16

Miami hits the road and pulls out the win in an ugly, punt-filled game thanks to a late field goal. The offense struggles against the fierce front of the Jets, but Dolphins defense saves the day.

Week 13: Baltimore 24, Miami 20

Baltimore, in line for a top seed in the AFC, won at Miami a year ago, starting the Dolphins' late-season slide. The Ravens do it again. Joe Flacco hooks up with rookie Breshad Perriman for a long bomb, and Miami can't prevent Justin Forsett from running out the clock.

Week 14: Miami 37, New York Giants 20

The offense has their best day of the season in this Monday night home romp, with consistent producer Jarvis Landry scoring twice. Lamar Miller has another big game, and Tannehill surpasses the 300-yard mark. Eli helps the cause with an early pick-six.

Week 15: San Diego 27, Miami 23

In a battle between two fringe playoff teams, it's the Chargers who prevail in San Diego. Miami limits Melvin Gordon, but Rivers and his two tight ends -- Ladarius Green and the timeless Antonio Gates -- punish the Dolphins.

Week 16: Miami 30, Indianapolis 27

Entering with an 8-6 mark, Miami ensures themselves a winning record with the win over the Colts. The Dolphins jump out to a 20-0 lead behind Miller's solid first half and a long Stills score, but Andrew Luck and company storm back in the second half. In the end, Miami gets a late Cameron touchdown for some breathing room and holds off the high-powered Colts. Miller has one of his best games as a pro, electrifying the home crowd with multiple big gains and finishing with over 150 yards.

Week 17: New England 30, Miami 24

The AFC East crown was already decided, but New England still edges the Dolphins in the regular-season finale. Gronkowski and Brady connect for two touchdowns, and a fourth-quarter Tannehill pick seals the win for the Patriots, who snap a two-game losing streak at Sun Life Stadium.

In the end, I have Miami finishing 9-7. Is it enough to get them in the playoffs? probably not. Although it's still an improvement over the past two seasons.

No NFL schedule is ever easy, but the Dolphins only play one 2014 playoff team in their first eight games. It's realistic to think Miami will be favored in their first six games. If they started 6-0, they'd have to suffer a historic collapse to miss the postseason, but I'm betting on at least one slip-up during the initial stretch.

It's just the opposite in the second half of the year. Starting with the Thursday trip to New England, Miami may be the underdog in all but two games -- at Buffalo and home against the Giants -- the rest of the way. The Dolphins need to stockpile wins early and then hold on for dear life from there.

The critical games will be road contests at Washington and Buffalo, both of which I have Miami losing. If the Dolphins can win one of those games and get to 10 wins, it would increase their chances at getting into the postseason.

Other swing games, or games I can see being toss-ups, are the home tilts with Baltimore and Indianapolis, which I have Miami splitting. Both the Colts and Ravens are better than Miami, but the Dolphins are more than capable of beating either team.

Let's face it, despite the stigma of why a team has the No. 1 pick (or even top 10) in the draft, the chance to grab one of the most talented college prospects of the year is a big deal and a possible change of fortune for a franchise.

The first round may not always be stacked top to bottom with the most talented players overall, it's still considered the cream of the crop for providing instant, starting-caliber bodies with an eye towards filling holes in week one.

But some teams may have found their best picks after day one, and here are my picks for the 10 best (you could call them steals) from rounds two through six (I already covered round seven here).

1. Randy Gregory DE Dallas Cowboys 60th overall.

Call him a boom-or-bust candidate, but if he starts making better choices, he will be one of the best choices in this entire draft. Forget about the fact that the Cowboys seemed to need a running back more than anything, Gregory immediately upgrades this pass-rush, and adds some versatility in every aspect of defensive play. He was a top 10 pick by all standards, and was a steal at 60th.

2. A. J. Cann OG Jacksonville Jaguars 67th overall.

Here was an imposing presence on the offensive line for South Carolina who would have filled a huge need for the Patriots at the end of the first round; instead, he falls to the Jaguars in the third round. Cann is one of the top-rated offensive linemen and will be a starter right away in Jacksonville.

3. Jaelen Strong WR Houston Texans 70th overall.

Some thought that Strong was the best receiver in the draft, and that translates to a huge steal for the Texans, who already have a couple of good receivers in Cecil Shorts and DeAndre Hopkins. Mike Mayock likened Strong to Larry Fitzgerald. If that isn't high enough praise, what is?

4. Carl Davis DT Baltimore Ravens 90th overall.

A lage first round projection who got lost in the shuffle despite several teams who needed a big body in the middle of their defensive fronts. Davis gets into the backfield a lot and makes tackles. He will frustrate a lot of plays as a pro.

5. Steven Nelson CB Kansas City Chiefs 98th overall.

Not a flashy pick, but one of the more consistent corners in college football, Nelson held his own for the Beavers, as well as, having a strong showing at the senior bowl. What Nelson lacks in size he compensates in tenacity and good technique. He will start very soon in K.C.

6. Trey Flowers DE New England Patriots 101st overall.

If you haven't heard of Flowers, just ask around the SEC, because they have heard of the Arkansas product. He led his defense in sacks and tackles for loss and was also a Combine Top Performer in the Vertical Jump, Long Jump, and 60 yd. shuttle run. Flowers adds depth to a suspect outside rush in a unit that needs to increase its QB pressure immediately.

7. David Cobb RB Tennessee Titans 138th overall.

He won't wow you with speed or elusiveness, but Cobb can hammer his way through holes, and if he fixes his fumblitis, will have a good career in the NFL. After 1200 yards in 2013, he followed with 1600 in 2014.  He notched 35 TDs at Minnesota in just three years. He is so much like Stevan Ridley it's scary.

8. Brett Hundley QB Green Bay Packers 147th overall.

The only knock on this kid was that he didn't play in a pro-style offense. Other than that, he was one of the best QBs in this draft class... if you go by stats and all that. He gets to learn from one of the best coaches and one of the best QBs in the game today. The sky is the limit.

9. Jay Ajayi RB Miami Dolphins 149th overall.

It was the knee injury. But he was a top-performer at the combine in the vertical jump, broad jump, short shuttle and long shuttle. How about 1800 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a single season? What's not to like... if he stays on the field. The kid is a beast.

10. Tony Lippett WR Miami Dolphins 156th overall.

If all I said was that he started at receiver and cornerback for the Spartans and excelled at both, we should agree that he is a steal in the fifth round. He looks like a prototypical slot receiver who doesn't have to burn the defense to make big plays. And when corner depth is challenged, Lippett can easily step in and do the job.

There were a few others who could have found room if this list were longer, but I thought this draft was pretty deep at certain positions and not a few teams made significant progress in improving their overall depth and talent. While some of these players will likely get smothered in bad systems, the cream will rise to the top in the right environments.

Talent is often less important than work ethic. Most of the guys in this category will find great successbecause of it, even surpassing some more talented players. That is what separates the men from the boys in the NFL.