Heard Ian Rapoport on the FAN earlier and he's saying the investigation into the Patriots illegal deflation of footballs likely won't be completed before the combine. I'm smelling another coverup. If they were innocent, the league would immediately say so. I think they are waiting until there is an on-filed news cycle before some half-assed face saving gesture is made by Goodell for Kraft. _
And since the rule clearly says gloves can legally have a tacky substance on them, I'm going to require an actual statement from the league to the contrary; not just a "I really want it to be true, so I'm going to say it's true over and over again and hope someone starts believing me" declaration from you. And for the benefit of all, here's the rule (again): (i) Adhesive or slippery substances on the body, equipment, or uniform of any player; provided, however, that players may wear gloves with a tackified surface if such tacky substance does not adhere to the football or otherwise cause handling problems for players. That's what it says ... and then Section 4, Article 4, SubSection (i) specifically lays out an exception to the adhesive (and slippery) substances rule ... (i) Adhesive or slippery substances on the body, equipment, or uniform of any player; provided, however, that players may wear gloves with a tackified surface if such tacky substance does not adhere to the football or otherwise cause handling problems for players. You'll notice that in the section you provided "hand towels" are also considered part of the uniform, yet the league expressly ruled (the rule was subsequently changed) that the hand towels the Chargers were using with the sticky powder on them was legal under the NFL rulebook. If what you were arguing had any basis in fact, the Chargers use of the towels would have been an illegal equipment violation under this same policy; it was not.
Citation given: (i) Adhesive or slippery substances on the body, equipment, or uniform of any player; Section 4, Article 1: The term uniform, as used in this policy, applies to every piece of equipment worn by a player, including helmet, shoulder pads, thigh pads, knee pads, and any other item of protective gear, and to every visible item of apparel, including but not limited to pants, jerseys, wristbands, gloves, stockings, shoes, visible undergarments, and accessories such as headwear, worn under helmets and hand towels Game. Set. Match. Move on... you lost this one. It's ok... live to fight another day.
Are you surprised? Most people said this was what was going to happen the day after the Cheats vs. Colts game.
This is the same guy who read this and said that there wasn't enough proof that stickum was illegal: Uniform Foreign Substances On Body/Uniform A player may not use foreign substances (e.g., stickum or slippery compounds) on his body or uniform. Because such a violation affects the integrity of the competition and can give a team an unfair advantage, game officials will check randomly selected offensive and defensive linemen for foreign substances as they leave the locker room prior to the game and prior to the beginning of the second half. If a violation is detected, the player’s jersey will be confiscated immediately, and the jersey must be replaced and in compliance before the player may participate in the game. During the game, if a player is detected with a foreign substance on his body or uniform, he will be suspended from the game immediately for at least one play, and his team will also be charged a timeout. The jersey in question will be confiscated by game officials, and must be replaced and in compliance before the player may re-enter the game. The involved player(s) will be subject to a significant fine and the club may also be subject to disciplinary action. https://nfllabor.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/2011-league-discipline.pdf It's a manual that is given out to all players and coaches prior to the season.
Typically, when one makes a comment like "Game. Set. Match." it means they made a winning argument. Apparently you didn't read Section 4, Article 4, SubSection (i) - which makes an explicit and express exception for tacky substances used on gloves. Here it is in case you missed it: (i) Adhesive or slippery substances on the body, equipment, or uniform of any player; provided, however, that players may wear gloves with a tackified surface if such tacky substance does not adhere to the football or otherwise cause handling problems for players.
And, again, how does any of this lessen the culpability of the Cheaties deflating footballs below league requirements, after they had been checked and approved by the officials, to their own benefit and in contravention of the rules?
You mean the completely legal (as expressly stated by the league) use of the towels with the sticky substances by the Chargers?
The actual rule says nothing about that ... (i) Adhesive or slippery substances on the body, equipment, or uniform of any player; provided, however, that players may wear gloves with a tackified surface if such tacky substance does not adhere to the football or otherwise cause handling problems for players. Yours is a claim made with no basis in fact, because you don't like what the actual rule (provided above) says.
Uniform Foreign Substances On Body/Uniform A player may not use foreign substances (e.g., stickum or slippery compounds) on his body or uniform. Because such a violation affects the integrity of the competition and can give a team an unfair advantage, game officials will check randomly selected offensive and defensive linemen for foreign substances as they leave the locker room prior to the game and prior to the beginning of the second half. If a violation is detected, the player’s jersey will be confiscated immediately, and the jersey must be replaced and in compliance before the player may participate in the game. During the game, if a player is detected with a foreign substance on his body or uniform, he will be suspended from the game immediately for at least one play, and his team will also be charged a timeout. The jersey in question will be confiscated by game officials, and must be replaced and in compliance before the player may re-enter the game. The involved player(s) will be subject to a significant fine and the club may also be subject to disciplinary action. https://nfllabor.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/2011-league-discipline.pdf
Uniform Foreign Substances On Body/Uniform A player may not use foreign substances (e.g., stickum or slippery compounds) on his body or uniform. Because such a violation affects the integrity of the competition and can give a team an unfair advantage, game officials will check randomly selected offensive and defensive linemen for foreign substances as they leave the locker room prior to the game and prior to the beginning of the second half. If a violation is detected, the player’s jersey will be confiscated immediately, and the jersey must be replaced and in compliance before the player may participate in the game. During the game, if a player is detected with a foreign substance on his body or uniform, he will be suspended from the game immediately for at least one play, and his team will also be charged a timeout. The jersey in question will be confiscated by game officials, and must be replaced and in compliance before the player may re-enter the game. The involved player(s) will be subject to a significant fine and the club may also be subject to disciplinary action. https://nfllabor.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/2011-league-discipline.pdf
Uniform Foreign Substances On Body/Uniform A player may not use foreign substances (e.g., stickum or slippery compounds) on his body or uniform. Because such a violation affects the integrity of the competition and can give a team an unfair advantage, game officials will check randomly selected offensive and defensive linemen for foreign substances as they leave the locker room prior to the game and prior to the beginning of the second half. If a violation is detected, the player’s jersey will be confiscated immediately, and the jersey must be replaced and in compliance before the player may participate in the game. During the game, if a player is detected with a foreign substance on his body or uniform, he will be suspended from the game immediately for at least one play, and his team will also be charged a timeout. The jersey in question will be confiscated by game officials, and must be replaced and in compliance before the player may re-enter the game. The involved player(s) will be subject to a significant fine and the club may also be subject to disciplinary action. https://nfllabor.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/2011-league-discipline.pdf
I mean the towels made with that substance and banned by the league after that game. Just stop you look stupid
What you have posted is a league clarification of rules given to teams so they can understand the rulebook. The actual rule (the one posted in the rulebook) expressly provides an exception to the league adhesive and slippery substances rule. It is located here, and allows the use of tacky substances on gloves: (i) Adhesive or slippery substances on the body, equipment, or uniform of any player; provided, however, that players may wear gloves with a tackified surface if such tacky substance does not adhere to the football or otherwise cause handling problems for players. Here, I'll work it out for you for free (Don't worry, I'm a lawyer, I do this for imbeciles all the time) ... Was there an adhesive substance on the equipment or uniform? Yes Was the adhesive substance only on gloves worn by the player? Yes Did the tacky substance adhere to the football or otherwise cause handling problems for the players? There's no evidence of this suggested by anyone. CONCLUSION: No rule violation
Uniform Foreign Substances On Body/Uniform A player may not use foreign substances (e.g., stickum or slippery compounds) on his body or uniform. Because such a violation affects the integrity of the competition and can give a team an unfair advantage, game officials will check randomly selected offensive and defensive linemen for foreign substances as they leave the locker room prior to the game and prior to the beginning of the second half. If a violation is detected, the player’s jersey will be confiscated immediately, and the jersey must be replaced and in compliance before the player may participate in the game. During the game, if a player is detected with a foreign substance on his body or uniform, he will be suspended from the game immediately for at least one play, and his team will also be charged a timeout. The jersey in question will be confiscated by game officials, and must be replaced and in compliance before the player may re-enter the game. The involved player(s) will be subject to a significant fine and the club may also be subject to disciplinary action. https://nfllabor.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/2011-league-discipline.pdf ---- Bolded it so you could find it easier. I would expect a lawyer to be able to have slightly better reading comprehension, though.