The National Football League has come down hard and swift on one of its biggest stars and suspended quarterback Tom Brady for four games to start the 2015 season.
The Super Bowl’s Most Valuable Player was suspended without pay for the first four games for the upcoming season and his team the New England Patriots were fined $1 million dollars. The Patriots will also forfeit two draft choices as a result of their role in deflating footballs used in their AFC title game against the Indianapolis Colts.
In a statement from the NFL, they also announced they were indefinitely suspending two equipment men they believed had deflated 11 of the 12 game balls used by the New England offence. The Patriots will also lose a first-round pick in 2016 and a fourth-round pick in 2017.
The punishment from the NFL was announced five days after the release of the Ted Wells report that found that Patriots personnel deliberately deflated footballs before the AFC Championship Game on January 18, 2015, and that Brady “was at least generally aware” of the violations.
The Patriots knocked off the Colts 45-7 two weeks before defeating the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl.
The four game suspension without pay will cost Brady an estimated $2 million dollars.
The NFL’s Executive Vice president Troy Vincent, a former player in the league, wrote a letter to Brady in which he stated, “with respect to your particular involvement, the report established that there is substantial and credible evidence to conclude you were at least generally aware of the actions of the Patriots’ employees involved in the deflation of the footballs and that it was unlikely that their actions were done without your knowledge.”
Vincent went on to write in another letter to the New England Patriots, “The activities of the Patriots’ employees were thoroughly documented in the report, including through a series of text messages and telephone communications, as well as evidence of a breach in pre-game protocol. In addition, the conclusions were supported by extensive scientific analysis, as detailed in the report.”
The comprehensive 243-page report by NFL’s-appointed attorney Wells said it was “more probable than not” that Brady was aware of plans to prepare the footballs to his liking, below the NFL-mandated minimum of 12.5 pounds per square inch.
The most damning evidence against Brady was his failure to cooperate with the NFL during their investigation and his refusal to turn over his cell phone. There seems to be a clear violation of the “integrity of the game of football” issue.
Brady has repeatedly stated that he did not know about the efforts to deflate the game balls, but Wells’ report found those claims “not plausible and contradicted by other evidence.”
This case is far from over and Tom Brady has stated that he will appeal the decision. One of the NFL’s wealthiest players, it is conceivable that Brady may well sue the league for ‘defamation of character.’
Kev
Guest
Exactly. It's not unreasonable to ask, is this the first time they did it or is this the first time they were caught doing it?
ilikedahoodoogurusingha
Guest
" If doing this gives them that much of a competitive advantage, why does the NFL allow teams to prepare their own footballs in the first place???" Good question...until you realise that it was Tom Brady and Peyton Manning who pushed for the rule change. Until about 7 seasons ago the home team prepared the footballs.
ilikedahoodoogurusingha
Guest
"The absolutely hammered the Colts in the AFC Champ game" That is true, but its hard to imagine it was the only time they have done it. What if they also did it in the divisional play off? They beat the Ravens by 4, that is just one fumble or dropped pass from a loss.
Kev
Guest
Brady has repeatedly stated that he did not know about the efforts to deflate the game balls, but Wells’ report found those claims “not plausible and contradicted by other evidence.” - Bulldust. Brady plays in a position that allows him to handle the ball more than anyone else in the side. He of all people would know if the ball was inflated properly or not.
Distant Knight
Guest
Talk about a story being blown way out of proportion. If doing this gives them that much of a competitive advantage, why does the NFL allow teams to prepare their own footballs in the first place???
HarryT
Guest
This is simply an astonishing story of blatant cheating.
Kevin
Guest
Does Geisel have to back to work then.? Poor thing
Worlds Biggest
Guest
What is it with the Patriots and there antics, videoing practice opposing teams practice sessions and deflating balls. I find it hard to believe Belicheck wasn't aware of the deflated balls ? The absolutely hammered the Colts in the AFC Champ game, they would have done so with normal balls. Why do it ? I wonder how much if it all does this impact Bradys legacy ? The Pats could be in a hole in the first part of the season without Brady.
Tony Loedi
Roar Guru
Interestingly, some NFL "experts" believe that a deflated ball will also help the running back with regard to fumbles. And the stats show, for the past few seasons, the Pats running backs have an unbelievably low fumble rate. Make of that what you will.
Common Sense
Guest
Stop being pussies and strip the title!
steve
Guest
Don't think so...a lot of suspensions in the NFL are for a similar length. For example, for the use of performance enhancing substances 4 games or less is common and that's where there is definitive evidence from a test, not the 'at least generally aware...' scenario of the Brady case. It seemed pretty likely a suspension was coming, but the suggestions of a year (or longer) that were floating around in recent days always seemed way over inflated (pun intended!) when given context by other NFL suspensions.
pete bloor
Guest
Easier to catch or grip with one hand. Particularly in the cold
Lano
Roar Guru
Different flight and handling characteristics which the Parriots would have trained with. What I don't follow is why this wasn't picked up during the games. The pressure drop must have been minuscule not to have noted?
MH01
Guest
Now for the silly question, why would it be advantageous to have balls that are deflated? What advantage did the patriots get?
Tony Loedi
Roar Guru
No evidence, in the report, to suggest Belichick had any involvement.
PGNEWC
Guest
Yeah in the last couple of seasons NE have been slow starters but come home strongly having Brady sit out a few games at the front end fits right into that style and is meaningless as are the draft picks
Anto
Guest
He got off very easily. Scandalous.
BarryO
Guest
Was Belichek (apologies for the spelling) mentioned anywhere in the report? Can't believe they would have done this without his knowledge. I can't believe Brady would sue for defamation. For one thing he would have to hand over his phone if it ever went anywhere near a trial. If this ever gets to court I would suggest there may be a few people running for cover.