Following a lengthy investigation, the ‘Deflategate‘ verdict was handed down by the NFL early this evening. Boy is it tough.
New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady was suspended for the first four games of the 2015-2016 season, the team incurred a $1 million fine, and the Patriots will lose their first round draft pick in 2016 and fourth round pick in 2017. Two employees who handle footballs for the club were also implicated. “Patriots employees John Jastremski and James McNally have been indefinitely suspended without pay by the club, effective May 6. They aren’t allowed to be reinstated without the NFL’s permission,” reports Yahoo News.
Multiple sources including Yahoo Sports claim there’s no evidence that Brady, coach Bill Belichick, or Patriots owners were directly involved in the Deflategate scandal. According to Yahoo Sports, the NFL handed down the unprecedented punishments, “for violating playing rules and not cooperating fully in the investigation.”
Is the finding that Brady was most probably aware befitting of a four-game suspension though?
CNN reports, “The Wells report found that “it is more probable than not” that Brady was “at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities” of locker room attendant Jim McNally and equipment assistant John Jastremski. Jastremski has been with the team for 14 years, the past three as the staffer in charge of preparation of the game-day footballs.”
Yahoo Sports has the breakdown:
Brady will appeal the league’s decision:
Don Yee, Brady’s agent, released a statement alleging the league’s outcome was predetermined and reiterating there was no evidence Brady specifically directed footballs to be under-inflated:
But most realistically?
Today marked yet another day I’m happy to be a college football fan. Long live SEC football!
Thanks, and gig’em.
[Featured Image a screen shot from included video]
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