This is going to shock you: TOM BRADY LIED!! I know, I know. It’s the least shocking thing in the world. Back in January, just a few weeks before the SuperBowl, #Deflategate became a thing. The backstory: when the Colts lost to the Patriots, the Colts were like, “Hey, the Patriots’ balls felt really underinflated.” They complained and the NFL launched an investigation. As it turns out, the Patriots-supplied footballs were underinflated, below NFL-standards. There was a debate about whether one team would really and truly get an advantage from underinflated balls, which didn’t make much sense to me because… obviously, the balls would be easier to handle if they were underinflated, right?
In any case, the scandal grew over the course of a week until Tom Brady, the Patriots’ Golden Boy, came out for one of the most bizarre press conferences I’ve ever witnessed. Even an amateur body-language reader (like me) could tell that Brady was lying his ass off when he denied any knowledge of the Patriots deflated balls. So, the NFL’s “independent investigation” was still “ongoing” but the Patriots still got to play in the SuperBowl and they ended up winning. So now that several months have passed, the NFL finally released their findings. And Tom Brady LIED. About BALLS.
New England Patriots personnel likely manipulated the air pressure of the footballs used in the AFC championship game against the Indianapolis Colts, a report by independent investigator Ted Wells concluded. The report, released Wednesday, found “it is more probable than not that New England Patriots personnel participated in violations of the Playing Rules and were involved in a deliberate effort to circumvent the rules.” The report also states that it is probable Tom Brady “was at least generally aware of… the release of air from Patriots game balls.”
The report found that officials’ locker room attendant Jim McNally and equipment assistant John Jastremski “participated in a deliberate effort to release air from Patriots game balls after the balls were examined by the referee.”
The NFL is considering discipline for Brady, McNally and Jastremski, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
At a press conference in January, Brady said he “didn’t alter the balls in any way” and “would never have someone do something that was outside the rules.”
Is this a big deal? I’m asking that as someone who has no f—ks to give about the NFL in general, especially after the epically mismanaged Ray Rice clusterwhoops. On a scale of Ray Rice to “Nothing to See Here,” I actually thing this is a decent-sized scandal. I think it’s mainly going to be a big deal because the report name-checks Golden Boy Tom Brady specifically, and because he probably will be “punished” in some minor way. And now the Patriots have another asterisk beside their winning season. *CHEATERS/BALLS.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet, Getty.
Yeah, always said there is no way they would have deflated those balls without Brady’s approval.
Football, well sports in general has lost it’s integrety. I don’t like the Pats but I do adore Brady but that’s because he’s easy on the eyes and I thought he was a great QB. Now his image is tarnished.
Did he know, I’m going to go with yes. Of course we’re going to have the hardcore fans flocking to his defense and I would do the same if it was the CB. Everybody hates The Pats is going to be their defense , just like people love to hate the Yanks. But ask yourself do people love to hate the Pats because they’re a great team or do they love to hate them because the organzation is known for cheating .
Anyways a little too late, they’re the Champs and that’s not going to change.
Didn’t he get like 4 touchdowns in the 2nd half of that game once he got the correct balls- ones he and his receivers are actually used to?
This whole thing would be a better scandal if the Pats then went on to lose in the playoffs or lose the Superball- all which were won with the correct balls.
But, they didn’t and everyone knows the balls were then being checked constantly.
Therefore, this whole thing amounts to nothing. Except, haters gonna hate.
I’ve stopped watching football because of the lack of integrity and focus on money. It’s just not fun anymore.
Yes, he threw touchdowns in the 2nd half. The Pats didn’t win over the Colts because of the deflated balls. However, why is it that so many athletes/teams/coaches who don’t really NEED to cheat, still feel compelled to do so? Brady and Belichick have been caught twice now. Think baseball and Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, etc. Think college basketball coaches like John Calipari. These people are at the very pinnacle of their games yet they still feel the need to get an advantage. Is it because they are pampered prima donnas who have never been told no to anything? Is it because for all their success they are still insecure babies? Is it because they just don’t give a damn and think they are above the rules? I really don’t know, but it is fascinating to me.
@Hudson Girl
thanks for pointing out the FACT that the pats went on to win – scoring 4 more touchdowns in the 2nd half -after the balls were corrected.
i am a pats and especially brady fan…he is our golden boy…
i am incredibly disappointed but feared this would be the finding after watching him during that painful press conference.
his discomfort couldn’t have been more obvious and the way he answered the question ‘do you think you’re a truthful person’ or something like that made me cringe.
what a letdown that this tarnishes brady’s legacy.
and i wish i could argue that they went on to win after the balls were corrected…so what’s the big deal?
i wish i could argue that everyone “cheats” on some level in all the games.
but i can’t.
i can’t defend brady…but i feel incredibly sorry for him.
i’m sure he’s mortified, embarrassed…you name it.
he should be…but still…
Why do you feel sorry for him? If he knew and it was done deliberately,he should be embarrassed.
People cheat becaue they can. Most people would if they knew they could get away with it, especially when money is involved.
Bella/Hudson
We can’t know and can only speculate what might have happened during the entire game is all balls were properly inflated. Would the other team have gripped them better? Would the bounce have mattered enough? Velocity?
This doesn’t sound like much until you realize Football is a game of Inches. The slightest difference gets noticed and can decide wins.
And it was Very difficult to start talking about this again and avoid puns. The jokes write themselves!
Balls….
Haters gonna hate? Well yea, haters hate cheaters. It doesn’t matter if he threw for 20 TD’S after the balls were checked, why cheat in the first place. Did he lack confidence in himself, did he want to guarantee victory. The defence of everybody cheats if they can doesn’t make it any better. Brady should be embarrassed, especially after the first scandal of video gate. It makes people wonder if they have cheated in some form everytime they reached the SB or playoffs.
Well I can think of two SB’S that Brady played a fair game. Because please don’t tell me they cheated and got squashed by the Giants twice
Curious as to why people like Hudson and Bella acknowledge that Brady/the Pats cheated, yet then point out that they later won with the correct equipment…so no big deal about the cheating in the first place? The team is already on the hook for MULTIPLE dirty instances; doesn’t seem right that just because they also have a few recorded instances of playing fair (AHEM, LIKE THEY SHOULD) they are praised for having good sportsmanship…like they should. Why the apologies, excuses, and pity for cheaters who got caught? Again, you are praising this guy and this organization for when they did play fair – playing fair IS THEIR JOB and does not need extra acknowledgement or pats on the back to detract from the fact that they’re dishonest and full of BS.
Every single team in the NFL cheats. No, I am not excusing or condoning anything the Patriots did; I am just pointing out that years have passed between video gate and deflated balls, they aren’t connected despite the repeated attempts to do so, and during those years, many, many other teams have received discipline for cheating, some far more egregious, so this constant act that the Patriots are the only ones is rather silly
V4Real, for me, it wasn’t that they are a great team, or the cheating (well, a little bit on the cheating)…it was more the sense of entitlement they seemed to show when they played the Giants and lost (the first time). It was as if they just expected to win, and couldn’t believe that NY actually put up a decent fight and then beat them…nay, STOLE their win away from them. plus, you had Belicheat running off the field before the game actually ended, which, IMO, was clearly done to deny the Giants the “countdown” victory that so many teams enjoy. He was pissed and it was done to steal their moment. That game is when my opinion of them as a team changed.
I think for a lot of folks, it’s not ONLY that they win all the time, and not ONLY that they cheat, it’s because they come off as bad winners and sore losers.
plus, as evidenced on this thread, it’s also some of the fans themselves that make people dislike a particular team (like the Pats or the Yankees). some fans (not all) are SO F*CKING OBNOXIOUS about a win or championship that you can’t help but associate a jerky fan with a team. (and yes, that applies to all teams. but some teams have worse fans than others.) they act like THEY won those trophies or rings…no, all you did was cheer for your team. be happy for them, be proud of them, but don’t act like you had anything to do with the titles except cheer them on. be a gracious winner. (I’d like to add that I know a few Pats fans that ARE gracious winners, as well as Yankee fans and Phillies fans…)
regarding the “they would’ve won anyway”…that’s likely true. however…if a kid brought a crib-sheet into an exam, but wound up not needing it because he knew the material, and he got caught with the crib-sheet during or after the exam, an excuse of “but I didn’t need it because I would have passed the test anyway” would NOT hold up to the school’s or college’s administration. YOU CHEATED, whether necessary or not. along those same lines, saying that all teams do it is not a great defense. if your kid was caught cheating on a test and, when you scolded/disciplined him, he said “but everyone cheats!”, would you be OK with that as an excuse for his transgression?
or would you say “that doesn’t make it OK.”?
Lilacflowers
The Patriots are the ones winning the top prize. And very often too. Yes, I too believe every team has cheated at some point and likely every team cheats now to level the field. The Armstrong defense. Having to cheat just because everyone else does. That doesn’t make it OK at all. And we’re less likely to look at the teams that failed, but also cheated. But to climb to the top and having gotten there with cheating deserves proper punishment. And going after the Pats here isn’t letting all other cheaters slide. We’re talking about a Pats specific topic.
I think Doofus covered it well.
“if a kid brought a crib-sheet into an exam, but wound up not needing it because he knew the material, and he got caught with the crib-sheet during or after the exam, an excuse of “but I didn’t need it because I would have passed the test anyway”
@Florc, and I’m pretty sure I have specifically stated multiple times on this thread that the NFL should assess the contractual penalty and get it over with but clearly, some here will cry that the contractual penalty is not enough and is somehow favoritism. My point is they did wrong and should pay the contractual price and others should stop pretending they are the only wrongdoers and the punishment should exceed all other punishment
@sooloo
i said that there are no excuses for what brady did.
my point was acknowledging what hudson said by way of pointing out the pats won the 2nd half after the balls were at the right weight and thanking her for having some understanding/compassion – whatever it is – for brady.
i do not condone the lying…or the cheating…
but i have sympathy for him because it’s a major disappointment for bostonians/pats fans that this happened.
can’t help it…he’s someone i and many have admired.
when you see someone fall from grace – someone you’ve admired and revered for so long…
it’s a tough pill to swallow, you know?
brady’s agent released an interesting statement in response a short time ago to the report.
i’m going to study that more.
i think there’s more to this story…
Lilacflowers
In a perfect world 🙂
End result here is the judge is friendly with the criminals and issues wrist slaps. The public getting more information will deal its own brand of punishment. Brady can be a flawless QB, but if he’s not likable and can’t get tickets sold he’s worthless.
And still. No one is saying others aren’t guilty of cheating and shouldn’t be punished. The topic i’m speaking to is Brady/Pats/SB.
Is anyone claiming only the Pats are cheaters? I’m not. This is a thread about them and their scandal though. That doesn’t mean we think they’re the only and worst cheaters in the NFL.
It’s not as large of a deal as cheaters (that should still be punished) getting nowhere from their advantages. If you reach the Championships though, you should only have been there from honest skill.
Lilacflowers – of course Spygate and Deflategate are connected. Why? Because the same coach and ownership is there. Oh – and the same QB too, but I don’t think Brady had any connection to Spygate – just that he benefited from it but wasn’t involved and likely didn’t even know about it. But balls (yes, I said it)? That’s how he makes his living. He knew. The only question now is what happens. The coverup is always, ALWAYS worse than the crime. Just ask Nixon.
By that logic, Drew Brees should be stripped of everything
Drew Breeze should be stripped of everthing. Um, great way to distract from the team that we’re discussing. And yes video gate and deflate gate are connected, same team.
@doofus, great comment and on point. Love the comparison of a kid cheating on a test. Because if this was a post about someone cheating on an exam, the same people that are saying everybody cheats would have something bad to say about it.
@Lilacflowers The Saints have had to suffer the consequences of their actions. In fact a lot of sports people have argued that the Saints have never recovered because of the NFL coming down so hard on them. Lets see what the consequences for the Patriots will be….
@doofus your comments is excellent and you brought up some great points.
I think Brady would have peripheral knowledge of spygate. Yes he wasn’t the one who actually filmed it but don’t tell me this was not discussed or shown during meetings. He most likely saw the film and was complicit in hiding the fact that spygate existed. Sorry I don’t respect them.
@Layday, yes, the Saints have had to suffer the consequences for paying bounties for intentionally hurting people, as they should have. And the Patriots will suffer the consequences for under-inflated balls, as they should, but, under the rules, no matter how much you want it to be so, the consequences are not the same because one offense is far more serious than the other.
My comment about Drew Brees was sarcasm and in response to some way OTT cries for punishment
Spy gate was years ago and they were penalized according to the rules. It is over. Well, except for some here who want more punishment for it. Pretty sure the Jets changed their plays immediately too. Those poor spied-on Jets were also just found to have tampered with Revis.
You do know Spygate was a practice, right? And the Jets knew and had plenty of time to change plays before the game, right? So there was no actual benefit, right? And punishment was handed down. Right?
not completely accurate. the Pats videotaped Jets’ defensive coaches signals during an actual game against the Jets. and yes, they were punished and were given a VERY harsh penalty, I believe the maximum allowed for that infraction.
the practice they were alleged to have taped was the Rams; however, cameras were set up but never turned on – no tape made in that case.
@Lilacflowers I have never once said the consequences should be the same. In fact I said the situations were very different below. I said just as one team was punished, the Patriots should be too. Please, as I mentioned reading is fundamental. More reading, less knee-jerk posting. You jump all over anybody that dares to criticize your team. It’s a bit ridiculous the way you try post-down (the equivalent of shouting down) anybody that disagrees with you. It’s not that deep….and it inhibits productive discussion. Get a grip, I hope you are at least on Tom Brady’s payroll for all this effort.
Ha
So beautiful Brady got busted? This is about as shocking as Barry Manilow coming out.
What annoys is the report claims that Bellicheat had no knowledge of “Deflategate.” Who are they kidding? Who would believe that a coach, who has been busted for cheating more times than Tiger Woods, had no idea that this was going on? That is beyond laughable.
If Goodell wasn’t in bed with Robert Kraft, all of the Pats trophies should be stripped, Bellicheat should be banned from coaching in the league and Brady should be suspended for an entire season.
All I can say is GO GIANTS, and Brady better be prepared for all the love he will be receiving from the Jet fans, while living in my home town.
he’s the quarter back with years of experience. no way he could hold one of the deflated balls and not know something was up. and winning doesn’t excuse cheated. he cheated because he could and now letting the lesser known guys take the fall is an even more asshole move.
I actually do like Tom Brady outside of football, but he is the most pampered QB in the league. They will punish him because they have to, but it will be the minimum. Any other QB would get raked over the coals, but I think he will come out of this fairly unscathed.
Any other QB would receive equal punishment based upon any prior discipline history. It is all contractual
“They will punish him because they have to…” No. They will punish him because he cheated – plain and simple. I had pretty neutral feelings about him before this but seriously how people justify this? This is a person that was in a “leader” position, earning a bucket load of $$, feeling entitled to do what was best for him and his team regardless of the rules.
First Kylie Jenner, now Tom Brady? Sigh. What is this world coming to? I’m going back to bed.
There’s a inflated lips/deflated balls joke in there somewhere.
Heheheheheh 🙂
Maybe something involving (eek) pigskin?
LOL!
*snort*
No comment about the balls as I am not American but I just realised he looks so much like Patrick Schwarzenegger! I am so slow.
As a London gal who understands diddly about the NFL, (even though they’ve held off season games at Wembley to boost interest), I can only say
“Paging *Lilacflowers*”
“Paging *Original Kitten*”
BALLS!
I’m not gonna play on this thread today. *sobs*
I’ll just say this: the headline of this post is rather misleading when the official results of the investigation are “Tom Brady was at least generally aware” that the balls were underinflated. Not exactly a smoking gun. Neither is “it is more probable than not that the employees underinflated the footballs”. Yet this is the standard that the NFL uses to constitute a violation so yeah…suspend him or whatever. I think the whole thing is bullsh*t but I’m a biased fan so of course.
I don’t think they should suspend him because that will just open a Pandora’s Box of all sorts of little infractions that players may do that will have to be penalized with a suspension because of this case. Sure, fine him, fine the team, hell, fine the whole state of Massachusetts, but let’s not go with the suspensions – or else pretty soon, there will be only second-string players left on the field.
I know what you’re saying but Brady’s f*cked either way. If he doesn’t face some sort of punitive measure then we’ll all have to listen to people crying about Kraft/Goodell being in bed together and Brady “getting away with it”.
But yeah I completely agree that everyone here in Boston is like wh’evs. Although the boyfriend and I had a blast reading some of the texts between the ball-handlers last night.
Oh, and BALLS.
If you privately ask any professional football player, (I did. His son is in preschool with mine.) They will say that every quarterback they have ever known, knows EXACTLY what is happening to their footballs. The footballs are their babies and they have a specific process they want the balls put through to properly prep them for play.
This player also said that it is no big deal. They all do it, etc.
That being said, Brady lied if he said he didn’t know the balls were somewhat deflated. It would have been at his instruction.
Honestly, I find the ‘worst’ part of this is him refusing to release his emails/texts like other people did. That’s a big thing people are going to hang on, whether or not he’s guilty. Just the fact that he DIDN’T release them makes it look like he’s hiding stuff, even if he isn’t – but if he released stuff, he’d be just as screwed because god knows what personal stuff people would get ahold of.
I laughed so hard at the texts they revealed though. And honestly… the whole thing is just such a mess, that it’s funny to this non-watcher of football.
Erinn- we all know who his wife is. This investigation was full of leaks from the start. No way he was going to hand over his personal phone. I’m sure her lawyers and his lawyers said no way, even if they claimed they would only look at stuff related to the investigation.
The report is being portrayed as fact when they have no proof that Brady knew. They say he knew because he checked in on the equipment guy when he was investigated but that’s not proof of anything other than caring and wanting to know what’s going on.
Brady is being destroyed based on a report which only includes information which supports the opinion of the investigation, everything else has not been made available.
It’s a very biased report. It says there was no anti-patriots bias while never investigating how so much negative stuff was leaked before the super bowl. It never explains why 3/4 colts balls were under 12.5(closer to 12.5 than pats but they started at 13 or just over while pats started at 12.5). Only 4 colts balls were tested
The general consensus around here is “who cares.”
There are so many little ways that can help an athlete do a better job – someone just told me that a certain coach always starts the pre-season with teaching all his rookies how to tie their shoes in order not to get foot blisters. Will this help the players? Sure. Will it enable them to win a game? Hell to the No! Does deflating – or over-inflating a ball WIN a game (never mind a whole season and a super bowl)? Again, Hell to the No! There are probably all sorts of things that teams do in order to win that may or may not be “legal.” It’s just that when you are really good, people will notice everything you do.
And yeah, where is Lilacflowers?? Drowning her sorrows in Comet Sophies???
Stuck on the T. The report is so riddled with indefinites that the team could prevail on appeal. Assess the contractual punishment, let the appeal proceed, and stop pretending the Pats are better or worse than any other team. They aren’t.
@Lilac, AGREED!
Stop speaking sense you two. Reason has no place when it comes to the Pats.
LOL. Picturing it now
Kitten – “See No Evil”
Lilacflowers – “Speak No Evil”
Boston Green Eyes – “Hear No Evil”
I didn’t say anything remotely like that at all. I said assess the contractual discipline an move on and stop pretending every other team is an innocent darling
I just came over here to see how many people yelled at me. It’s not as bad as I anticipated actually….you people need to step up!
You really need to relax Lilacflowers, it was said in jest.
Gee, what a shock. Fakey Golden Boy lies his azz off badly in front of millions of people and despite all, manages to get caught. Now the NFL will be forced to pretend that they give two craps and make poor Tom serve fifteen minutes in detention hall after football practice. Oh joy.
^^THIS^^
Tom Brady makes the NFL **way** too much money to get anything other than a slap on the wrist.
And, he’s the QB, without his consent — nothing would have happened. Also, if a ball is slightly different than the norm, the QB is gonna be THE first person to know and get it corrected. Under/over inflated balls handle differently, especially when passed and Tom is a prolific passer. He knew, he totally knew.
@ We Are All Made of Stars exactly. Since the NFL came down hard on my team the New Orleans Saints after bountygate I expect we can expect the same thing for the Patriots? And then I woke up………..Hahahahahahahahah. We all know the same rules don’t apply to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Goodell won’t allow his bff Robert Kraft to face any severe sanctions. People make excuses for Tom Brady because of his All-American good looks. The way he handled the whole deflategate situation is shady as hell but because he’s attractive, people go out of their way to try and paint him as some standard of integrity.The double standard is exhausting. Plus for anyone trying to say well they beat up on the Colts so it didn’t matter and the whole everybody is doing it argument. Um you have no idea how far back this goes. Additionally as I pointed out with what happened in regards to the Saints’ punishment, if you’re going to allow one team to get away with circumnavigating the rules then let everybody. Selective enforcement of the rules is ridiculous and undermines the integrity of the game.
Because having less air in a football and deliberately injuring someone are the same thing?
@Lilacflowers no one said it’s the same thing, but they do speak to a shocking lack of sportsmanship and integrity, and even more to Layday’s very good point that people are bending over backwards to grant outs to the golden child, when most people do face real consequences for such a shoddy character and despicable behavior.
No it’s not the same. But you said all teams cheat and break the rules. it was well known at the time that the New Orleans Saints weren’t the only team in the NFL pushing out bounties(it is a common practice in the NFL) but the NFL decided to make an example out of them to show no one is above the rules. If this is the case then it should be the same with the Patriots after this report. Everyone may be doing it in your words but to show that no one is above the rules the Patriots should be punished for this. As I mentioned selective enforement of rules makes the Patriots look like they are in the NFL’s back pocket. Finally I know you are so invested in your team but the excuses you seem to come up with to defend unethical behavior is ridiculous. I thought that the Saints should have been punished for what they did and I’m a fan. The fact that some on this board think the Patriots should escape any punishment because of this “everybody cheats what are you gonna do about it” mentality is exactly why people rationalize winning at all costs. Such a mentality just breeds more and more cheaters.
@acidrock, haven’t seen anyone giving him outs. Assess the contractual discipline, which is what Brady should get and is what the Saints got and the contract does distinguish the two, even though the person whining about what the Saints did does not
@Lilacflowers who is whining sweetie? I stated my opinion. You stated yours. You’re entitled to your opinion as much as I’m entitled to mine. I have seen many comments on this board excusing his behavior saying everybody cheats as if that makes it ok and what are you gonna do about it. I happen to believe that no matter the extent of the cheating a team should be punished. Your comments all over this board show your bias and clearly demonstrate that you can’t be objective as you have done your best to rationalize why cheating is ok. Carry on though, with each subsequent post you make it more apparent….
God forbid you don’t think the sun rises and sets on the New England Patriots. Plus I never said a contract didn’t distinguish the two. If you’re going to keep putting words in my mouth, then you might want to read a little harder. Reading is fundamental. I merely said Tom Brady should be punished which apparently sent you into fits of rage. Plus there are definitely people on this board who are excusing his behavior and saying well everybody does it as if that’s an excuse that justifies why he shouldn’t be punished.
@LayDay, I have not justified cheating once. Nor have I condoned anything they did. I have repeatedly said there should be punishment – according to the contract. What I have objected to is the pretending that other teams don’t cheat, which is happening here, or that discipline should be more severe than contractually allowed, which is also happening here. You would be the one putting words in mouths and you also dragged the Saints and the horrible things they did into this
You say you don’t condone it but then write everybody does it which I believe is a rationalization for cheating. In other words everybody does it so why jump all over New England. I said I think just like the Saints, the Patriots should be punished (though I never once said the actions were the same). I don’t think the comments are indicative of people saying other teams don’t cheat, a lot of people are saying it shouldn’t be allowed period. As I mentioned a lot of teams in the NFL engaged in bounties but I don’t think that justifies the Saints not bing punished. But let’s agree to disagree. Why don’t you stop putting words in my mouth e.g. commenting on my posts with what you think I said and I’ll do you the same courtesy.
I think it’s a big deal for Brady because as you say he is a Golden Boy and now his image is tarnished. I wonder how his Golden Wife will take it, after all she prides herself on being perfect and having everything perfect. A cheating husband with a tarnished legacy is no bueno.
I’d like to hear her defend him with colorful language like she did before. I predict radio silence this time.
No pun intended, but when you’ve handled that many balls, you should be able to detect differences.
Exactly Christin there’s no way he didn’t know. It’s his job to touch those balls day in and day out (why am I having a hard time keeping a straight face lol).
Drew Brees could tell on Conan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNEM3WUfGjY
Interestingly enough the report came out after the draft. Hopefully they’ll hit them next year with draft pick losses and fines. The Pats have cheated before, they skirted the rules in the play offs against the Ravens and they cheated against the Colts and got to go to the championship game. Tell me how this isn’t comparable to Lance Armstrong, a cheater is a cheater, he gained an advantage he’s a cheater, Pats repeatedly skirt the rules to gain an advantage, they’re cheaters.
Laura: I watched this video a long time ago and I don’t want to watch it again. Drew could tell ON Conan, but he said they don’t think about these things when they are playing. He thinks Tom is right.
“I knew he was a man of integrity when I met him”.
Sure Giselle, he dumped his pregnant girlfriend for you and now this. Blame someone else and humble-brag yourself outta this one.
Can we please stop circulating the “dumped the pregnant girlfriend for you” myth? That relationship was over before he started with Gisele and staying together because of a pregnancy rarely results in happiness for a anyone, least of all the kid.
Seriously, everyone involved has stated for years that Tom and Bridget were broken up before she found out she was pregnant.
^^^THIS
People who say Brady dumped his pregnant girl friend don’t care to hear the truth. Bridget has made it clear they had already split before finding out she was pregnant. Some just use it as something to badmouth Brady
Ok, I am asking this seriously. How long did it take her to find out she was pregnant? The period between ovulation and your missed period is about two weeks. Did they hook up after they broke up? I get the need to defend your home town athletes. I’m from Philly, we are literally THE WORST. It’s just funny as an outsider seeing Pats fans doing mental gymnastics to defend Brady over every little thing.
They broke up @ Thanksgiving. Break-up hook-up early December. She found out she was pregnant late December – early January. Relationship with Gisele started in February. He has supported the kid. The gymnastics some go through to force a marriage that would have entangled a kid in a messy divorce are really remarkable
yeah, I’m gonna echo the other posts here…
it was a post-break-up hook up, and it’s not like he’s denied the kid or didn’t support him.
he is clearly a good dad to ALL of his kids, and his wife has also clearly welcomed that child into the family.
That Dee Chick, Philly fans may be bad, but our fans threw snowballs at Santa Claus. SANTA!…can you believe that?!
“I wonder how his Golden Wife will take it, after all she prides herself on being perfect and having everything perfect.” No. That’s how you see his wife. Your comment is not about his wife, it’s about yourself.
Haha, balls. That’s all I can muster up at this point. We’re busy with NBA, NHL and MLB fan boy-ing at our house. Too many sports to keep track of.
If the deflated balls made things so much easier, why did we still kick ass in the second half with the regular balls? Because the Pats are better and the Colts are jealous
Didn’t matter how deflated or inflated. We’re the best
who is this “we”? do you play on the team?
This is exactly the argument I can’t stand; “we would’ve won anyways.” No one is arguing that the Pats couldn’t have won fairly, the problem is they DIDN’T. It’s ridiculous to argue that you have to show how the cheating benefited the team. Wrong. You only have to show cheating. And it is obvious. People are trying to exonerate Brady because of the so-called inconclusive language of the report. This is not the case; the NFL is using their standard language to clearly state that Pat’s personnel deflated balls at Brady’s behest.
Nina, and don’t forget, Brady refused to turn over his phone records for the investigation. Makes things even more suspicious.
I agree Robin. The text messages between Brady and the “deflator” (his own words) and between the two individuals involved were nothing short of incriminating, as well as the blatant requests for memorabilia in exchange for the services. Not to mention the fact that the equipment guy took the balls after they had been measured and then lied about it! I like Brady, he’s one of the only reasons I follow football, but call a spade a spade.
Patriots are the team everyone loves to hate. It’s how it is. Now let’s get out of this thread, grab Lilacflowers, and go get some beers.
I’m with you, Kitten!
Haterz!!
LOL Kitten and Gren Eyes.
Thats right. Numb your pain girls!
You’re welcome as well, Green Eyes. Beers on me.
No pain-numbing, but it’s 75 and gorgeous here-perfect for al fresco boozing.
I’ll even buy a shot for you, Misti. 🙂
This is true. Sorry, but that score was too lopsided to be just about underinflated balls. And I am sure every QB does it. I am not a huge Brady apologist but he’s still a better man than Ray Rice or Adrian Peterson or Ben Roethlisberger.
Rogers has admitted to over-inflating balls.
Yeah Brady lied/cheated but from what I’ve heard those balls didn’t really contribute to the Patriots win. They won because they were better.
But it’s still better to win cleanly and fairly without a hint of cheating.
I don’t endorse cheating, period. There IS a line between getting to know your opponent and flat out cheating. It’s wrong every time it happens.
Sorry but, if your team is sooo much better then everyone else then why do they need to cheat? Why do you need an unfair advantage if your team is THE BEST? Why go through the hassle of bribing the ball boys, if you were “going to win anyway?” Who knows how many other games they won doing this. Brady is an entitled jerk. He and the Patriots think they are above the rules. Can’t wait to see what his mouthy wife had to say about this one.
Ouch! Bitter of the best? Name an NFL team who’s never evercheated? Other QBs have admitted to over and deflating balls. Drugs have been used by players on teams. If you think the Pats are the ONLY ones who might have done something like that, you’re crazy.
Not bitter at all sweetheart. My family lives in Boston. I just think your argument that “everyone cheats” is moronic. Other men in the NFL beat their girlfriends until they black out. Does that make it ok? For crying out loud, the Patriots had a murderer on the team. I know they aren’t angels. Is it really CRAZY to ask that some one be held accountable for their actions? People like you want to make excuses for everyone. It’s pathetic.
@Bklnmom Thank-you! The Saints lost their coach for a whole year beause of bountygate. If the whole everybody cheats argument should be allowed to fly then why hit the Saints so hard? Some people will do whatever it takes to excuse the actions of their team that they can’t be unbiased. Everybody does it is not an excuse. If this is ok then why not let the NFL just become “bush league” where anything goes. No need for rules. Enforce the rules consistently or don’t enforce them at all. Some people only like it and rationalize it when the rules work in their favor, which is why you find some people on this post bending over backwards to justify the Patriots’ behavior.
It IS about a ball. Tom Brady isn’t Jesus. Why can’t people just admit he screwed up? Why can’t he be held accountable? Is he too precious? Will he break if he admits he is wrong? Why do you and Judy have to repeat that “everyone cheats.” I really don’t think that argument holds any weight. I used a comparasion. Just because other people have poor behavior it doesn’t give you the green light to have poor behavior too. I used the his colleagues as an example because those were the two big stories out of the NFL this year. I get it. That’s your team. You’ll defend them all day. I have things to do.
@Bklnmom Reread my post I actually was agreeing with you lol. I was agreeing that the everybody cheats argument dosn’t hold water for me either. If you cheat, no matter the extent of your cheating you should be punished. If not then you create a slippery slope where you rationalize any type of cheating.
Lol. I was responding to someone else! The comment disappeared. Thanks for the support 🙂
It’s annoying to me that everyone keeps saying “who cares they would’ve won anyway”. What does one have to do with the other? Cheating is cheating and they should be punished. It doesn’t make it ok that they didn’t NEED to cheat. Gawd
The problem is that the playoff system is cumulative. Sure they creamed the Colts. I’m a ride or die Seahawks fan and I don’t think they cheated to beat us. (I wish desperately that we had won, but that’s neither here nor there.) The problem for me lies with the fact that their game with the Ravens was an absolute squeaker. The texts going back months and months implies to me that this was not an isolated incident. While we can’t know what would have happened, the game with the Ravens was close enough that the minute difference might have mattered and they never would have been in a position to play the Colts anyway. Citing the Colts game isn’t proof that they didn’t gain a difference – making advantage, it’s evidence that during their game with the Colts, the deflated balls likely didn’t affect the outcome of the game. That’s it. That is all you can really infer from the Colts score.
I don’t like Brady or the Patriots for several reasons, although plenty of people would say the same thing about my team. I accept that cheating happens in the NFL and while I wish that weren’t the case, I have no trouble believing that most teams live in metaphorical glass houses on that front. But to play it off like it didn’t matter because it didn’t end up being the difference maker and to play it off like it wasn’t wrong because everyone loves to hate on Boston is just bad logic.
It even mentioned that the locker room attendants also received signed memorabilia, etc from Tom right around the same time. I don’t care about the NFL or any of it, really, but shouldn’t they lose their SuperBowl title, then? Make them inflate the balls and play again… Just sayin’.
No, they didn’t use underinflated balls in the SB. And they still would have beaten the Colts in the playoffs.
But that’s sort of the point, one that was made on this site back in January, they don’t need to cheat to win. But they’ve cheated before, though Belichick was cleared in this one he seems to be someone who wants to stand right on the edge of legality and stick his toes over on occasion. Doesn’t surprise me that that something like this happened.
I honestly think it was more of a comfort level for Brady than any sense he needed it to win. That’s why I don’t think it was cheating in his mind.
Comfort level? Oh, probably not. And even if wasn’t ‘cheating in his mind’ it’s still cheating.
I’m a long time, die hard Chicago sports fan, especially of the Cubs. And that wonderful 1998 season, Sosa vs. McGuire? They cheated. Is it fun to realize the team/player you like skirts the rules? No. But it happens.
It’s not comparable to steroids. All QBs like them a certain way. So yes, it was a comfort level. He didn’t need it to win but he liked them that way.
But his “comfort level” was outside of regulatory standards which makes it cheating. You are talking like his giving him an advantage by making the balls in exactly a way he would be most comfortable with is mutually exclusive to cheating and it’s not.
No, they should not lose their Super Bowl title. Under inflated balls did not cause the Seahawks to throw it to Gronk in the end zone. The NFL has contractual discipline rules in place
Wow, big surprise there, Tom Brady cheats (or whines). Too bad the NFL won’t punish him like he should be punished.
–Baltimore Ravens fan who hates the Patriots (even more than the Steelers, and that’s saying something.)
Our nickname for him is Cry Brady.
Do you cry every time you see his perfect games?
No, we football fans cry every time Brady cheats. It lowers the tradition of the game and fair sportsmanship.
Yes, it’s definitely Tom Brady bringing down the tradition of sportsmanship in the NFL. Please.
Next, people will be claiming he is joining ISIS.
LOL at perfect games! He’s an outstanding passer when he has protection, and he’s been very lucky to have had an outstanding offensive line for most of his career. When he has to scramble, he’s just average, and as for being a running QB…forget it.
As he should be punished? Do you mean in the way you want or as the league contracts dictate?
As a Ravens fan, I was the first one in my group of fanatic football friends to say Ray Rice had to go. Fired. Goodbye. The League shouldn’t be a place for wife beaters, dog killers (Michael Vicks) or other criminals. While Ballgate is not on that level, cheating shows an over lack of respect for the game. Like ARod and Lance Armstrong, Tommy Boy should be held up to public scorn. Even if the NFL doesn’t do anything to him, still doesn’t make it right.
ARod denied his drugging, so did Armstrong. I’m sure Brady will deny too. Doesn’t mean he’s innocent as The Wells Report clearly stated.
I don’t know how harsh the NFL punishment will be. I don’t think this really changes anything in the court of public opinion, though. People will continue to strongly dislike the Pats, and the fans will call it an over-inflated (pun totally intended) scandal and defend their team. I’m not a Pats fan, but I can’t even muster up any feelings about this because it’s baseball season and baseball>>>>>football for me.
Roger Goodell isn’t going to do a damn thing. It’s convenient that this resolved the week AFTER the draft.
It isn’t resolved. They have appeal rights.
Yeah, but if they’d dropped this prior to the draft, an obvious punishment option would have been their losing a draft pick.
The timing is convenient, as is the loose language re: Brady in the statement, both of which are probably intentional. That Brady is even mentioned at all says to me he was definitely involved, but they worded the statement to leave wiggle room for the big star and used definitive language to throw it all on the equipment dudes.
And they can still lose a draft pick for next year
Well it certainly wasn’t going to get touched ahead of the actual Superbowl, and I completely agree that the fact that it happened right after the draft was planned.
All this probably were deflated and probably knew is ridiculous. It’s a yes or no question that deserves an answer, and not what we got. If this was an investigation, then they know. Or they don’t. IMO, it’s embarrassing that after all this time and money spent on this “investigation”, there’s still no more evidence of what happened.
Always thought Brady was a mindless tool
Tom Brady is actually quite the opposite of a mindless tool. He is very smart & driven. I think he is a pretty nice guy in ‘real life’ but he is an INTENSE football player. Like, crazy eyes intense. And super intense players will do ANYTHING to win sometimes, and justify it with things like “We deserve this!” And “But, it’s for the TEAM!” There is no doubt in my mind that Brady at least knew about it, if not came up with the idea himself. Losing those two Super Bowls to Eli (ELI STOLE HIS SUPER BOWLS Y’ALL) made Brady desperate for another ring.
And, it wasn’t just the Colts game, so the “but the Pats blew them away in the 2nd half” argument is moot. This wasn’t just one half of one playoff game–they’ve been pulling this stunt for awhile. They just happened to finally get caught. But, to be fair, they’re not the only team, I’m sure. Teams try all kinds of stunts to gain an unfair advantage: piping in extra crowd noise, overinflating balls, bounties, filming opponent’s practices, faking injuries for extra timeouts, texting from the sidelines…the fact that it was Golden Brady & the Pats (and BALLS!) just make this cheating scandal that much more interesting.
Likely, probably, possibly. Such a definitive statement from the league. Assess the fine and move on, just as the league has moved on from all the other investigations of tampering against other teams and players this year – and yes, there have been a fair number of tampering charges this year.
Exactly! It’s not a definitive statement and that’s unacceptable to me as a fan. Especially one where my team was fined for fake crowd noises and others haven’t been.
I believe the “more probable than not” statement was given by the law firm that conducted the investigation, not the league. It’s equivalent language to the legal standard required for culpability in civil suits. Without an actual “smoking gun,” there’s no way to give a more definitive statement. It’s rare to have a situation with a straight up 100% certainty smoking gun. That’s why legal standards don’t require 100% certainty, not even for murder cases. Point being, a law firm saying “more probable than not” = YEAH, THEY TOTALLY DID IT.
it is the preponderance of the evidence standard which translates to “more probable than not” — could be 51%, could be 99%, but either way, they did it.
^^^^THIS!
I would suggest you read the entire report. No reasonable person can come away believing that Brady wasn’t involved. That said, did it affect any of the games? Probably not. It’s gamesmanship and it happens in all sports. It is like stealing signs in baseball or keeping the grass long on the field to slow down a team with superior speed. The problem though, AS ALWAYS, is that the cover up is worse than the crime. Brady wasn’t forthcoming, gave what, at best, can be considered a misleading press conference, and now is caught with a significant amount of evidence against him. He’ll be suspended, but not for as long as he should. 4 games max is my bet.
What “should be” is dictated by the NFL contract – and is likely merely a fine, not a four games suspension
How bout them Cowboys?! That’s all I’ve got.
Yes L!!! How bout them Cowboys?!
I’m losing hope in the ‘Boys since they let Dwayne Harris go. Never gave this guy too much of a chance. If they ever get rid of Romo, they’d might pick up steam again.
If I were Brady, I’d hire my own independent investigators. He can afford it. The tie to him seems tenuous and all circumstantial.
He won’t do that, with good reason. The circumstantial evidence is strong. He’d rather leave it as is, not a deeper investigation.
LOVE this post. Can’t stand football. Have never been able to care about a line of beer trucks running into a line of refrigerators, followed by ten minutes of arguing – every yard of the way. Every so often somebody actually catches a ball or runs a few yards, followed by more arguing – and, of course, twenty minutes of advertising. Then add obvious cheating and lying (that makes Brian Williams look like an angel) and fake outrage and demands for apologies FROM THE CHEATERS, followed by the NFL finessing everything away. Whatever happened to “winners never cheat, cheaters never win?” Millions of kids just learned from American Hero Tom Brady to cheat first and apologize later – IF you get caught. And don’t get me started on the murderers and wife beaters on these teams making millions of dollars. What a ridiculous sport. Get off my lawn.
LOL @ “line of refrigerators” and your whole description of football in general.
I’m a fan of the sport and as everyone here knows, I love TB, but this comment made me laugh my ass off.
Somehow cheating feels that much worse when uber-talented people are involved (like Lance Armstrong). Yes, let’s stack the deck even more in our favor. And I totally believe he would have noticed the difference in the way the balls handled. He probably told himself he was being truthful in that *he himself* did not deflate the balls. But her knew for sure. Gross.
The thing is, the wins are all in the record books. You can asterisk all you want, TB is still a NFL hero, and they won’t mess with one of those.
The problem is that NFL fans are rabid so the NFL will make money regardless. There is no incentive to make waves by dealing properly with top players.
Ok, he’s still an NFL hero but will never be fully remembered as such without a caveat. What a shame people are still defending this guy, pointing to other cheaters (as if that exonerates him?!), and crediting his fairly played games as a means of overlooking a piss-poor sense of sportsmanship. Why not just admit he’s a cheater, with no “but”?
+10000
As a Michigan fan, I’ve always liked Tom Brady but seriously he has been blessed with so much in life …looks, money, career, beautiful wife and family…and apparently it’s not enough. You can’t deny the arrogance.
Anyone who denies he was involved it’s wishful thinking. I read everything and it was being done for him and he knew.
I love Tom. He’s extremely talented, and they would have won anyway, and did win that game against the Colts with or without the points from the first half . Of course, it appears it had been going on, not the first time. But this is a blemish on him.
It looks as though Brady lied to Belichick, that Brady was really the lead, without Belichick’s knowledge. I imagine Belichick is super pissed, given that Tom apparently assured him that he’d done nothing vis a vis the footballs and Belichick took the BeliCHEAT heat for months. I wonder if Brady does in fact get more than a slap on the wrist b/c Belichick may not have his back on this, and I wonder how it affects their relationship going forward.
The report also mentions texts and phone calls between Brady and others that make Brady look not only guilty, but like an arsehole. I think Brady probably already realizes – and doesn’t much care – that he’s going to take a short-term hit and sit out a few games – – but that his bigger worry might be messages wherein he’s coming off as a real prick making their way onto the interwebz. Because I think that would be where losing endorsements becomes a possibiilty.
The report came out wish washy so I doubt anything will happen.Basically he got sort of caught doing what it sounds like every other QB has been doing since the game began. If they hey him for this and not the others than they have a problem since every little thing will be scrutinized.
Aw man, your gravatar wins.
Duh. What a surprise.
Bitch please. He knew. This guy has had a football in his hand since he was 3 and you can’t tell me he doesn’t know the difference between a standard weighted football and an underinflated one. Granted, I am sure other teams may have done this type of thing before, but when it is Golden Boy that has lied/cheated, it looks bad. I don’t hate the guy, but he is a little too pompous for my taste. Give me Peyton Manning any day.
Ah yes, Peyton and all those wins in Indy with piped in noise
Yes, Peyton Manning, with his four neck surgeries, multiple trips to Europe for special “regenerative therapy” and, miraculously, 2 career best years at ages 37 and 38. I’d be careful touting him as superior. I suspect he has some pretty serious skeletons in the closet.
“regenerative therapy”? He never had that.
Now he did say he went to Europe and considered the whole stem cell thing but it didn’t work.
Regardless I could believe he had stem cells in his neck but as far as his QB skills he isn’t the same QB he was 10 years ago either. There’s no real air in his throws now like before.
This may be the only time in history that a bunch of men will stand up and tell the world their balls were underinflated. We should celebrate it for what it is. “Balls, balls all types of balls, underinflated, tiny balls” sung to the tune of” Work It.”
Hmmmm a liar and a cheat who is married to a woman who acts as if she’s the only one to ever have become a mother. They’re perfect for each other. Let them fade off into the sunset, they won’t be missed.
I hope the NFL comes out with some amazing new policies.
1. A special new type of bag for the balls. Tom’s Ballsack.
2. Require that the balls be marked with a navy sticker after ref inspection. Tom’s Blueballs.
3. A rule prohibiting players from speaking with equipment people about the balls. Tom’s Ballgag.
4. Require Tom to do 500 pushups before being given the ball. Tom’s Shweaty Balls.
tabasco FTW!!!
As a European girl who doesn’t know anything about American sports and doesn’t even know who Tom Brady is, I thought it was about another kind of balls (before reading the article)… I was confused… I was close to go on google to search “underinflated balls”. Either I’m stupid or I just have a dirty mind.
You not stupid and IDK if you have a dirty mind, but I’ll tell you, there are plenty of ball jokes going around right now. The jokes pretty much write themselves!
Shady Brady. All the people who worship him, side eye to you.
I have no idea why a team with so much talent consistently undermines their legacy with completely needless cheating.
Because their coach is a dirtball
Can someone please explain to me on what planet does “yeah he cheated but it didn’t impact the outcome of the game” actually MATTER? Because up thread, there are way too many Brady-loonies making excuses and saying things like haters gonna hate.
And cheaters are gonna cheat. Shaking my head.
Lord help this country if this is considered OK because it didn’t impact the outcome of the game.
It is not OK. Not on any freaking level.
Whatever. Every QB wants balls inflated they way they want them. I see nothing here that says Tom asked for them to be outside league parameters. Zzzzzz. So over this.
Ahhh. I am going to comment because no one will probably see this…
This entire situation has been overblown. According to the rules, this type of violation is a fine NOT a suspension. Some are calling for a season long suspension for Brady. Crazy! I feel more people are upset about this than they were about Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice, etc, etc, etc.
As a fan, its hard to read how much people hate on Brady and the Pats. The way the NFL and the commish allowed the Pats to be vilified by the media during super bowl week was disheartening to say the least.
Even, Aaron Rogers came out and said he liked his football over inflated. Why isn’t the NFL looking into those comments?
And! All the way back in 2002, the Ravens were found to be doing the same thing! Deflated footballs, and they were not even punished.
I know this argument is not very strong, but it still needs to be put out there…every qb messes with the footballs in some way.
Before the AFCCG, the refs didn’t even write down the PSI’s of the footballs before previous games so who really doesn’t care?? it kind of seems like the NFL….
The Falcons and the Browns had major rule and sportsmanship violations this season and no one seems to care.
I’ll stop now that I sound like a crazy fan!
Oh and this website is amusing : http://YourTeamCheats.com/BAL#Deflategate-2002
Smiling
It breaks down to this. Do you go after everyone who cheats on a test for say… a grant or some large prize? Or do you only spend resources investigating those who made it close or won?
No one is saying all other teams don’t cheat. No one. To keep focusing on that seems like total deflection. Because others do it doesn’t make it right or fair. What is being discussed here is a specific case where the Pats did cheat and won the grand prize. If it was deserved or they were honest without trying to skirt the system this would be a bit different..
Other teams cheating should be punished. And the Pats cheated. Let’s not deflect from the main point here. Deflate gate and Brady’s preference to how firm he likes his balls for better gripping.
I get what you are saying. Overall all I want as a fan, if they were caught messing with the footballs, is that Goodell fine the Pats and do so according to what is stated in the rule book. And it would be done with.
The media circus that has followed this story is outrageous and I completely blame the NFL for not putting a stop to it months ago. I doubt this type of thing would have ever happened with Commish Tagliabue.
My mom didn’t buy the defense “but everyone does it” when I was 9 years old. And now that I’m a mother–I don’t buy that defense either. Sorry. #NotSorry #HappyMothersDay #ThinkThatLineOfReasoning IsImmature
Go after them all. Start somewhere. Do something. Now. It is wrong.
“every qb messes with the footballs in some way.”
and when “every” QB gets CAUGHT messing with the footballs in some way, they should be punished. (beside the fact that this statement is purely speculation…there is no proof that “every” QB does it, or that “every” team cheats. I’m sure a lot of teams bend/stretch the rules, but to dismiss every team as one that cheats isn’t very fair. it’s like say all men cheat, when that’s not true either.)
that argument is not only “not strong”, it’s not logical and is not relevant to what Brady did or didn’t do.
if you get caught cheating and you say to the teacher “but everyone else was cheating too!”, do you think the teacher will let you off the hook? no. I don’t think he or the Pats should get any harsher punishment than the league rules call for, but they DO deserve punishment, as would any other team caught cheating. the fact that others weren’t punished as harshly (or at all) does not come into play for THIS instance.
and WHY has this been going on for months?…because the Pats lied about what went down. if they had come clean, there likely would have been a quick fine levied and that would have been the end of it. instead, you had press conference lies and cover ups which led to the months long investigation. as has been stated, the cover-up is always worse/bigger than the original lie.
I think Tom Brady is creepy and smug. He and the Patriots should have admitted to the whole thing before the Super Bowl. But he lied, the organization lied, and he’s still lying. It just seems like he thinks because he’s the good looking, All-American quarterback (yuck) with the supermodel wife (yuck) that he can just smile and look pretty, and everyone should let it go.
I’ve never understood the appeal of Tom Brady. He does nothing for me.