Blog Post #9 Deflate-Gate

      Deflate gate is the newest scandal in the NFL and the Patriots Organization. The problem being that 11 of the 12 Patriots footballs were under the league regulated 12.5 psi. Evidence states that Tom Brady worked with equipment manager and locker room attendant, John Jastremski and Jim McNally on game day of the AFC Championship Game against the Colts to have the footballs deflated to provide an advantage to the Patriots. Claims state the both Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick knew nothing of this intentional deflation of footballs.  Deflated footballs provide the team with the ability to fumble less and drop less passes. This topic is also controversial because the Patriots have the best percentage of least fumbles in the league; 1 out of every 187 plays  compared to the rest of the league 1 out of every 105. This brings up the argument of were the Patriots using deflated footballs during every game or was it just the one time event during the AFC Championship Game?

    In charge of the investigation against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots was Ted Wells. He compiled a 243 page report accusing Brady of the deflation of the footballs before the Championship Game. The report lacked evidence that would hold up in a court of law. The evidence he presented in his report would bring readers to the assumption that Tom Brady was guilty, but provides no legitimate evidence that prove that Brady is 100% guilty. All of his evidence is circumstantial and would be torn to shreds if it was presented to a lawyer. I do believe that Brady was involved one way or the other, but I feel that the accusations from the Wells Report are not conclusive enough to accuse Brady of being fully guilty of Deflate Gate. Wells has been known to be bias of the Patriots and Tom Brady showing signs of hatred towards Brady and The Patriots. He erupted into a fit of rage after reporters questioned the legitimacy of his report.

   For their punishment, The Patriots were fined $1,000,000 and the loss of two first round draft picks. Brady was suspended the first 4 games of the 2015-2016 season. I believe that since there is no hard evidence against Brady, the suspension of the first four games is unfair. The saying you win as a team, you lose as a team plays into effect when in it comes to punishing the Patriots. The fine and loss of draft picks, while severe, is fair. They have to take the punishment and look on the bright side. Every game they finish is one game closer to the end of Brady's punishment. The loss of the draft picks is going to be tough, but the Patriots are a strong team and they will figure out a way around those two losses. Goodell has been under much scrutiny with claims of him being corrupt. This severe punishment is his way of showing fans, players, and coaches that he is still fit to run the league.

  If I was in charge of the punishment that would go to Brady and the Patriots, I would take away one  draft pick and fine them $1,000,000. Since the evidence against Brady is not firm, I would not suspend Brady. If they find more substantial evidence, I would consider a suspension of Brady and possibly a greater fine to the team. I would also need to review to see if there was the possibility of the balls be deflated during the game simply due to weather conditions at the time of the game and not because members in the Patriots Organization intentionally deflated the footballs. It would be an ongoing investigation that could possibly lead to future punishment or the overturning of punishments.