Report: NFL could punish Brady, ball boys in wake of report

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http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/report-nfl-could-punish-brady-ball-boys-in-wake-of-report-050615

Report: NFL could punish Brady, ball boys in wake of report
By Darren Hartwell

The Ted Wells report into DeflateGate could result in punishment for the New England Patriots and possibly quarterback Tom Brady.

But that’s not all.

After Wells’ report was released Wednesday, the NFL is considering discipline for Brady, locker room attendant Jim McNally and equipment assistant John Jastremski, a source close to the investigation told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

McNally and Jastremski both play prominent roles in the 243-page report, particularly in several conversations with each other via text message. Their texts make numerous references to Brady and the air pressure of footballs, including one text from McNally to Jastremski that read, “Tom sucks… (I’m) going to make that next ball a f***** balloon.”

Wells’ lengthy report found that it was “more probable than not” that Patriots personnel members deliberately tried to “circumvent the rules,” and that Brady “was at least generally aware” of these activities.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement Wednesday stating that all possible disciplinary action will be handled by NFL vice president of football operations Troy Vincent.

“As with other recent matters involving violations of competitive rules,” the statement read, “Troy Vincent and his team will consider what steps to take in light of the report, both with respect to possible disciplinary action and to any changes in protocols that are necessary to avoid future incidents of this type. At the same time, we will continue our efforts vigorously to protect the integrity of the game and promote fair play at all times.”
 
RamzFanz said:
Great timing. No interference with their post season or draft. Now dead time before the season to sweep it all away.
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And, if I may add, I'll believe there will be punishment handed down when I see it!
And I'll wager, nothing against Brady!!
 
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They'll probably punish the ballboy, but they'll look at the stats and say something along the lines of "Brady was better in the 2nd half, so if anything it held him back, so no need for any suspension."
 
RaminExile said:
Punish the ball boys? Seriously? The Patriots get caught cheating and two equipment guys get the blame???
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Didn't they (allegedly) accept bribes from Brady in the form of autographed memorabilia? IMO, they need to set a precedent here, to make sure equipment guys don't accept bribes in the future.
 
Dodgersrf said:
They'll come down hard on Brady. A suspension, somewhere along the lines of, the fourth quarter of the 4th preseason game.
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Whoa, whoa, whoa, there. Let's not get carried away. Not like the guy killed somebody or something. Maybe the fourth quarter of the FIRST preseason game, but not the fourth game. That's just too much.

Now the ball-boys... clearly evil. Is there any way we can reconvene the Nuremberg tribunals?
 
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http://www.indystar.com/story/sport.../?hootPostID=d79a5805e4eb9f83af39c68d945aa345

What's next for Brady, Patriots after 'Deflategate' report
JIMMY GOLENMay 7th 2015 2:23AM

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - Tom Brady smiled away the Tuck Rule on the way to his first Super Bowl victory, flashing that dimple-chinned grin that said, "I had it all the time."

The New England Patriots' illegal videotaping. His name popping up in baseball's steroid investigation. Shenanigans with the NFL injury list. An out-of-wedlock child with the actress he jilted before marrying the world's richest supermodel.

Nothing stuck to Teflon Tom.

But the league investigation into the deflated footballs used in this year's AFC championship game might do what none of the other controversies and near-misses could: tarnish the legacy of Tom Brady, a four-time Super Bowl champion and the title game's reigning MVP.

"What I see is that he goes from being 'Tom Perfect' to 'Tom Not-So-Perfect' in some peoples' eyes," Marc Ganis, president of sports business consulting firm SportsCorp, said Wednesday after the release of the NFL's report on the scandal that came to be known as "Deflategate."

In a 243-page report, NFL investigator Ted Wells found that Patriots employees violated the league rules covering game balls, and that Brady was "at least generally aware" of the plans to doctor the footballs to his liking. The report found some of Brady's claims were "implausible," adding: "It is unlikely that an equipment assistant and a locker room attendant would deflate game balls without Brady's knowledge and approval."

The findings were forwarded to the league's disciplinary chief for potential punishment. Brady could be fined or face a suspension that would keep him out of Week 1 - the marquee league opener at which the Super Bowl banner would traditionally be raised.

The Patriots did not respond to a request for a comment from Brady or coach Bill Belichick, who was exonerated in the report. The team canceled a previously scheduled availability for Thursday.

Owner Bob Kraft issued a spirited statement in defense of his team and questioned Wells' conclusions. "To say we are disappointed in its findings, which do not include any incontrovertible or hard evidence of deliberate deflation of footballs at the AFC Championship Game, would be a gross understatement," he said.

But Wells concluded there was no plausible explanation for the deflated footballs except deliberate tampering. And text messages to and about Brady led the investigator to conclude that he was aware, if not more actively involved, in the scheme.

Regardless of his punishment, Brady's legacy is now tied to the scandal. But the main effect of that, Ganis said, could be to solidify opinions that are already largely entrenched: Opposing fans will continue to doubt him, and fans in New England, where he was once seen as a candidate for the U.S. Senate, will rally to his defense.

"As far as his marketability goes, he is still arguably the most marketable player in the NFL," said Ganis, who grew up a New York Jets fans and is now based in Chicago.

"Tom Brady has been the face of the NFL, with Peyton Manning, for a number of years. He has been an extraordinary ambassador, with cross-over popularity," he said. "If this is all there is, it will be something that is talked about him when he is elected to the Hall of Fame."
 
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