New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is facing suspension by the National Football League as punishment for his role in the ‘DeflateGate’ scandal, according to media reports.
On Friday, the New York Daily News reported that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell plans to announce Brady’s penalty this coming week. Sources told the paper that Goodell was left with little choice following the NFL’s investigation of allegations that Patriots staffers deliberately deflated game balls to below league-mandated minimums to suit Brady’s preferences.
This past week saw the release of the Wells Report, which concluded that it was “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.”
Despite Brady’s refusal to provide investigator Ted Wells with his emails, texts or phone records, Wells concluded that Brady was “generally aware” of the actions of the two staffers and that Brady’s protestations to the contrary were “implausible.”
Wells found it “unlikely that an equipment assistant and a locker room attendant would deflate game balls without Brady’s knowledge and approval.” Wells also noted a spike in communication between Brady and the equipment assistant after the scandal broke. They spoke six times on the phone over three days after not speaking via phone or text for the previous six months.
The question now turns to the type of punishment Goodell will dispense. The NY Daily News believes a two-game suspension is likely, while other sources are predicting four games and the Miami Herald claimed a full-season suspension was in the offing. The team and coaching staff could also face sanctions. Sportsbooks both online and off have reacted to the controversy by suspending betting on the Pats’ performance until the situation clarifies.
The NFL has always justified its vehemently anti-sports betting stance as necessary to preserve the integrity of its games. Here we have what appears to be a deliberate attempt to obtain an unfair competitive advantage to influence the outcome of games. The fact that the main perpetrator happens to be the NFL’s fresh-faced golden boy shouldn’t be a mitigating factor. If Brady gets off with a slap on the wrist, the NFL’s integrity stance will prove as hollow as its balls.
