Drew Bledsoe wonders if Deflategate will make Tom Brady retire earlier

The man who lost his job to arguably the greatest quarterback to ever play feels badly about the way the New England Patriots have been portrayed since the AFC Championship Game.

While showing off some of his wines at an event in Burlington, Mass., on Tuesday night, Bledsoe expressed sympathy for Tom Brady and all that he has had to deal with surrounding Deflategate.

“The overriding thing for me is, I hate to see the way this thing is portrayed for the Patriots. It’s like there’s a witch hunt against these guys. That they’re bad guys, cheating their way to the top,” Bledsoe said, per Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald. “That’s simply not the case. That part really bothers me. Obviously, I’m very close with Mr. (Robert) Kraft and his family, and Tommy and I have stayed close through the years. I don’t like to see that, because that’s not who they are.”

Bledsoe noted that he has texted with Brady to offer support and said the Deflategate saga must be “tiring” for Brady. Bledsoe also said he hopes the scandal doesn’t push Brady away from the game.

“I’m certain it’s something that’s very, if nothing else, tiring for him to have to deal with,” he added. “It’s such an inconsequential thing in my mind. And then for him to be raked over the coals about it, I hate to see it. I hope it’s not souring him on continuing to play, because I want to continue to watch him play.”

When asked about retirement, Brady has always said he hopes to play another 10 seasons. He refuses to even think about life after football, but being suspended and labeled a cheater could certainly change his mind.

If you want to know how much Patriots fans love Brady, just read this obituary. The best case scenario for the Pats is that Brady uses Deflategate as motivation and comes out with his hair on fire next season. The worst case scenario is that it weighs on him and knocks a few years off of his career.