Few people have been more outspoken about expressing their displeasure with Tom Brady’s suspension being overturned than Eddie George.
The former Heisman Trophy winner appeared on “The Dan Patrick Show” Thursday and had harsh words for Brady and the New England Patriots. In no uncertain terms, the former Tennessee Titans running back said he thought Brady was cheating and should be punished.
“I was very disappointed. Very disappointed that it went that way,” George said of the suspension being overturned by a judge.
“Tom (Brady) is a great player, great person — I get it. But through the years, coming out of that organization, there’s been various times that they’ve pushed the envelope in terms of trying to win ballgames. Whether it’s stealing signals, whether it’s getting the playbook, something — pushing the envelope.”
The stealing signals is a reference to the Spygate controversy where the Patriots were found to be illegally videotaping opposing teams’ signals.
“If you did the crime, just take the punishment. But this clearly shows to me that they play by a different set of rules, and they’re above the law to some degree. For him to beat a four-game suspension and not be held accountable for his actions and his involvement in this … to say that he didn’t know is a crock to me. To say that you had a bunch of ‘rogue’ trainers or ballmen going around messing with the PSI is ridiculous.”
Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly made the same point; team personnel doesn’t change the air pressure of a quarterback’s football unless directed to do so. George also pointed to what the Patriots did to the Ravens in the playoffs last year as more evidence that they’re always looking for an edge even when it borders on unethical conduct.
“They’re always going to push the envelope. Look at what happened with Baltimore with the personnel changes at the line of scrimmage. It’s always something. To say that they’re above this situation is not true.
“To take a million dollar hit by the organization — (Owner Robert) Kraft is like, ‘how do you want that? Fives or 10s?’ That’s not a big hit for them.”
Patrick then asked George straight up whether he thinks Brady is a cheater, noting that there is no concrete proof that the quarterback cheated.
“I do. I think that he should be held accountable,” said George. “For him not to know your tools — he’s held a ball his entire life. Michigan, 12 years in the NFL, if you got caught, do the time. But when guys are getting four-game suspensions for performance-enhancing drugs, this is the same thing. Performance enhancement. Regardless of whether it makes a difference or not. Then why do it if it doesn’t make a difference? You did it. So it’s disappointing to see that he can get away with this when others can’t.”
I absolutely agree with George. Like I said when this whole thing started, I believe the Patriots cheated. However, given the circumstantial rather than direct evidence against Brady; the use of a biased and flawed Wells report; and the arbitrary punishment and unfair appeal hearing, I am not surprised that a judge overturned the suspension. We’re also seeing that between this and what he said about the concussion lawsuit, George is unafraid to say some controversial things.
