The NFL has never experienced a controversy like the “Deflategate” one, so penalties to the New England Patriots for their roles in the scandal would be unprecedented. The biggest question is what will happen to Tom Brady, who lied about his knowledge of the issue.
One report says “everything is being considered” as punishment for the 4-time Super Bowl-winning QB.
“Everything is being studied, everything is being considered,” a source told The Miami Herald’s Armando Salguero regarding a potential punishment for Brady.
At a January press conference, Brady pleaded ignorance regarding footballs being altered, saying he would never break the rules.
“I didn’t alter the ball in any way,” Brady said at a press conference. “I have no knowledge of anything. I have no knowledge of any wrongdoing. I’m very comfortable in saying that nobody did anything. As far as I know.”
Asked if he was a cheater, he said, “I don’t believe so. I’ve always played within the rules.”
Text messages exchanged between officials locker room attendant Jim McNally and equipment assistant John Jastremski indicate they altered the balls at Brady’s behest (see the texts here), which would make Brady a liar.
Salguero’s source did not mention Bill Belichick or Patriots owner Robert Kraft as part of the discipline, but mostly focused on Brady. The source said you could not dismiss the possibility that the ceiling for the penalty could be a season-long suspension. As of now, some sportsbooks are not allowing future betting on the Patriots as a result of the impending punishments.
