Deflategate report: Tom Brady implicated in cheating by Patriots

THE NFL-commissioned report on the Deflategate scandal strongly asserts Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was aware of deliberate under-inflation of balls.

Deflategate: Brady knew about cheating

Brady knew.

The NFL-commissioned report on the Deflategate scandal released Wednesday strongly asserts Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was aware of equipment employees purposefully under-inflating game balls used in the AFC Championship Game win over the Colts.

“We have concluded that it is more probable than not that New England Patriots personnel participated in violations of the NFL Playing Rules and were involved in a deliberate attempt to circumvent those rules … by releasing air from Patriots game balls after the examination of the footballs by NFL game officials at the AFC Championship Game,” it says in the Conclusion section of the report.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady speaks at a news conference about the NFL investigation into deflated footballs.

The 243-page report, authored by investigator Ted Wells, cites as evidence a damning exchange of text messages between equipment staffers Jim McNally and John Jastremski. In fingering Brady as a conspirator, the report points out a “material increase” in telephone and text communications between Brady and Jastremski shortly after ball tampering suspicions were made public on Jan. 19. The report says Brady refused to provide his own emails, text messages and phone records.

“Based on the evidence, we also have concluded that it is more probable than not that Tom Brady was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities of McNally and Jastremski involving the release of air from Patriots game balls,” the report says.

“Brady is a constant reference point in the discussions between McNally and Jastremski about inflation, deflation, needles and items to be received by McNally.”

Brady, who went on to lead the Patriots to a title with a masterful Super Bowl performance, has repeatedly denied knowledge of ball tampering.

According to reports May 6, 2015, A NFL investigation found that the New England Patriots employees likely deflated footballs.

“I have no knowledge of anything of any wrongdoing. I am very comfortable saying that,” Brady said during his initial Deflategate press conference. “Nobody did it as far as I know.”

Other members of Patriots brass were exonerated.

“We do not believe there was any wrongdoing or knowledge of wrongdoing by Patriots ownership, Head Coach Belichick or any other Patriots coach,” the report states.

The next question is what discipline awaits Brady or the Patriots organisation at large, which was previously slammed by the NFL over Spygate in 2007. ESPN reported Brady’s punishment could be handed down in a matter of “days.”

“As with other recent matters involving violations of competitive rules, 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,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

The report indicated Brady complained about the balls’ inflation level following an Oct. 16 game against the Jets in which he went 20-for-37 passing.

The report then includes numerous and (entertaining) text message back-and-forths between the two Patriots employees in which they employ colourful language to mock Brady for his fussy ball preferences. From Oct. 23, for example:

Jastremski: “Can‟t wait to give you your needle this week :)”

Umpire Carl Paganelli #124 holds a ball on the field after a play during the 2015 AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts.

McNally: “F — k tom …. make sure the pump is attached to the needle…..f — kin watermelons coming.”

There’s also the suggestion McNally, the needle man, was compensated for his cooperation with new sneakers and Brady memorabilia.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft continued to defend his employees in a statement issued minutes after the report was released, sticking to the atmospheric science angle that became infamous during the height of Deflategate.

“As compelling a case as the Wells Report may try to make, I am going to rely on the factual evidence of numerous scientists and engineers rather than inferences from circumstantial evidence,” Kraft said. “Throughout the process of this nearly four-month investigation, we have cooperated and patiently awaited its outcome. 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.

“In addition, given our level of cooperation throughout the process, I was offended by the comments made in the Wells Report in reference to not making an individual available for a follow-up interview.”

This story originally appeared on the New York Post

Originally published as Deflategate report: Tom Brady implicated in cheating by Patriots