Each team is using own footballs when they are attacking. So a deflated ball can be noticed by opponent team only during an interception. And they did as such. The player who achived that interception passed the ball to the referee.
The Pats punishment is more about how they rubbed this accusation in the league's face. This issue was known about and was stated that they would get to the investigation down the road after the Superbowl. This was before anyone had really heard about it. 'deflate' gate was basically set on a path to be 'swept under the rug'. Unfortunately patriots management wouldn't shut up and leave it alone. Tom could of avoided all of this be simply telling the investigation team "yes, i did tell the equipment manager that i liked the feel of the ball when he asked me."
This isn't about Tom Brady. For sure he is not the first one using deflated footballs. And for sure he is not the last one neither. Easy fix? Get rid of that stupid rule that let the attacking team to play with own footballs. Make it like it is in football: the match is played with hometeam's balls. Simple and no more scandals.
But the suspension its a joke. 4 games? First games of the season are not so important. With or without Tom Brady won't make much difference. But I'm wondering what could happen if the decision wouldn't be delayed so much. I'm wondering what could happened in SuperBowl if. Tom Brady would be suspended right away. Right before SuperBowl. And again I must give football example: if a football player is in a "potential suspension situation" for a red card or accumulated yellow cards, the suspension decision is taken BEFORE NEXT game.
Just as a side note, for years, the NFL used only one ball for both teams, and the ball was provided by the NFL, NOT either team. Some time back, both TOM Brady and Peyton manning petitioned the NFL to have thst rule changed so that the QB could play with his own personal football. The NFL agreed (which was stupid) and now we have this situation.
Anyway NFL like scandals. I mean let's be serious. Without this Deflategate who one earth would talk about American Football in May?
So all the underling staff involved gets indefinite suspension and Brady gets to keep his job. What a hero Brady is letting those whom he probably coerced into cooperating to lose their livelyhoods so he can bask in his own ego some more.
I agree that the rule they have in place now is a bad idea. Let's make an example of how this works using a different sport. Australian football, the league brings all the balls to the games (about 20) no players uses them or even sees them till the very start of the game. With that there's never any question of the ball itself
I dont know of the guilt or innocence However my only thought is that a person as meticulous as Tom Brady would have had all 12 balls the exact same. These balls varied from .02 psi below through 1.2 psi below. I think each ball if deflated would all have been near exact amount of removed air. What do you think
American Enterprise Institute, the same company that debunked 'Bountygate', has released an analysis of the Wells report. AEI's report concludes the Wells report is deeply flawed and unreliable. In the case of 'Bountygate', AEI presented their findings at an N.F.L. hearing. The next month, the N.F.L. vacated all the players’ suspensions. I can't wait to see all the angry Pats haters on social media when Brady's suspension is remove, or reduced to only 1 game.