The year 2015 will stick in the memory of Hall of Famer Tom Brady because it cemented his reputation as a player involved in Deflategate and led to his suspension.
Even though the Patriots may have won this game, the reason why people are upset is that the Patriots have damaged the reputation they built up over the course of their 15-year playing career.
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What is the “Deflategate” scandal?
The scandal surrounding allegations that the 45-year-old and the Patriots violated NFL regulations. It was reported that the alleged Tom and his teammate deflated footballs prior to the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts in January 2015. This case is also known as “Deflategate,” and the investigation that followed it were both referred to by this name.
A thorough investigation into the incident started when word of the scandal spread. Following an NFL investigation, it was discovered that before the game, a Patriots staff member named Jim McNally broke protocol by taking the balls away from the officials without their permission and keeping them in the bathroom for just under two minutes. By that time, Jim provably let out air from a set of game balls used during the AFC Championship.
In the previous month, the air pressure of the Patriots game balls and Brady’s displeasure with the inflation level of the Patriots game balls were topics that McNally and team equipment assistant John Jastremski frequently discussed in their texts back that also raised questions about their involvement.
The quarterback destroyed his cell phone ahead of the investigation, raising an eyebrow about his interaction, albeit, he vehemently denied all claims.
“I didn’t alter the balls in any way,” TB said in 2015.
Was there any repercussion for the Deflategate scandal for Tom Brady and his team?
Even though the investigation did not uncover any connections between the hall of Famer and the deflategate case, they came to the conclusion that Brady was probably “at least generally aware” of McNally’s activities. The point can be that the quarterback’s destruction of his cell phone prior to the investigation raised many questions about his involvement, but he vehemently denied all allegations.
However, Tom terrific took a harsh hit as a result of the scandal when he was suspended for the first four games of the season. Not just Tom, but the entire Patriots team suffered greatly as a result of the $1 million fine and the loss of two future draft picks.
Wide receiver Jerry Rice accused the Patriots of being at fault for the game, claiming they would have an advantage over the Colts in the 2014 AFC championship contest.
“I’m going to be point-blank. I feel like it’s cheating. Because you have an edge up on your opponent, and it’s unfortunate that it happened,” Jerry stated.
Seven years have passed since the scandal’s inception, but the entire New York Patriots still remember it. The Deflategate scandal was the biggest trial ever for Patriots supporters because no fan wants to see their team caught lying.
