Deflating a football makes it easier to handle. An NFL investigation published Wednesday concluded it’s “more probable than not” that New England Patriots staffers broke the NFL’s rules by deliberately deflating balls before the 2014 AFC Championship game. The report also found it’s “more probable than not that Tom Brady was at least generally aware” of this. If you understood the last three sentences, you’ve picked up on the key points of “Deflategate” way faster than Brady, who’s devoted his life to playing professional football.
When asked to comment on the scandal during his first public appearance since the report’s release, the Patriots’ quarterback said he’s yet to form any thoughts on the matter. “I don’t really have any reaction. It has only been 30 hours. I’ve not had much time to digest it,” Brady said Thursday evening. “When I do I will be sure to let you know how I feel about it. And everybody else.”
Brady made the remarks during a previously scheduled event at Salem State University, where the audience booed at the mere mention of the damning report. The crowd was so pro-Brady that when sportscaster Jim Gray asked if the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory is now tainted, the QB let them answer (or at least tried to). Per Deadspin:
Gray: Is the Super Bowl tainted? Should there be an asterisk? [audience boos]
Brady: What do you guys think? [audience boos] Neither do I.
Gray: Your answer was?
Brady: Neither do I.
Gray: No, it’s not, that is what you’re saying?
Brady: I said I asked what they thought.
Gray: I asked you what you thought.
Brady: I said no, absolutely not.
Gray: Absolutely not. [cheers and applause]
And in case it wasn’t clear from Brady’s Bieber-esque attitude and decision to arrive at the event like this:
He really doesn’t care if everyone (outside of New England) thinks he’s a huge cheater. “As a human you care about what people think. I think also as a public figure you learn not everyone is going to like you,” he said. “Good, bad, or indifferent there are a lot of people who don’t like Tom Brady, and I am okay with that.”
