The New England Patriots established a dominant presence in the NFL over almost twenty years, clinching six Super Bowl victories, nine AFC Championship Games, and sixteen AFC East titles, while maintaining an impressive regular season record of 266–121.
During much of this era, Tom Brady served as the team’s quarterback, earning numerous NFL MVP accolades and Super Bowl MVP honors.
However, amidst their success, controversies arose. “Spygate” involved accusations of the Patriots videotaping opponents’ practices to gain insight into their plays before regular season matchups. Subsequently, “Deflategate” emerged, centering around allegations that Brady and the team violated NFL rules by deflating footballs during the 2014 AFC title game against the Indianapolis Colts.
An investigation ensued, marked by the testing of a game-used ball at halftime, a measure unprecedented at the time. This led to years of legal battles. As a result, the NFL implemented a new regulation allowing for random halftime inspections and analysis of footballs.
NFL regulations mandate footballs to be inflated between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds per square inch (PSI). Although the NFL did not formally record pregame measurements, reports suggested that most of the footballs used in the first half were below the minimum PSI at halftime, with one registering two PSI under and the remainder slightly below the threshold.
Former New England Patriots QB Tom Brady Makes Shocking Admission About Deflategate
For years, there had been speculation regarding Brady’s awareness of the deflated footballs, yet the former Patriots quarterback consistently denied any knowledge beyond circumstantial evidence. Despite lacking a direct link to Brady violating NFL rules, he did dispose of his cell phone before it could be examined in the investigation, which NFL commissioner Roger Goodell deemed as a deliberate effort to obstruct evidence.
Numerous theories were discussed, including physics explanations about how temperature and other factors affect pressure. However, a 253-page report from the league placed blame on the New England Patriots, alleging that Brady was “at least generally aware” of a scheme to deflate footballs. As a result, he received a four-game suspension for the 2016 season, while the team faced a $1 million fine and the loss of two draft picks.
Throughout the ordeal, Brady consistently refuted the accusations, stating in 2015, “I didn’t alter the balls in any way.” However, during his recent Netflix roast, he made a surprising admission, acknowledging the NFL’s findings and sarcastically remarking that he could have confessed for a fraction of the investigation cost.
Brady’s revelation comes after years of denial, shedding light on the truth. In 2006, both Brady and Peyton Manning advocated for a rule change allowing road teams to bring their own footballs, a shift from the previous rule where only home teams supplied game-used footballs. This alteration also permitted quarterbacks to have more control over the footballs they used, including washing and drying them, to ensure better grip and performance, thereby enhancing the game experience for players and spectators alike.
