Did Tom Brady lie about knowing?

[Johnmuratore]

I'll start by saying that I'm a fan of the Patriots and Tom Brady. BUT, watching his press conference just after this broke, it sure seemed to me that he was very uncomfortable answering questions about the preparation of the footballs. Having watched plenty of his appearances before the press corps, he's usually very relaxed and regularly jokes with the reporters, even when asked sort of embarrassing questions about giving his receivers **** about dropping passes.
I really hate to think that this will tarnish his reputation, which has been stellar up to this point, but I don't see how it wouldn't. He really is a good guy who does more than most for disabled and handicapped kids and folks with cancer; and a good family man, which is becoming a rare thing in professional sports nowadays.
I would really be surprised if all the other starting quarterbacks DIDN'T do things to the game balls to make them "feel" right or to their liking, but maybe what they do is within the rules.

What do you folks think?

 

[joeintexas]

My guess is he knew what was going on and I would bet he was all in. The wife thinks Buddy Ryan did it. She never did like him.

 

[Kinman]

I never cared for Brady and have a problem with most of the prima donna type jocks regardless of their game. I've watched these guys over the years and throwing footballs is their meat and taters. When he felt the first ball in his hands and thought to himself "Nice and tight...just he way I like it." He had to know, its his business to know that kind of stuff.
Whether he had anything to do with over-inflating is anybody's guess but he had to know. You do something for the better part of your life and you know when something either is or isn't right. He could have just considered himself lucky that day and decided to keep his mouth shut until somebody else complained and then plead ignorance, who knows.

 

[coltle6920]

I think instead of "Deflategate" this should be called "DeflateNews"!

While I'm thinking about it I really like vanilla ice cream with fresh crispy bacon and caramel sauce poured over the top!

 

[m1gunner]

Wow, you mean some athletes actually cheat? I am shocked!

There ought to be a law..........

 

[Muss Muggins]

I'll start by saying that I'm a fan of the Patriots and Tom Brady. BUT, watching his press conference just after this broke, it sure seemed to me that he was very uncomfortable answering questions about the preparation of the footballs. Having watched plenty of his appearances before the press corps, he's usually very relaxed and regularly jokes with the reporters, even when asked sort of embarrassing questions about giving his receivers **** about dropping passes.
I really hate to think that this will tarnish his reputation, which has been stellar up to this point, but I don't see how it wouldn't. He really is a good guy who does more than most for disabled and handicapped kids and folks with cancer; and a good family man, which is becoming a rare thing in professional sports nowadays.
I would really be surprised if all the other starting quarterbacks DIDN'T do things to the game balls to make them "feel" right or to their liking, but maybe what they do is within the rules.

What do you folks think?

He did. Next question . . .

 

[diamonback68]

He did. C'mon, he's not a new kid off the street, he's a longtime topmost professional QB that's handled thousands of footballs in all kinds of climate conditions and circumstances, he had to know that they were under inflated and he wanted it and liked them that way.

 

[shouldazagged]

Do I give a good brisk damn?

Don't think so.

 

[e3mrk]

If He didnt know before the Game He sure knew when He went to throw the Ball.

 

[don5]

He did. C'mon, he's not a new kid off the street, he's a longtime topmost professional QB that's handled thousands of footballs in all kinds of climate conditions and circumstances, he had to know that they were under inflated and he wanted it and liked them that way.

^I agree with this entire post. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt. Now about his punishment well you don't want to know what I think. Hint- Think Pete Rose. All I am going to say. His reputation is tarnished.

 

[RubenZ]

They should strip those cheating *******s of the super bowl title.

 

[S&WForty]

One thing I heard was that the footballs were corrected at halftime and that he played better in the second half. I think that should mitigate any punishment. They didn't benefit from the 'crime' committed. I grew tired of the Patriots' success years ago, but I've always respected their talent. Rules are rules, and they are to be followed, but deep down this is a molehill being turned into a mountain. I don't like the human nature of tearing down everyone or everything.

 

[Chuck24]

Probably, but can anybody prove it?

 

[finesse_r]

If he knew or not is not the issue. It is not his job to police the airing up of the footballs. Neither is it his job or his opponents job to report their suspicions or beliefs that the ball is over or under inflated. I don't doubt a man of his experience well knew, but so what. If he did not arrange for them to be under inflated the problem is not his.

I have no love for any of the over paid athletes of our times, but go after the man who is responsible for checking the proper inflation level.

 

[jtcarm]

Every pro athlete should learn a lesson from Andy Petite. Instead of lying, he simply admitted using steroids. No one talks about him anymore.

Even if Brady didn't know, he should be a man about it and just say he's responsible., he probably leaned on the equipment guys too hard.

 

[zzzippper]

Do I give a good brisk damn?

Don't think so.

Thanks for sharing that deep and insightful commentary.

 

[30-30remchester]

I am not a Patriots fan but watch them because our little mountain town has a former high school student playing for the team. If the reports are correct, after the balls were properly inflated for the second half, Brady's stats improved! I feel this is WAY overblown. Of the few things I abhor in this world is hypocrisy. We are all professionals in our own fields of endeavor. I would like to see hands raised from all decenters who have never fudged a little. How many of you have never went over the speed limit, jaywalked, parked beyond the legal time, told a little white lie, didn't "forget" to mention some income on your tax return, "borrow" a pencil from work or a myriad of other infractions just to get a leg up? In my profession there was a saying, "If you cant do it, you cant stay". Nothing came easy, we crammed, stomped, ran down and buried anything that got in our way. Government agencies and bureaucrats threw obstacles in our way daily, yet we were required to persevere and overcome. If you stood still you would be run down. We were paid not by the hour but by our accomplishments. Yes I will admit it here, I did whatever it took to get the job done as long as it didn't harm anyone (that was my line in the sand). History is full of great men the likes of Patton, Washington, Lincoln, Jackson, and King, to name just a few who did their best to tow the line but had to step over the line on occasion to gain their victories. When your favorite NASCAR driver cuts off the competition it is all giggles and high fives. What's the difference? When your favorite musicians or actors behave badly, I seldom see anything but adulation. I will admit it here, that I have often deflated my truck tires in an attempt to gain better purchase on slick mountain roads. So for all of you who has never went over the speed limit to get to work on time, I am sorry, it must have been a boring life.

Damn, I just fell off my soapbox!

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

These guys are pros.
There are million$ at stake.
Of course he knows what's going on with the football.

If it's that big of a deal, then put those bluetooth pressure readers in there like they got for car tires and be done with it. We can all sit at home and stare at the TV info banner reading ball pressure, assured that this scandal is behind us and we can get on with our lives.

 

[NYlakesider]

Not much of a sports person, but I think he knew about the balls the second he touched it. He is a pro and well used to what things should be.

To put what I said into a gun perspective, I’m quite used to the feel of a let’s say a Smith 60. Hand me one and I know if it’s empty or not. You’re around something a lot and you just know.

I actually did something like that years back my uncle died and my aunt wanted the guns gone, so I got invited over she brought them out in a box (3 small pistols) One was a dick special in a holster.. She then told me to look at them and perhaps she would give them to me AND ALL WERE UNLOADED. As soon as I picked up the Colt I knew it was loaded by the weight and told her that.

She did not believe me so I shook it just a little and all in the room could hear the rattle of the cartridges in it, yep all 6 chambers loaded.

Based on that I must say he knew what was going on with those footballs.

 

[OLDSTER]

Did he know? Of course. Do I care ? No