The NFL penalized the New England Patriots on Monday for Deflate-Gate. The penalties come five days after Ted Wells released his report on the scandal.
According to the Associated Press, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was suspended for four games, the Patriots were fined $1 million, and lost two draft picks. The two draft picks lost are next year’s first-round pick and a fourth-round pick in 2017. Two Patriots equipment staffers, one who called himself “The Deflator,” have been suspended indefinitely. Brady was suspended “for conduct detrimental to the integrity of the NFL." Brady, who has repeatedly denied that he knew anything about the under-inflated footballs, will have three days to appeal his suspension.
"Quarterback Tom Brady will be suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2015 regular season for conduct detrimental to the integrity of the NFL,” the NFL said in a statement, NBC News reports. "Brady may participate in all off-season, training camp and pre-season activities, including pre-season games."
As previously reported, the Wells report found that the Patriots violated NFL rules by using under-inflated balls in the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts, and it was “more probable than not,” that Tom Brady knew about it. The Colts had question the inflation level of the Patriots balls and 11 of the Patriots balls were under the 12.5 pounds per square inch allowed by the NFL. Last week Brady’s agent suggested that the NFL cooperated in a “sting operation” with the Colts against the Patriots, ESPN notes. Locker room attendant Jim McNally and equipment assistant John Jastremski were the ones that deflated the footballs.
Brady has led the Patriots to six Super Bowls and four championships, including last year. Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to fill in for Brady when the season starts.