|
 NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league would consider
possible disciplinary action and what rules, if any, need to be
changed.
"At the same time, we will continue our efforts vigorously to
protect the integrity of the game," he said.
A 243-page report was released by Ted Wells, an attorney hired by
the league to investigate allegations that the Patriots purposely
deflated the balls used in their 45-7 victory over the Indianapolis
Colts.
"We have concluded that, in connection with the AFC Championship
Game, it is more probable than not that New England Patriots
personnel participated in violations of the playing rules and were
involved in a deliberate effort to circumvent the rules," the report
said.
The report also concluded that Brady, a four-time Super Bowl
champion and future Hall of Famer, "was at least generally aware" of
the arrangement. Brady has previously denied knowledge about the
underinflated balls in a scandal known as Deflategate.
Patriots CEO Robert Kraft said he does not agree with the report's
findings but would not challenge them.
"While I respect the independent process of the investigation, the
time, effort and resources expended to reach this conclusion are
incomprehensible to me," Kraft said. "Knowing that there is no real
recourse available, fighting the league and extending this debate
would prove to be futile."
After routing the Colts in the AFC championship, the Patriots
defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 28-24, in the Super Bowl, a feat many
believe was tarnished by the scandal.
[to top of second column] |
The NFL has rules on the minimum amount of air that must be in
footballs and many believe underinflating them would give a
quarterback an advantage in gripping the ball, especially during the
chilly conditions like those in the AFC title game.
Jim McNally, a locker room attendant for the Patriots, and John
Jastremski, an equipment assistant, likely participated in the plan
to release air from the balls after they were examined by the
referee, the report concluded.
"To say we are disappointed in (the report's) findings, which do not
include any incontrovertible or hard evidence of deliberate
deflation of footballs at the AFC championship game, would be a
gross understatement," Kraft said.
(Reporting by Steve Ginsburg; Editing by Susan Heavey and Bill
Trott)
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