Tom Brady's agent issues response to Ted Wells Report

nfl.com ^ | 5/7/15 | Conor Orr

[BerniesFriend]

Wednesday's release of the Ted Wells Report brought with it a conclusion that it was "more probable than not" that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was "at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities" regarding the deflation of Patriots game balls.

Brady's agent, Don Yee, issued a response Thursday, obtained by NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport.

"The Wells report, with all due respect, is a significant and terrible disappointment. It's omission of key facts and lines of inquiry suggest the investigators reached a conclusion first, and then determined so-called facts later. One item alone taints this entire report. What does it say about the league office's protocols and ethics when it allows one team to tip it off to an issue prior to a championship game, and no league officials or game officials notified the Patriots of the same issue prior to the game? This suggests it may be more probable than not that the league cooperated with the Colts in perpetrating a sting operation. The Wells report buries this issue in a footnote on page 46 without any further elaboration. The league is a significant client of the investigators' law firm; it appears to be a rich source of billings and media exposure based on content in the law firm's website.

"This was not an independent investigation and the contents of the report bear that out --- all one has to do is read closely and critically, as opposed to simply reading headlines. The investigators' assumptions and inferences are easily debunked or subject to multiple interpretations. Much of the report's vulnerabilities are buried in the footnotes, which is a common legal writing tactic. It is a sad day for the league as it has abdicated the resolution of football-specific issues to people who don't understand the context or culture of the sport. I was physically present for my client's interview. I have verbatim notes of the interview. Tom made himself available for nearly an entire day and patiently answered every question. It was clear to me the investigators had limited understanding of professional football. For reasons unknown, the Wells report omitted nearly all of Tom's testimony, most of which was critical because it would have provided this report with the context that it lacks. Mr. Wells promised back in January to share the results of this investigation publicly, so why not follow through and make public all of the information gathered and let the public draw its own conclusions? This report contains significant and tragic flaws, and it is common knowledge in the legal industry that reports like this generally are written for the benefit of the purchaser."

A league spokesman declined to comment when reached by NFL Media.

Yee's response follows a statement from Patriots owner Robert Kraft on Wednesday

[BerniesFriend]

I am torn by this. On one hand, as a Saints fan, I have seen goodell and the nfl have a verdict and then come up with an investigation, (bounty ball, which evidence later showed didn't really happen like the nfl said it did.) Saints lost high draft picks and head coach Sean Payton was suspended for an entire year..and when goodell suspended Payton, he said that ignorance is no excuse..you are the head coach and you should have full control of your team..however, on the other hand, I do believe the Pats cheated on this one..I know the report cleared Pats head coach Belichik, but using goodell's own words, ignorance is no excuse..maybe they lose a first round pick and maybe Brady is suspended a few games, but we'll wait and see...

[Scrambler Bob]

Local news said suspended up to a year.

But that is the news (from vacant minds).

[PTBAA]

Tom’s been “Menendezed” for “dissing” our would-be Emperor (not showing up at the White House Superbowl photo-op).

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I”m not a professional quarterback, although I often critique them as if I am.....however I look at it like this: A QB at that level KNOWS the feel of that ball - it is his instrument - a musician would know if something was off with his instrument, a surgeon would know if something wasn't right with his scalpel, a mechanic would know if something was wrong with his tools..... it is just completely unbelievable to me that Brady didn't know those balls were under inflated. Of course the liberals in NE won't believe he is guilty, they think obam is the best pres ever

[BeadCounter]

Whatever happens, perhaps there is an appeals process as well.

I don’t care deeply about this except it’s a bit of a show, we will see.

[AppyPappy]

he may know the feel of the ball but may not be responsible for the feel of the ball.

If Brady had gone to the White House, he wouldn’t be under investigation.

[Eddie01]

I DON’T CARE.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"Local news said suspended up to a year."

He's the face of the NFL. There's no way they suspend him for a year. I'm guessing that if it's as damning as it initially appears to be, then he gets 4 games. Goodell has a conundrum on his hands, using his own words in suspending Sean Payton, he will have to suspend Bellicheck no matter if the report clears him or not. The Saints as well as other teams will demand it IMO.

On another note, is it me is it highly coincidental that this report comes out AFTER the NFL draft is completed...

[McGruff]

What do they pay this guy for if he can't tell a ball is deflated or not?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"more probable than not"
"at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities"

Behold, a new standard for determining guilt or innocence.

Does this report present any evidence to support these claims?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

If Brady had gone to the White House, he wouldn’t be under investigation.

He and the Patriots organization was under investigation for this ball thing way before the WH visit thing.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Hasn’t some underling already taken the blame for the balls? Tom is the QB, the leader of the team - he is still responsible - if the balls were VERY underinflated, to the point of harming his game, you can bet he would have changed the ball...so why let him off the hook just because it was minor yet helped his game?

[ColdOne]

That is what I have been wondering all along. Don’t they hold the ball as much or more than the QB? Wouldn’t they know if it felt different.

[cherry]

the Seahawks just took a draft pick that beat up his fiancé in a hotel room, and the nfl says nothing...

the nfl is is nothing more than a political cult and it picks and chooses winners and losers and they'll make all kinds of excuses why...

Brady will not be suspended....they have absolutely no proof per his lawyer and believe me, they'll protect Brady with a million dollar at least effort...

professional sports are just as political as any entity in this country...

[CincyRichieRich]

Well, not being a smart alec, but Pam Geller, 0bama destroying the country, doing homeland takeover military ops, and that stuff, I’m gonna stay focused on. When we are distracted they usually do more damage.

[Hatteras]

"What does it say about the league office's protocols and ethics when it allows one team to tip it off to an issue prior to a championship game, and no league officials or game officials notified the Patriots of the same issue prior to the game? This suggests it may be more probable than not that the league cooperated with the Colts in perpetrating a sting operation."

HAHA! Obviously Brady is not quite the conservative he's been reported to be. It's not our fault! They could have stopped us from breaking the rules but they didn't! It's the NFL and the Colts' fault! Da B-I-ITCH set me up!!! How embarrassing for FReeper Pats' fans...

[painter]

Tom’s been “Menendezed” for “dissing” our would-be Emperor (not showing up at the White House Superbowl photo-op).

I'm thinking the same thing.

[mmichaels1970]

Does this report present any evidence to support these claims?

The inflation WAS intentional. They've got very good evidence for that which they got from the locker room attendants. The question is whether Brady knew. Brady, for his part, refused to turn over any of his messages to the NFL. The fact that the "deflators" received gifts from Brady and mention discussions with Brady in their text messages is enough for me.

The NFL is not a court of law, so "beyond a reasonable doubt" doesn't necessarily have to apply here. I haven't read the entire report and have only read summaries, but at first glance it appears the "preponderance" of evidence suggests that Brady knew what was going on.

Here is a decent summary from Profootballtalk.

The first exchange was after an Oct. 17, 2014 game against the Jets when Brady complained about the pressure of the balls.

Jastremski wrote “Tom sucks. im going make that next ball a f—in balloon.”

McNally replied: “Talked to him last night. He actually brought you up and said you must have a lot of stress trying to get them done…”

McNally, apparently not a fan of Brady’s (or at least his level of attention of air pressure) made several references to pumping the balls up to “watermleon” or “rugby” size, since Brady preferred softer ones for better control.

Prior to the next game, McNally wrote: “The only thing deflating sun..is his passing rating.”

There was then a discussion of McNally receiving free shoes and gear, and prior to the Jan. 10 game against the Ravens, the two of them were in the equipment room with Brady when McNally “received two footballs autographed by Brady and also had Brady autograph a game-worn Patriots jersey that McNally previously had obtained.”

McNally later referred to himself as “the deflator,” and chided Jastremski by saying “im not going to espn……..yet.”

Those exchanges make it hard to imagine Brady had no knowledge of what’s going on, which he’ll need to answer for later.

[AppyPappy]

You are blaming him based on speculation, not facts.
Maybe Brady killed Anna Nicole Smith. Can you prove he didn’t kill her?

[Sans-Culotte]

Local news said suspended up to a year.

I don't see how anyone can be suspended after such a wussy report that didn't come to a definite conclusion. How do you punish someone who "maybe, kinda, sorta, probably, but we can't say for certain" did something?