Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady answers questions during a press conference on so-called Deflate-Gate on January 22, 2015. (Photo: AP)
The number of big NFL names publicly stating Tom Brady either knew or likely knew all but one of the footballs submitted by the New England Patriots were deflated, is growing.
Former Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward was among the first to throw out the claim, telling the Today show on Wednesday that the only people who knew about Deflategate were likely “Tom Brady and the ball boy.”
But Ward is a wide receiver, and with former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann characterizing the weight difference as “negligible,” and “not that big a deal,” perceived opinions remained split.
“You really have to push it to feel the difference in it. It’s negligible, as far as I’m concerned, I can’t see it. Maybe it feels a little softer to people.” He said media hype over the under-inflated footballs was “not a big deal. A rules violation, yes, but not that big a deal.”
Then, the first big quarterback name made a strong statement in contrast to Theismann.
“It’s obvious that Tom Brady had something to do with this,” former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman told KTCK-AM in Dallas Thursday. “For the balls to be deflated, that doesn’t happen unless the quarterback wants that to happen, I can assure you of that.”
Since that comment, more and more have drawn the same conclusion: While it most assuredly did not chance the outcome of the game, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is to blame for Deflate-Gate.
“That would have to be driven by the quarterback,” Hall of Fame coach John Madden said Wednesday on Sports Xchange. “That’s something that wouldn’t be driven by a coach or just the equipment guy. Nobody, not even the head coach, would do anything to a football unilaterally, such as adjust the amount of pressure in a ball, without the quarterback not knowing. It would have to be the quarterback’s idea.”
Under NFL rules, footballs must weigh at least 12.5 pounds per square inch (PSI). The NFL is expected to issue a ruling by the end of the week, but according to Brady, the league has yet to talk to him. Brady said as much Thursday during a press conference, when he defended himself against the charges.
“I didn’t alter the ball in any way,” Brady said. “I would never do anything outside of the rules of play.”
To be fair, none of the tested balls were even used during the second half of the game, which was complete and total domination by the New England Patriots. But to those who contend otherwise, including Ward, Aikman and Madding, all of whom made the statements they made prior to Brady’s presser, the issue isn’t that cut-and-dry.
“It’s cheating,” Ward said. “Regardless of how you may want to spin it. It helps Tom Brady, provides a better grip on the football, especially in bad weather conditions like rain.”
