NFL quarterback Tom Brady Jr. (Photo : Reuters)
After weeks of waiting for its final decision on the tampering scandal involving Tom Brady, the National Football League has finally released its verdict. The league is upholding its initial findings and will implement a four-game suspension against the New England Patriots quarterback for his involvement in the "Deflategate" scandal.
In a 20-page official decision released to the public via NFL.com, Commisioner Roger Goodell believes there is enough evidence to prove that Brady did have the footballs he used during the 2015 AFC Championship deflated. The Patriots won the match against the Indianapolis Colts, 46-7, to move on to the Super Bowl.
"In light of the new evidence introduced at the hearing-evidence demonstrating that he arranged for the destruction of potentially relevant evidence that had ben specifically requested by the investigators-my findings and conclusions have not changed in a manner that would benefit Mr. Brady," Goodell wrote in his decision.
While the commissioner acknowledged the accomplishments and contributions Brady has to the league, he revealed that "Mr. Brady engaged in conduct detrimental to the integrity of, and public confidence in, the game of professional football."
As for the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), they believe the decision doesn't address "legal deficiencies of due process".
"The fact that the NFL would resort to basing a suspension on a smoke screen of irrelevant text messages instead of admitting that they have all of the phone records they asked for is a new low, even for them, but it does nothing to correct their errors.
The NFLPA will appeal this outrageous decision on behalf of Tom Brady," NFLPA's official statement read.
Brady will serve his four game suspension starting September 10, 2015, when the Patriots face their first opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
