THE NFL ON Monday suspended New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for four games without pay over the “Deflategate” scandal after an investigation found he probably was aware of ball tampering in a key playoff game.
The National Football League also fined the Patriots $1 million and stripped the Super Bowl champions of both their 2016 first round draft pick and the 2017 fourth round draft pick.
“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.
“Brady may participate in all offseason, training camp and pre-season activities, including pre-season games.”
An NFL investigation found last week that it was “more probable than not” that Patriots employees had conspired to deflate balls in the team’s AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts, which they won 45-7.
That probe also found that Brady — who went on to lead the Patriots to a Super Bowl victory over the Seattle Seahawks — was “at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities.”
“We reached these decisions after extensive discussion,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in Monday’s suspension announcement.
“We relied on the critical importance of protecting the integrity of the game and the thoroughness and independence of the Wells report,” he added, referring to the investigation findings.
– First published 23.43, 11 May
Time for Irish fans to get a grip and stop letting pride get in the way of having players who are capable in the squad no matter what happened in the past.We have a small enough pool of players as it is and cannot afford to cast aside guys who fell out with previous managers. Stop reading rubbish in rag papers that say he did this or that….If he is playing well at premiership level he should be called up if he wants to make a return.
He might be a bit mad, but he is a class footballer, I rather see him in the centre of the park instead of current collection of Donkeys.
He selfishly let us down before..anyway he’s not as good as he was
What he did in the past was wrong but to be honest, its time for everyone to move on. Clean slate and all that.
his gf had a misacarriage I think most of us would sacrifice kicking a bit of leather about for our loved ones
While i wouldn’t rule him out, necessarily, A goal against tramere hardly proves a whole lot. I’d be more concerned why a succession of managers have sold him on.
Not the first player to have a lot of moves, Robbie Keane had his fair share of them. think it’s down to his form hasn’t been the best in the last few years as opposed to him being a disruptive or negative influence. Stoke could give him a new lease of life that he needs
I’d have to agree with mister red thumbs.Only reason he wants back in the Ireland squad is to get a look in at club level.The only reason he started today was due to the opposition stoke were playing against.Pardon my French but he’s a little rat snake bastard who wasn’t willing to play for his country when his country needed him.Bring him back,but only to rot on the bench
Why take up a space on the bench so clown
He’s a premier league player, we havnt lots a them! Get him back in and see what he’s capable of