Tom Brady--Go Sit in the Corner!

Tom Brady

The big news today is that superstar quarterback and All American golden boy Tom Brady was suspended for four games by the National Football League for allegedly ordering his staff to prepare under-inflated footballs during the AFC Conference Finals.

The penalty is also costing his team, the New England Patriots, their 2016 #1 draft pick and a fourth round pick the following year, plus $1 million. The hue and cry in the press and social media world has been crazy. People are screaming that Brady got off easy while others are complaining that he's being picked on because he's so perfect and everyone is jealous of his beauty and success.

Since it seems that everyone's unhappy with the NFL's action, my guess is the penalty was just right. Besides, once the Brady penalty is appealed, an impartial arbitrator will probably cut the suspension in half (my guess).

So everyone has an opinion, I figure I'll offer mine. First, Brady's team has a history of cheating--see Spygate 2007, when New England got caught taping videos of opponents' practices, and many thought the Patriots go off easy in the penalty phase.

New England is also known for craftily stretching various rules, especially when designating eligible receivers on passing downs. Plus there's New England owner Robert Craft's cozy relationship with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. So many view Deflategate, as it has become known, as a test to see if the NFL is willing to bring the hammer down on the Patriots.

Apologists for Tom Brady insist that he's just being picked on because of who he is and the team he plays for. And it is true that once the balls in Deflategate were inflated to their proper psi in the second half of the AFC Championship, Brady managed to throw four touchdown passes as New Englande trounced Indianapolis. 

It seems to me that the suspension is sound, not only because it appears that Brady cheated and probably in some minor way sought an unfair advantage. But more important, his true offense, in my opinion, was his lack of cooperation with the NFL investigation, including his refusal to turn over emails and texts related to the incident.

I think Brady should have voluntarily submitted this information and the fact that he didn't indicates a superstar's arrogance and tacit admission of guilt. Sure, he had a legal right to limit his cooperation, but the NFL also has the right to suspend players if the evidence suggests serious rule violations. That's why, in this case, I think the NFL ruled appropriately.