New England Patriots QB Tom Brady was suspended by the NFL for four games on Monday
Investing.com -- The National Football League on Monday suspended Tom Brady for the first four regular season games of the 2015 season and docked the New England Patriots their first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft in connection with the team's role in the Deflategate scandal during last season's AFC Championship Game.
In addition, the league fined the Patriots $1 million and took away the team's fourth-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. Last week, NFL independent investigator Ted Wells issued a report establishing that the footballs used by the Patriots in a 45-7 win over the Colts were inflated at a level that did not satisfy the standard set forth in the NFL's Official Playing Rules and the condition of the footballs resulted from "deliberate actions" by employees of the Patriots.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement that the league came to a decision after extensive discussion with NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent and many others.
“We relied on the critical importance of protecting the integrity of the game and the thoroughness and independence of the Wells report.” Goodell said in a statement.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft informed the NFL league office last week that employees John Jastremski and James McNally had been suspended indefinitely by the club without pay. Neither Jastremski, nor McNally will be reinstated without prior approval from Vincent, the NFL said.
Brady, a two-time NFL MVP and reigning Super Bowl MVP, will miss the first four regular season games of the season for conduct detrimental to the integrity of the NFL. During a four-month investigation, Wells concluded, "it is more probable than not that Brady likely knew the balls were deflated."
The suspension covers the Patriots' regular season opener against Pittsburgh, a Week 2 matchup at Buffalo, a Week 3 tilt against Jacksonville and a Week 5 showdown at Dallas.
Brady is expected to return in Week 6 in a prime-time matchup at Indianapolis.