Deflategate report finds New England Patriots ‘likely guilty’ of deflating footballs
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Version 0 of 1. A report released Wednesday by investigator Ted Wells says that the New England Patriots are most likely guilty of illegally deflating air from footballs. Wells, an independent attorney hired by the National Football League, released a 246 page report claiming that longtime Patriots assistants Jim McNally and John Jastremski intentionally altered balls during the AFC Championship game against the Indiana Colts on January 18. The incident has become known as “deflategate”. The report claims that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was “generally aware” of the procedures in question. The documents also feature detailed texts from McNally and Jastremski, who discuss the routine of deflating balls.
Wells also hired a leading engineering firm to aid in the investigation. The firm found that the average air pressure in Patriots footballs was .45 to 1.02 pounds per square inch less than the Colts’ average pressure. League rules require that each team's football weigh between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds per square inch. A lighter ball may be easier to throw and catch. Patriots owner Robert Kraft immediately released a statement after the report was released. “While I respect the independent process of the investigation, the time, effort and resources expended to reach this conclusion are incomprehensible to me. Knowing that there is no real recourse available, fighting the league and extending this debate would prove to be futile. We understand and greatly respect the responsibility of being one of 32 in this league and, on that basis, we will accept the findings of the report and take the appropriate actions based on those findings as well as any discipline levied by the league,” Kraft said. The report found no evidence that Patriots coach Bill Belichick and team managers knew of the alleged practice, yet ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the NFL is “considering discipline” for Brady, McNally and Jastremski. |