[Eric 951]

The punishment is as much for the "lack of cooperation" during the investigation as anything, and although this ruse was caught during the Colts game, this has gone on for far longer.

Brady helped campaign for the ball rule change in 2006--where QBs have more control over the balls they use and hoe they can be conditioned--yet he admitted during an earlier press conference that he had no idea about the rules

Brady mentioned he had no idea who the equipment guy was--yet the guy worked for the Pats for years and there are multiple videos showing him tossing passes with Brady during warm-ups before games

This isn't the first time that teams have messes with the game balls and got caught--I remember the Vikes were using the sideline heaters to keep footballs warm--can't do that, I remember the Chargers using stick-um type substance on the towels which they wiped their game balls with--can't do that

Does anybody really believe that Brady had "no idea" about lower-level Pats employees doctoring the footballs beyond the rules--the footballs which he uses to earn a living and define a career??--Brady should have had his mea culpa moment--admitted the truth, probably received some minor fine, and the whole thing would have gone away--but his constant "no idea" routine has tarnished his "legacy" and reputation--he will always be remembered now for being both a cheat and a liar.