Ted Wells, the NFL-appointed attorney who investigated New England's "Deflate Gate" scandal, concluded that it was "more probable than not" that the Patriots deliberately deflated footballs during the AFC title game in January and that star quarterback Tom Brady was "at least generally aware" of it.
Well, diving into the 243-page Wells' Report—especially its text-message exchanges involving Jim McNally (the Patriots' officials locker room attendant) and John Jastremski (the Pats' equipment assistant)—shows that Brady was probably more than "generally aware" of it.
The exchanges show that he was orchestrating Deflate Gate.
Sifting through the Wells' Report, we think these are the most damaging text-message exchanges of all. (Note: 'Bird' is McNally).
The day after the Patriots played a Thursday Night Football game against the New York Jets, McNally and Jastremski had this exchange, clearly about changing the football's air pressure.
Jastremski even says he talked to Brady following the game.
Be warned: The texts included here contain some NSFW language.
McNally tells Jastremski to add air to the balls before the Pats' game against the Chicago Bears later that week.
McNally seems to refer to courtside tickets from Brady in exchange for getting the balls deflated. He also adds that Brady probably put a pair of new Uggs by his locker room.
A day after the Patriots won the AFC title game, stamped their ticket to the Super Bowl and "Deflate Gate" rumors just started...Brady checks on Jastremski.
Jastremski warns Brady about more questioning.
Brady invites Jastremski for private conversation.
Jastremski and Brady have multiple phone calls.
Again, Brady checks on Jastremski.
Between the pay-off gift references, blatant talks about air pressure in footballs and conversations after "Deflate Gate" hit the fan...this is all pretty damaging stuff for Brady. The NFL vowed Wednesday that it would be making its discipline ruling soon. Would at least a four-game suspension without pay and an additional fine be justified here?
While that remains to be seen, Brady is still maintaining his innocence.
"The Wells report, with all due respect, is a significant and terrible disappointment," Brady's agent Don Yee told TMZ Sports on Thursday. "It's omission of key facts and lines of inquiry suggest the investigators reached a conclusion first, and then determined so-called facts later."
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