4:49 p.m.: After a news conference that went on far, far too long, Tom Brady finally walks off the stage.
Stay tuned for full coverage of Brady’s comments on NESN.com/patriots.
4:48 p.m.: Brady says the equipment staff told him they did not alter the footballs after the official check, and that he believes them.
4:47 p.m.: Brady puts this whole mess into perspective:
“This isn’t ISIS. Nobody is dying.”
4:40 p.m.: Brady say he didn’t feel any difference between the footballs used in the first half and the second half.
4:36 p.m.: Brady says NFL investigators have not yet spoken to him.
4:35 p.m.: A reporter ask whether he would like to apologize to the fans. He declines.
4:33 p.m.: When asked whether he believes the Patriots had an unfair advantage over the Colts, Brady says he believes his team “won the game fair and square.”
4:31 p.m.: Brady: “This is a very serious topic. Obviously, integrity of the sport is very important.”
4:30 p.m.: When asked whether he believes someone should be held accountable if proof of wrongdoing is found, Brady says he’s “not the one who imposes that type of accountability and discipline. … That’s not my job.”
4:25 p.m.: Brady says he has “no knowledge of any wrongdoing. I’m very comfortable in saying that.”
He also adds that he prefers his footballs to be inflated to 12.5 PSI (the league’s minimum requirement).
4:24 p.m.: Brady says he “didn’t think twice” about the swapping out of footballs at halftime.
4:23 p.m.: Brady compares how he breaks in footballs to breaking in a baseball glove. Says he likes to feel comfortable with all of his equipment.
4:21 p.m.: Is Tom Brady a cheater?
“I don’t believe so. I feel like I’ve always played within the rules.”
He added that he was surprised as anyone to hear about “DeflateGate.”
4:19 p.m.: Brady said he “(doesn’t) alter the balls in any way” and didn’t think any of it after Sunday’s game.
4:18 p.m.: Tom Brady has arrived at the podium. His first statement is that he’d much rather be talking about the Seahawks.
3:30 p.m. ET: Bill Belichick already gave reporters his take on the “DeflateGate” scandal.
Now, it’s his quarterback’s turn.
Tom Brady is set to address the media shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday. He originally was not scheduled to speak until Friday.
As if reports of the Patriots using under-inflated footballs during the first half of their win over the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday wasn’t a popular enough topic of discussion for Brady’s presser, Belichick specifically told media members to direct questions about Brady’s football inflation preferences to the quarterback himself.
We’ll be bringing you live updates from the news conference as soon as it begins.
Photo via Charles Krupa/Associated Press
