There’s one man responsible for DeflateGate and that man is Tom Brady, according to John Madden.
The Hall of Fame coach has his own theory about the latest scandal surrounding the New England Patriots, and he’s pointing a finger at their quarterback. While some have been quick to blame Bill Belichick in the wake of reports that the NFL found 11 of the 12 Pats’ game balls from the AFC Championship Game to be under-inflated, Madden says Brady should be the main suspect.
“That would have to be driven by the quarterback,” Madden told The Sports Xchange on Wednesday, per Pro Football Talk. “That’s something that wouldn’t be driven by a coach or just the equipment guy. Nobody, not even the head coach, would do anything to a football unilaterally, such as adjust the amount of pressure in a ball, without the quarterback not knowing. It would have to be the quarterback’s idea.”
Let’s face it. Knowing how particular quarterbacks across the league are regarding their game balls, an equipment staffer or ball boy likely wouldn’t dare mess with any of the footballs without Brady’s knowledge or consent.
Brady laughed off the accusations earlier in the week, calling the claims “ridiculous,” but Madden isn’t buying it.
“He is the effected,” Madden said. “He is the only guy. I heard some of the pundits saying the ball is easier to catch, but that would never, ever, ever be done for that unless the quarterback wanted it. You wouldn’t do something for a receiver to catch the ball if the quarterback couldn’t throw it. So it’s going to be done for the quarterback.”
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
