Skip Bayless always seems to have Tom Brady’s back, so it’s no wonder the polarizing ESPN personality rushed to TB12’s defense Monday after it was announced that the U.S. Court of Appeals had reinstated the New England Patriots quarterback’s four-game suspension related to Deflategate.
Bayless sent out a series of tweets Monday in which he criticized the NFL for its handling of the underinflated football scandal. Basically, Bayless believes Brady was the fall guy in Deflategate.
It's a sad day when the NFL is again allowed to exercise its court influence and railroad Tom Brady into taking fall for Patriots.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 25, 2016
I still do not believe Brady had any knowledge of deflated balls. Maybe someone else in org knew but I DON'T BELIEVE HE CHEATED AND LIED.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 25, 2016
NFL wanted to punish Pats for history of cheating and chose to tarnish the reputation of maybe greatest QB ever, at age 38, to do so.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 25, 2016
You can't fight City Hall. Brady beat City Hall in round one, then NFL flexed its muscle and perhaps called in favors, pulled strings.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 25, 2016
While it would be extremely expensive and time consuming, I'd love to see Tom Brady fight this all the way to the Supreme Court.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 25, 2016
Oh, well, at least Brady at 39 now has even more motivation to take it out on the NFL next season. Would be justice if Jimmy G went 3-1.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 25, 2016
Bayless doubled down on his stance Tuesday while discussing Brady’s reinstated suspension with co-host Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s “First Take.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtfEILIaSN4
“Can we just call this what it is? The NFL clearly, Roger Goodell wanted to get even with the New England Patriots for their history of cheating,” Bayless said. ” ‘How dare them deflate the footballs post-Spygate?’ And they felt a little bit under fire for how they didn’t handle Spygate, so they said, ‘Somebody’s got to go down.’ So they framed Tom Brady.
“They railroaded Brady. He was 38 years of age. They just said, ‘Hey, OK, so one legacy’s lost for the good of the league. Let’s just tarnish his legacy.’ That’s just beautiful.”
ESPN announced Tuesday that Bayless will be leaving the network this summer when his contract expires, so enjoy the hot takes while you can, though it’s unlikely his stance on Brady will change even if he joins FOX Sports, as is being reported.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images