Deflategate: NFL Comes Down Hard On Brady, Patriots

Suspensions, fines, lost NFL Draft picks part of punishment

The NFL handed out punishment to the New England Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady for what's now become known as "Deflategate."

Anyone who thought the league would go easy on their model franchise and cover boy quarterback will be surprised at the severity of the penalty.

Brady has been suspended for the first four games in the 2015 season for violating the NFL's integrity of the game policy. He'll lose about $2 million in salary during the suspension, which could be reduced upon appeal.

The recently released Wells Report ruled Brady most likely took part in circumventing the rules when he had members of the organization, Jim McNally and John Jastremski, conspire to release air pressure from game balls to illegal levels after they were inspected by NFL officials. McNally and Jastremsky have been suspended indefinitely from football operations.

 
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The team has been fined $1 million and loses a pair of NFL Draft picks: their 1st round selection in 2016 and their 4th round pick in 2017, even though the Wells Report came to the conclusion that the Patriots coaches, staff and ownership most likely did not know their quarterback was up to.

The severity of the punishments was increased for a couple of factors, both having to do with honesty. The NFL did take 2007's SpyGate scandal in to account when deciding on the $1 million fine. The league also considered the fact Brady did not cooperate with Wells Report investigators, refusing to hand over his cell phone.

Brady will miss the season-opener against the Steelers on Thursday, September 10th, the annual kick off special honoring the reigning Super Bowl champions. He'll also be banned from a road game against the Bills, a home game against the Jaguars and a road game against the Cowboys.

Interestingly, Brady's first game back will be against the Colts, the team that contacted the NFL to start the investigation in the first place during last season's AFC Championship game. That game will be in Indianapolis on NBC's Sunday Night Football.

Patriots backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who was drafted in 2014 from Eastern Illinois, will likely get the call to start the first four games while Brady is out.

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