The New England Patriots’ #Deflategate saga has all but come to a close and the final chapter has arrived with Tom Brady getting suspended.
A thorough investigation has concluded that the reigning Super Bowl-winning quarterback had knowledge that two of the organization’s equipment staffers purposefully deflated Brady’s footballs before this year’s AFC Championship Game to give him a throwing advantage.
The NFL released a statement regarding the shameless acts.
For the violation of the playing rules and the failure to cooperate in the subsequent investigation, the New England Patriots are fined $1 million and will forfeit the club’s first-round selection in the 2016 NFL Draft and the club’s fourth-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. If the Patriots have more than one selection in either of these rounds, the earlier selection shall be forfeited. The club may not trade or otherwise encumber these selections.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft advised Commissioner Roger Goodell last week that Patriots employees John Jastremski and James McNally have been indefinitely suspended without pay by the club, effective on May 6. Neither of these individuals may be reinstated without the prior approval of NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent. If they are reinstated by the Patriots, Jastremski is prohibited from having any role in the preparation, supervision, or handling of footballs to be used in NFL games during the 2015 season. McNally is barred from serving as a locker room attendant for the game officials, or having any involvement with the preparation, supervision, or handling of footballs or any other equipment on game day.
Quarterback Tom Brady will be suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2015 regular season for conduct detrimental to the integrity of the NFL. Brady may participate in all off-season, training camp and pre-season activities, including preseason games.
Sports fans worldwide released some statements of their own–in the form of Tom Brady memes, which you can laugh at in the gallery below.
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Photos: Twitter
