No Further DeflateGate Punishment For Patriots Employees From NFL
BOSTON (CBS) -- The NFL will not further discipline two Patriots employees at the center of the DeflateGate controversy, and they may soon be cleared to rejoin the team.
The Boston Globe confirmed Monday that the NFL will not seek further punishment of John Jastremski and Jim McNally, the two Patriots employees accused of deflating footballs prior to the AFC Championship game in January. The story was first reported by Pro Football Talk Sunday afternoon.
Jastremski, an assistant equipment manager, and McNally, a game day employee, were suspended in May following Ted Wells' investigation and report of DeflateGate, which concluded they "more likely than not" tampered with the footballs, and that Tom Brady was "generally aware" of what was going on. The Patriots were fined $1 million and lost a pair of draft picks. Brady was suspended four games, which was later thrown out in federal court.
Jastremski and McNally will now meet with Troy Vincent, the NFL executive vice president of football operations, this week to discuss their future with the team. A Patriots representative will be present at that meeting, according to the Globe, which will determine whether or not they can rejoin the team in some capacity.
The two cannot be reinstated without Vincent's approval.
If they are allowed to rejoin the Patriots, Jastremski is prohibited from having a role in the preparation, supervision or handling of footballs, and McNally can no longer serve as a locker room attendant for game officials, or have any involvement in the handling of footballs or equipment on game day, as part of the punishment they received back in May.