Go Fund Me Aims To Pay Patriots' Deflategate Bill
By Christy Strawser
DETROIT (CBS Detroit) Poor Tom Brady. With a superstar sports career, a net worth of barely $120 million, a Brazilian supermodel wife, and a few cute kids, the University of Michigan grad really has it rough.
Thank God for the Internet.
Brady's fans have stepped in with a gofundme.com attempt to raise money to pay the fine the Boston Patriots incurred after Brady allegedly deflated footballs to gain an edge over his opponents. Brady was suspended four games by the NFL, the team was fined $1 million and lost two draft picks.
To help defray the fine for the team, estimated to be worth $2.6 billion, an ardent fan started a go fund me account asking people to contribute their own money to pay it on the Patriots' behalf.
So far, they've raised $13, 317.
The founder of the go fund me admits they probably won't reach $1 million, but says he believes "the fine is bulls**t and want(s) to help anyway we can."
He says whatever is donated will go to the New England Patriots to help with the fine. If the Patriots don't accept the money, he plans to distribute it across various charities, even of the Patriots' choosing.
The 953 donors so far have contributed amounts ranging from $5 to $100, many with notes supporting the team.
"The whole situation is ridiculous," Dean Edler writes. "BTW, after that game where the balls were changed out the Patriots went on to blow the other team off the field. So ask yourself, did the balls make a difference? Keep taking the high road, don't let those league azzclowns pull you down!
Lots of others on Twitter aren't taking it well, objecting to people wasting their money on people who already have more than enough.
I know Pats fans are angry over Tom Brady, but the Go Fund Me effort is awful. It's a multi-billion $ team. Give your money to charity.
— Tom Biersdorfer (@TomBiersdorfer) May 13, 2015
On the other side, there are plenty of people who feel the NFL is wrong and Brady is right. Michael Hurley of CBS Boston objected to the NFL's decision on the fine and suspension, writing "Roger Goodell and the NFL live in their own world — one where Brady can be issued an embarrassingly over-the-top punishment."
He added: "Ultimately, Brady will appeal the suspension, and he'll likely win."