Brady 'Disappointed' By Suspension Being Upheld, Explains His Side Of Destroyed Phone Controversy
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) – A day after the NFL upheld its 4-game suspension of Tom Brady, the quarterback took to social media to offer his side of the story.
As it stands, Brady will miss the first four games of the season, including the opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 10.
Le'Veon Bell will also miss the opener while he serves a suspension related to his arrest for possession of marijuana and DUI during a traffic stop last year. Bell had his suspension reduced from three games to two on Tuesday.
As for Brady, the four-game suspension stems from DeflateGate, in which he and the Patriots are accused of intentionally deflating footballs in the AFC title game.
Yesterday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell upheld the four-game suspension. In his decision, the commissioner claimed Brady directed that his cell phone be destroyed on or shortly before March 6, when Brady met with investigator Ted Wells.
Today, Brady responded on his Facebook page saying he is disappointed with suspension being upheld and offered his side about the phone controversy.
"I also disagree with yesterday's narrative surrounding my cellphone. I replaced my broken Samsung phone with a new iPhone 6 AFTER my attorneys made it clear to the NFL that my actual phone device would not be subjected to investigation under ANY circumstances. As a member of a union, I was under no obligation to set a new precedent going forward, nor was I made aware at any time during Mr. Wells investigation, that failing to subject my cell phone to investigation would result in ANY discipline," Brady said.
Brady, who turns 38 on Aug. 3, took nearly every snap last season. Unless the case goes to court. Jimmy Garoppolo, a second-round pick in 2014, would replace Brady, the two-time NFL MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP.
After the Week 1 matchup against the Steelers, New England goes to Buffalo, hosts Jacksonville, has a bye, and is at Dallas in the last game of Brady's suspension.
Steelers insider Ed Bouchette joined the "KDKA Morning News" to discuss the situation.
Bouchette thinks it will hurt Brady's long-term legacy slightly.
"Ben (Roethlisberger) was suspended for the first four games of 2010 and he's overcome that," he said. "[Brady] is going to be in the Hall of Fame."
Bouchette added that there will always be those who say he was a cheater.
Bouchette said that no matter what happens he will always be a hero in the Boston area
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