The NFL released the Ted Wells report Wednesday, after taking several months to investigate the question of whether the Patriots were guilty of intentionally deflating game balls. The verdict was that it was “more probable than not” that the Patriots were involved in a deliberate attempt to circumvent the rules. The rules being that the game balls must be inflated between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds per square inch.
In particular, quarterback Tom Brady was singled out in the report as being aware of inappropriate activities.
Per the report:
“[W]e have concluded that it is more probable than not that Jim McNally (the Officials Locker Room attendant for the Patriots) and John Jastremski (an equipment assistant for the Patriots) participated in a deliberate effort to release air from Patriots game balls after the balls were examined by the referee. Based on the evidence, it also is our view that it is more probable than not that Tom Brady (the quarterback for the Patriots) was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities of McNally and Jastremski involving the release of air from Patriots game balls.”
The report goes on to conclude that there was no deliberate attempt by the Patriots to introduce a non-approved kicking ball during January’s AFC championship game against the Colts.
Perhaps more surprisingly, the report clears head coach Bill Belichick, who was once fined and docked a first-round draft pick for spying on an opponent’s signals, of any knowledge of wrongdoing. “We do not believe there was any wrongdoing or knowledge of wrongdoing by Patriots ownership, Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick or any other Patriots coach in the matters investigated.”
