Tom Brady has defended himself against accusations of wrongdoing in the deflated football scandal that has plagued his New England Patriots team for over six months.
In a Facebook post Wednesday morning, the Patriots quarterback says he was “very disappointed†by the league’s decision to uphold a four-game suspension against him in the “Deflategate†saga.
“I did nothing wrong, and no one in the Patriots organization did either,†Brady wrote.
The post was liked nearly 146,000 times and shared more than 43,000 times by Wednesday morning.
Brady was suspended for four games and the team was docked $1 million and two draft picks after against the Indianapolis Colts.
Team owner Robert Kraft opened training camp Wednesday by saying he continues to “believe and unequivocally support†the three-time Super Bowl MVP.
“I was wrong to put my faith in the league,†Kraft said.
Taking the podium a day after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell upheld Brady’s four-game suspension, Kraft angrily targeted the league for its handling of the case.
“The decision handed down by the league yesterday is unfathomable to me,†he said. “I have come to the conclusion that this was never about doing what was fair and just.â€
In May, the league said two Patriot staff members — locker room attendant Jim McNally and equipment assistant John Jastremski — deliberately released air from game balls, and that .
In his 20-page decision, Goodell said Brady “participated in a scheme to tamper†with game balls, and “willfully obstructed†the investigation into the issue, the Associated Press reported. This included Brady allegedly destroying his cell phone.
In his statement, Brady said he replaced his Samsung phone only after his lawyers told him it would not be subjected to an investigation. He also said he cooperated with the probe by turning over cell phone and e-mail records.
“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 (the) investigation, that failing to subject my cell phone to investigation would result in ANY discipline,†Brady wrote.
“Most importantly, I have never written, texted, emailed to anybody at anytime, anything related to football air pressure before this issue was raised at the AFC Championship game in January. To suggest that I destroyed a phone to avoid giving the NFL information it requested is completely wrong.â€
The NFL Players Association called the league’s decision “outrageous†and said it would .
The NFLPA will also ask a federal court to rule before the Patriots’ Sept. 10 opener, or grant an injunction that would allow Brady to play until a decision is made, AP reported.
“I look forward to the opportunity to resume playing with my teammates and winning more games for the New England Patriots,†Brady wrote.
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