Patriots
“I’ll say it. I am pro deflating footballs. He outsmarted people.”
For all of the impressive accolades and championships that Tom Brady accumulated over the course of his legendary career, a vocal smattering of critics will continue to bring up “Deflategate” and Brady’s role in the onerous drama as a blemish on his legacy.
But don’t count former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce among those who still dredge up “Deflategate” as a strike against Brady’s sterling career on the gridiron.
On the contrary, Kelce defended Brady during the latest episode of his “New Heights” podcast this week — admitting that he’d also do whatever he could do to gain a slim advantage during a game, while also trivializing just how much impact a slight deflation in footballs would have on a game.
“I don’t even think Tom should have gotten in trouble for deflating footballs,” Kelce said. “I’m pro deflating footballs. I’ll say it. I’ll say it. I am pro deflating footballs. He outsmarted people. Why the (expletive) does it matter how much air is in that (expletive)? If you’re throwing it and catching it, who the (expletive) cares? … “We’re all mad because he had the common sense to (expletive) take a little air out so the receivers could catch the (expletive) thing?
“Why is that against the rules? Y’all could have taken the air out, too. You guys could have taken the air out, too. You just weren’t smart enough. So why am I getting penalized because you’re (expletive) dummies? It’s a rule, but it’s a stupid rule, though. … You’re taking away intelligence.”
Despite the year-long drama involving Brady, Roger Goodell, the NFL, and “Deflategate”, Brady earned the last laugh after getting hit with a four-game suspension before the 2016 season.
Brady went on to win three more Super Bowls between the Patriots (LI, LIII) and Buccaneers (LV) after that suspension — with the former QB even making fun of said punishment during his Netflix roast earlier this month.
“Remember Deflategate? The NFL spent 20 million dollars and found that it was ‘more probable than not’ that I was ‘generally aware’ that someone may have deflated my footballs,” Brady said during the Netflix special. “You could’ve just given me the 20 million and I would’ve just told you I (expletive) did it.”
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