After almost 2 years, and 19 trillion sports radio segments, Deflategate. Is. Finally. Over. Today, Tom Brady announced via Facebook that he will no longer continue his legal appeal of his four game suspension for deflating footballs. Brady posted, “It has been a challenging 18 months and I have made the difficult decision to no longer proceed with the legal process.”
Patriots CEO Robert Kraft issued a statement expressing his disappointment in the outcome of the ordeal.
“While I was disappointed with the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision not to rehear Tom Brady’s case, I am most frustrated that Tom was denied his right to a fair and partial process.”
With Deflategate mercifully in the rear view mirror, Jason and Colin were asked whether the timing was right for Brady to finally drop the appeal. Colin has been sick of it for months and thinks Brady should have moved on a lot sooner.
“No. It should have been months ago.This thing has transitioned from a team issue, to a Tom issue. And he’s one of the least selfish superstars in the history of this league. He’s taken pay cuts. He’s been a great teammate. Randy Moss was let go, still, to this day, won’t say a bad word. It was overwhelming the team.”
Jason disagreed. He believes Brady’s timing is perfect, and that his campaign to fight the suspension was worth it because he won over the hearts and minds of a portion of the doubting public.
“I do think this is the right time, and I do think he made the right move fighting it as long as he did. He moved the narrative. I think he made people like me reconsider, and say, ‘Well hold on, they really don’t have anything on him, and this was an unfair process.’
Brady will return in Week 5 to unleash the fury of the Seven Gates of Hell upon the often victimized Cleveland Browns.
“He’s one of the least selfish Superstars in the history of this league.” @ColinCowherd on Brady ending Deflategate.https://t.co/e8xe27G4eV
— Speak For Yourself (@SFY) July 15, 2016