“Deflategate” was a 2015 scandal involving the New England Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady, in which the team was accused of intentionally deflating footballs to gain an advantage in the 2014 AFC Championship Game. The highly controversial incident resulted in Brady being suspended for four games, the Patriots being fined $1 million, and losing a draft pick.
What happened: The allegations began after the Indianapolis Colts discovered the Patriots’ footballs were over-inflated in the 2014 AFC Championship Game.
What happened:
A 253-page report from the league was released, alleging Brady may have known about the game’s circumstances.
Brady smashed his cell phone before turning it over to NFL investigators, further raising suspicions.
This led to a lengthy legal battle.
The aftermath:
Brady was suspended for four games during the 2016 season.
The Patriots were fined $1 million and lost two first- and fourth-round draft picks.
The aftermath:
Brady and the Patriots denied any involvement in any conspiracy.
Brady’s suspension was initially overturned, then reinstated, and he eventually agreed to serve it.
The case was eventually settled after years of investigation and legal wrangling.
The New England Patriots are once again embroiled in a controversy over whether they cheated.
The Patriots were found to have had an advanced scout and film crew at the Cincinnati Bengals Week 14 game. The Patriots said they were filming a team show called “Do Your Job” and that not informing the Bengals and NFL was an “oversight.” According to a report, however, the footage included the Bengals sideline. The details are similar to those from “Spygate,” and the NFL is now investigating.
It’s not the Patriots’ first brush up against the NFL rule book. Over the last 20 years, the Patriots have been accused of bending the rules. In some cases, like “Spygate,” it was pretty certain that they broke the rules. In other cases, like “Deflategate,” it was unclear how involved they were. Many of the other accusations against them have come from paranoid teams.
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