NFL Suspends Tom Brady Four Games For Role In Deflategate

The Patriots were also fined $1 million and were stripped of two draft picks.

The NFL has suspended Tom Brady without pay for four games after determining that he was likely the driving force behind two Patriots attendants deflating footballs below league requirements.

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According to the release, the two locker room attendants who allegedly deflated the quarterback's footballs, John Jastremski and James McNally "have been indefinitely suspended without pay by the club."

The 243-page investigative report outlined increased correspondence between Brady and one of the attendants after news broke that the NFL would investigate the team. Prior to that, the two attendants had exchanged text messages in which McNally referred to himself as "the deflator."

The pair also made jokes about Brady, saying "fuck tom" and that "the only thing deflating [Sunday].. is his passing rating."

The integrity of the game is of paramount importance to everyone in our league, and requires unshakable commitment to fairness and compliance with the playing rules. Each player, no matter how accomplished and otherwise respected, has an obligation to comply with the rules and must be held accountable for his actions when those rules are violated and the public's confidence in the game is called into question.

Vincent also informed the Patriots that Spygate, the 2007 scandal in which the Patriots were found to have videotaped opponents, weighed into their decision to bring such intense sanctions against the team.

Brady did not turn over his cell phone to investigators, and Vincent says his refusal to cooperate fully was a factor in their decision.

Vincent says Brady was "offered extraordinary safeguards by the investigators to protect unrelated personal information. Although we do not hold the club directly responsible for Mr. Brady's refusal to cooperate, it remains significant that the quarterback of the team failed to cooperate fully with the investigation."

Though the investigation did not find evidence that head coach Bill Belichick or team owner Robert Kraft knew about the goings on of their attendants and quarterback, Vincent said "it remains a fundamental principle that the club is responsible for the actions of club employees."

Brady is nearly guaranteed to appeal his suspension. His backup is Jimmy Garoppolo. If the four game suspension is not overturned, he will return to the field in Week 5 against the Colts.

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