The report from Ted Wells regarding the Deflategate investigation surrounding the Patriots garners front-page coverage and attention from morning and evening news shows.
ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel: “It's 243 pages long, might be the longest document ever dedicated to balls. ... The commissioner of the NFL, Roger Goodell, said, ‘The league will consider disciplinary action.’ I think what he should do, because a fine doesn't really matter, he should force the Patriots to play next season with a completely deflated ball, just one with nothing in it." Kimmel on Patriots QB Tom Brady: "This is a good lesson for kids. Kids, if you cheat, if you don't play fair, you will be the MVP of the Super Bowl and marry one of the most beautiful women on Earth” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 5/6).
CBS’ David Letterman: “The big report is in. It turns out now, yes in fact, Patriots knew all about the fact that the balls were being deflated. Listen to this: They're going to replay the Super Bowl Sunday. Get there early. Here's what worries me about this ruling, the study from the NFL. Here's what I'm most concerned about: God, I just hope that this doesn't change Bill Belichick's happy-go-lucky attitude towards the press” (“Late Show,” CBS, 5/6).
Boston Herald A1, “It Is Part Of The Tom Brady Story Now. Today, Tomorrow, Forever” … Boston Globe above the fold, “NFL Implicates Brady” ... N.Y. Daily News A1, “Great Balls Of Liar” … N.Y. Post front page, “NFL Probe Has Brady By The Balls” … USA Today above the fold, “NFL Must Suspend Patriots QB Brady” … Wall Street Journal below the fold, “Deflating A Super Bowl Hero.”
Last night’s ABC, CBS and NBC nightly news broadcasts and this morning’s “GMA,” “CBS This Morning” and “Today” all led with the ongoing dangerous tornados in the Midwest, followed by the release of the Wells report. Each broadcast teased the report in their openings, with “World News” using the headline “Brady Bombshell,” “Nightly News” airing “Letting The Air Out,” “Today” airing “Deflated Legacy?”, “CBS This Morning” using “Brady Takes A Hit” and “GMA” using “Super Cheat?” NBC Sports’ Bob Costas appeared on “Nightly News” via telephone, ABC’s Jesse Palmer appeared on “World News” and ABC’s Dan Abrams appeared on “GMA,” while N.Y. Times’ William Rhoden appeared on “CBS This Morning” and SI’s Peter King appeared on “Today” live in-studio.
For a look at the Wells Report and possible punishment for Tom Brady and the Patriots, see more in today's issue of THE DAILY.
