Patriots QB Tom Brady on Thursday spoke at Salem State Univ., and said he has not "had much time to digest" the Wells Report, according to Shalise Manza Young of the BOSTON GLOBE. Brady: "When I do, I'll be sure to let you know how I feel about it." Young notes Brady had "committed to the speaking engagement several weeks ago, and it sold out in 20 minutes." There were "no fewer than nine television trucks, and Salem State allowed the first 10 minutes of the event to be broadcast before cutting off the feed." Asked when he would speak to the report, Brady said, "I'm involved in that process, so whatever happens, it happens, and I'll certainly be very comfortable in how I feel about the statements I make" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/8). ESPN BOSTON's Mike Reiss noted Brady "was interviewed by veteran sportscaster Jim Gray at the ticketed event" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 5/7). Brady: "I’ve dealt with a lot of things in the past, and I’m very fortunate to have people who love me and support me. I accept my role and responsibility as a public figure. ... We’ll get through it" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/8). CBSSPORTS.com's John Breech noted a "big reason Brady probably didn't cancel is because it was a decidedly pro-Patriots crowd" (CBSSPORTS.com, 5/7). In Boston, Steve Buckley notes Brady "received nothing but love." He "must have figured he'd be embraced by the Salem State masses, and he was." However "harsh the commentary and whatever football fans outside New England are saying," Brady is "still on solid footing around here" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/8). SI.com's Justin Barrasso notes Brady "would not address whether his own legacy will suffer as a result of the report." Brady: "As a human, you care what people think ... but you learn, as a public figure, not everyone is going to like you." But Barrasso notes Patriots fans "have stood by their man" (SI.com, 5/8). The MMQB's Peter King said Brady "has to do something" in addressing the allegations because "America is looking at him with a jaundiced eye that 'Tommy Perfect' is not perfect" ("Charlie Rose," PBS, 5/7).
TOUGH DEFENSE: Brady's agent, Don Yee, appeared on CNN last night and said he and his client “have not yet heard from the league” since the Wells Report was released and that Brady will “eventually address this” directly. When asked why Brady did not provide his cell phone to investigators, Yee said, “You’re in a situation, when it comes to the NFL disciplinary process, where you’re generally assigned guilt and asked to prove innocence. ... That’s a very difficult situation to put yourself in. Second, with the text messages, the scope that they asked for is actually very, very wide. I probably should have made the letter public that we received from the NFL’s lawyers. But in any event, if we would have provided the phone or text messages, you have to understand Tom is also a member of the union. The commissioner’s office does not have any subpoena power. If a prominent player were to provide all of their private communications absent a subpoena, that sets a dangerous precedent for all players facing disciplinary measures. ... So what it came down to is either way you turn, you’re really not playing on a level playing field.” CNN’s Anderson Cooper at one point said, “Let me just ask you point blank, did Tom Brady have any knowledge of these balls being deflated?” Yee replied, “No.” Cooper: “So you’re saying he’s completely innocent in whatever happened to those balls?” Yee replied, “In my opinion, yes” (“Anderson Cooper 360,” CNN, 5/7).
CALM BEFORE THE STORM? In N.Y., Gary Myers writes Brady's calmness "is deceiving," and he is "just waiting for the right time to attack." Myers: "If [NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell] doesn't clear Brady, I would not be surprised if this winds up in court with Brady suing for defamation of character." This has "come down to an all-out battle: the Patriots ... versus the NFL" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/8). In Boston, Bob McGovern notes a defamation suit by Brady "would not be completely unheard of." Former NFLer Jonathan Vilma "sued Goodell in federal court for tying his name" to the Saints' bounty scandal. But Brady would face a "particularly high bar to prove defamation" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/8). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio cited a source as saying that the NFLPA "did not represent or advise Brady in the Wells investigation, at the request of Brady and his representatives." It is "unclear why Brady didn’t want input or help from the union." The NFLPA "will have no involvement until discipline, if any, if imposed." If/when discipline is imposed, the NFLPA "will be ready to represent him" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 5/7).
POKING HOLES: ESPN BOSTON's Reiss shared "a few thoughts on areas in which the Wells report significantly dropped the ball and, in my opinion, appeared to be serving a pro-NFL agenda" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 5/7). YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Wetzel wrote if the league "was going to make a big deal about deflated footballs -- and it did -- then it should've sought a clear-cut determination, whether there is guilt or innocence." Wetzel: "What it'll be left with, however, is competing arguments and intense backlash because the problem here lies in the process." The report "contains some damning evidence and very strong work that paints a painful picture of the Patriots." But Wells also was "terribly weak in spots and this is where the NFL has screwed up the situation." Even "some who are convinced Brady is guilty will agree that the NFL did a poor job here." Wetzel: "So much of this was avoidable by the league. When it comes to these scandals in the future, its independent investigators need to simply dole out the independent facts (not their opinions). This shouldn't be a judgment call left to a bunch of faceless Manhattan lawyers" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/7). In Boston, Ben Volin writes a "fairly compelling case can be made in Brady’s defense that he really didn’t have anything to do with deflating the footballs." If the NFL "is going to punish Brady, it better make sure it believes all of Wells's assumptions with 100 percent certainty" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/8).
LAYING DOWN THE LAW: In N.Y., William Rhoden writes for those "who have been critical of the NFL, the investigation into the Patriots and the in-depth report it produced were refreshing." The NFL "needs to respond forcefully, with more than just a slap on the wrist, which is what a simple fine would be" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/8). In New Orleans, Jeff Duncan wrote fining the Patriots "simply won't cut it," as at the "minimum, Brady needs to be suspended for multiple games" (NOLA.com, 5/7). In Buffalo, Bucky Gleason wrote a three-game suspension of Brady "would send the message." It "equates to 30 baseball games," and would be a "stiff punishment without going overboard" (BUFFALONEWS.com, 5/7). In DC, Kilgore & Maske cite a high-ranking NFL team source as saying that his "'guess' is that Brady will be suspended 'for a few games' and the Patriots will be fined and lose a draft pick or picks" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/8). ESPN's Jemele Hill said, "If you're Roger Goodell, what's the one thing you don't have right now? Credibility. What's the one thing that gives you credibility? If you can say, 'Guess what, I am so about fairness now I will totally punish 'The Golden Boy'" ("His & Hers," ESPN2, 5/7). NBC's Bob Costas said he initially thought the Patriots "would lose draft choices and Brady would be fined, but I didn't think he would be suspended." Costas: "I've rethought that. In light of the year that the NFL has had and all of the attacks on its integrity and the attacks on ... Goodell for being in some cases too soft, I think if they go soft or are perceived as going soft on the glamour boy of the league ... there'll be hell to pay." Costas: "So what will happen -- I think -- is he'll be suspended at least for the first game" ("Nightly News," NBC, 5/7). FS1's Katie Nolan: "Suspend him one game. Silence all the critics" ("America's Pregame," FS1, 5/7). The MMQB's King: "He should definitely be suspended" ("Charlie Rose," PBS, 5/7).
START ME UP: In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes Goodell "will somehow find a way to make sure" Brady plays in the Patriots' NFL Kickoff game against the Steelers on NBC. But it "doesn’t matter if Brady plays, the DeflateGate story, in all its controversial splendor, will overshadow the game as it did the Super Bowl." It will "sell the game, albeit in a manner that will be embarrassing to the NFL." Raissman: "Nonetheless it will have absolutely no impact on NBC’s ratings" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/8).
WHO ARE THESE GUYS? In Boston, Eric Moskowitz in a front-page piece looks at the Pats' equipment members in the investigation under the header, "Low-Level Patriots Employees Suddenly At Center Of Storm" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/8).
