Tom Brady is renowned nationwide. He’s the quarterback for the New England Patriots and more recently has been involved in the “Deflategate” incident, wherein the team was exposed using slightly deflated footballs to increase their chances of progressing in last year’s playoffs.
Brady was suspended for the first four games of the 2015–16 season without pay and the Patriots were fined $1 million. Although he may not have been the one physically deflating the footballs, it is highly likely that he was aware of this and did nothing to stop it.
Boston, and New England in general, was not happy about this at all. Deflategate became a common topic amongst many people. But then something happened that caused New England great joy and angered every other football fan in the country: U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman ruled to nullify Brady’s four-game suspension, meaning that on September 10, he could play.
The reasons for Judge Berman’s decision seem to follow the line of the NFL’s process in Brady’s case being flawed and the fact that the two sides wouldn’t reach a settlement. At this news, Boston cheered.
Brady fans plastered shirts with his face and phrases such as “‘Free!” in bold colors. They thought it was only right, only just. In Maine, Dunkin’ Donuts is offering Judge Berman free coffee for life because of the acquittal.
But is it really fair for Brady to get away with a mostly clean slate after this incident? From hearing talk around the halls in school, it’s clear that hardly anyone is pro-Brady. Walking out of class, I’ve heard kids talk about the “Deflatriots”, and even kids who couldn’t care less about football are arguing against him.
I personally am from New England and therefore should be all pro-Brady, but it feels wrong to let someone get away with cheating in something as big as the NFL.
It seems that Brady should still have been suspended from the games, even though he was a big football star. If Brady stays “Free!”, as Boston puts it, and if the Patriots do well this season, only time will tell.