Last Thursday, New England Patriot Quarterback Tom Brady was nullified of all charges in the deflating ball scandal from February.
The scandal last February occurred because the Patriots were accused of deflating their footballs to help with their win against the Colts during January for the AFC Championship game. Regulation for a football is 12.5 – 13.5 pounds per square inch, the Patriots’ balls were only 11 psi.
Although it was believed that John Jastremski, the Patriots’ attendant for the game officials’ locker room, and equipment assistant Jim McNally deliberately deflated the balls after referees had inspected them there was still talk that Brady knew of this. Which is where his charges came in.
The whole team also suffered punishments as they were fined for 1 million dollars and now have to forfeit their first round draft pick in 2016 and their 4th round draft pick in 2017. They did not fight the charges, but Brady took his case to the federal court.
U.S. District Judge Richard Berman ruled that there were many legal issues in the process of Brady’s suspension. A 40 page ruling where the NFL did not give Brady a proper notice before the suspension, did not give him the opportunity to question the investigator on the case, or equal access to the investigation files.
Although Brady will now be able to play in the opener against the Steelers this Thursday, the NFL states the legal process is not completely over. But that will not and has not, stopped the Patriot team and their fans from celebrating.