The heavy hand of the National Football League finally came down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots: 4 Games and a first-rounder.
By Robby Sabo
After the Ted Wells report hit all our desks, it was only a matter of time before Tom Brady and the New England Patriots felt the heavy hand of Roger Goodell and the National Football League.
The official time for the crime involves a Brady suspension of four-games, the Pats losing their first-round pick in 2016, a fourth-round pick in 2017, and $1 million.
Nearly a decade ago, head coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000 and the Pats $250,000 for the very sketchy and mysterious Spygate controversy.
Patriots fined $1 million and will forfeit the club’s first round pick in 2016 NFL Draft and fourth round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) May 11, 2015
The NFL released this statement, via Albert Greer:
Full NFL release: The New England Patriots were notified today of the following discipline that has been imposed for violations of the NFL Policy on Integrity of the Game and Enforcement of Competitive Rules relating to the use of under-inflated footballs in the AFC Championship Game of this past season: For the violation of the playing rules and the failure to cooperate in the subsequent investigation, the New England Patriots are fined $1 million and will forfeit the club’s first-round selection in the 2016 NFL Draft and the club’s fourth-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. If the Patriots have more than one selection in either of these rounds, the earlier selection shall be forfeited. The club may not trade or otherwise encumber these selections. Patriots owner Robert Kraft advised Commissioner Roger Goodell last week that Patriots employees John Jastremski and James McNally have been indefinitely suspended without pay by the club, effective on May 6th. Neither of these individuals may be reinstated without the prior approval of NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent. If they are reinstated by the Patriots, Jastremski is prohibited from having any role in the preparation, supervision, or handling of footballs to be used in NFL games during the 2015 season. McNally is barred from serving as a locker room attendant for the game officials, or having any involvement with the preparation, supervision, or handling of footballs or any other equipment on game day. Quarterback Tom Brady will be suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2015 regular season for conduct detrimental to the integrity of the NFL. Brady may participate in all off-season, training camp and pre-season activities, including pre-season games. Commissioner Goodell authorized the discipline that was imposed by NFL Executive President Troy Vincent, pursuant to the commissioner’s disciplinary authority under the NFL Constitution and Bylaws and the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL Players Association. “We reached these decisions after extensive discussion with Troy Vincent and many others,” Commissioner Goodell said. “We relied on the critical importance of protecting the integrity of the game and the thoroughness and independence of the Wells report.”
The Patriots first four games of the season are against Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys.
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