DeflateGate: Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady to Appeal Suspension; Statement from his Agent

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had three days to appeal his suspension for DeflateGate. He needed only an hour.

The following is front Brady's agent, Don Yee, who holds plenty of clout.

"The discipline is ridiculous and has no legitimate basis. In my opinion, this outcome was pre-determined; there was no fairness in the Wells investigation whatsoever. There is no evidence that Tom directed footballs be set at pressures below the allowable limits. In fact, the evidence shows Tom clearly emphasized that footballs be set at pressures within the rules. Tom also cooperated with the investigation and answered every question presented to him.

The Wells Report presents significant evidence, however, that the NFL lacks standards or protocols with respect to its handling of footballs prior to games; this is not the fault of Tom or the Patriots. The report also presents significant evidence the NFL participated with the Colts in some type of pre-AFC Championship Game planning regarding the footballs. This fact may raise serious questions about the integrity of the games we view on Sundays.

We will appeal, and if the hearing officer is completely independent and neutral, I am very confident the Wells Report will be exposed as an incredibly frail exercise in fact-finding and logic. The NFL has a well-documented history of making poor disciplinary decisions that often are overturned when truly independent and neutral judges or arbitrators preside, and a former federal judge has found the commissioner has abused his discretion in the past, so this outcome does not surprise me.

Sadly, today's decision diminishes the NFL as it tells its fans, players and coaches that the games on the field don't count as much as the games played on Park Avenue."

Yee did not hold back any punches. He is absolutely correct in every claim. As the process currently stands, Commissioner Roger Goodell, who handed out the penalty, will also be responsible for hearing the appeal. It doesn't pass the smell test. Brady will have this escalated to higher powers.

If this goes outside of the kangaroo court of the NFL offices, there's no way that the report can be used against Brady in any obvious capacity.