The New England Patriots started off the recently concluded NFL season in bad light. Following amazing Super Bowl runs in the past years, Tom Brady and his entire squad found themselves at the center of cheating rumors brought about by the infamous "Deflategate" scandal. In addition to the implications the allegations had on the reputation of the Bill Belichick squad, the scandal effectively tarnished the locker room atmosphere of the New England Patriots. Needless to say, the entire football community saw the effect it had with the team.
After an entire season of battling the accusations, it looks like the New England Patriots are vindicated. More specifically, the Rob Gronkowski squad now have the support of their peers in the football community and the public. Amid the entire "Deflategate" debacle, Brady stood firm by his claims that he is innocent of the allegations. Moreover, the embattled quarterback remained cool and calm despite the countless insults hurled at him. As the case now moves to a close - a turn of event that could finally free Brady of the cheating rumors - the New England Patriots reiterate their support for the NFL star.
"Tom Brady is the poster child for everything that is right," shared Jonathan Kraft in response to the criticisms the quarterback received following the "Deflategate" scandal. The New England Patriots president added, "Not just with the NFL, but with professional sports in general and why we wouldn't be looking to be putting somebody like him on a platform and effectively showcase him as everything that is great about a professional athlete."
He further shared, "Both in terms of his work ethic, his discipline on the field, how he is as a father, as a husband and what he does in the community. He is everything that is great about the NFL and professional sports and to see what has happened to him, at least for me personally, as somebody is fortunate enough to know him and have him as a friend, that is probably even more disheartening to me because he doesn't deserve it."
Apart from the Kraft family, Brady also received reassurance from Belichick. The New England Patriots head coach shared that he cannot think of any other quarterback he would prefer to work with other than Brady. For the part of the NFL team, their continued confidence on the star's integrity and skill was reflected on their decision to extend his contract. Reports revealed that Brady is now signed with the New England Patriots until 2019.
"That's probably a comment for another time, but I've said many times there is no quarterback I'd rather have than Tom Brady. He's my quarterback. So I'll stand by that," Belichick said of Brady.
Going back to the Kraft family, another member of the clan expressed his dismay over how things turned out in the "Deflategate" scandal. In fact, the team owners were so disappointed with the process that Robert Kraft even wrote Roger Goodell to demand the return of the draft picks they surrendered to put the issue to rest.
"I personally wrote a letter to the commissioner responding to his comment that if any new facts came up, he would take them into consideration," said Robert. He added, "I personally believe that when the league made their decision, they did not factor in the Ideal Gas Law. They admitted that publicly. They had a full year of being able to observe Tom Brady play with all the rules of whatever the NFL was, and make any judgments there. We have laid it out pretty straightforward and now it's up to them to decide."
The New England Patriots president also touched on the NFL draft picks they gave up. Jonathan shared, "And you throw the first-round pick into it, it gets very frustrating and very angry and disappointing, but at some point you have to realize, you have to turn the energy and attention towards things that will be productive. The league meetings start really the 2016 season and for us, we have to go out and have a very successful year."
