Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, like the rest of the entire world, has had enough of #Deflategate.
So, 18 months after the NFL accused Brady—perhaps the best quarterback in league history—of participating in a conspiracy to illegally deflate footballs and 14 months after the NFL suspended Brady for four games, he has officially given up the fight.
This is what Brady announced Friday after his appeal for that original punishment was rejected this week by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Brady could have appealed again to the U.S. Supreme Court, but ultimately, he decided it wasn’t worth the extra challenge. He decided simply to toss away #Deflategate for good.
Last September, Brady had his suspension overturned by a judge for the entire 2015 season. But in April a three-judge panel ruled 2-1 that commissioner Roger Goodell did, in fact, have the power to punish Brady, as laid out by the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with the player’s union. The appeals court this week ultimately agreed.
Even so, it seems like a majority of fans and observers on Twitter didn’t direct their anger at Brady. Instead, that emotion was squared up on the league and Goodell for continuing to try this case, for which there was not much, if any, actual evidence to tie Brady to the deflated balls. Otherwise, people were excited that Brady would get an extended vacation and/or pumped that this 18-month ordeal is complete.
Statement from #Patriots owner Bob Kraft on Tom Brady's decision on deflategate 1 of 2: pic.twitter.com/ezivrenvwb
— Jason Cole (@JasonCole62) July 15, 2016
2 of 2 on statement from Bob Kraft: pic.twitter.com/RJTwLdM6VI
— Jason Cole (@JasonCole62) July 15, 2016
Tom Brady finally comes to his senses, and stops fighting a 4 week vacation from getting hit in the head.
— Brett Erlich ⬆️ (@bretterlich) July 15, 2016
only thing I'm mad about is missing out on watching Tom Brady for 4 games…
— . (@LisaLane_Sports) July 15, 2016
An emailer suggests that Tom Brady take it easy during that first month of the season because she too has felt the effects of turning 39.
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) July 15, 2016
I was really looking forward to Tom Brady trying to get the Supreme Court to consider deflated balls, too.
— Mike Persinger (@mikepersinger) July 15, 2016
FINALLY.
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) July 15, 2016
The end of #Deflategate is here. https://t.co/3YDwWRZAhz pic.twitter.com/u9ZYOkIn54
And, of course, now the NFL also has gotten exactly what it wanted. For better or for worse.
Victory for NFL isn't a victory over Tom Brady, it's a victory over all players and Goodell's power going forward.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) July 15, 2016
Short term, the NFL wins a pretty awful prize of having one of their biggest stars gone for a quarter of the season.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) July 15, 2016