Tom Brady Not Only Destroyed a Cell Phone, But His Credibility

Earlier today, the NFL announced that it has upheld New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady‘s 4-game suspension in the wake of the DeflateGate controversy.

In a 20-page decision, the league detailed their decision-making process with one new revelation, that Brady effectively destroyed his old cell phone. In fact, not only did Brady destroy his cell phone, but he did it on the very same day March 6, 2015, that he was interviewed by Ted Wells and his investigative team (from page 1-2 of the decision):

"“The most significant new information that emerged in connection with the appeal was the evidence that on or about March 6, 2015–the very day that he was interviewed by Mr. Wells and his investigative team–Mr. Brady instructed his assistant to destroy the cell phone that he had been using since November 2014, a period that included the AFC Championship game and the initial weeks of the subsequent investigation.”“During the four months it was in use, almost 10,000 text messages were sent or received by Mr. Brady using the cellphone. At the time that he arranged for its destruction, Mr. Brady knew that Mr. Wells and his team had requested information from that cellphone in connection with their investigation. Despite repeated requests for that information, beginning in mid-February 2015 and continuing during his March 6, 2015 interview by the investigators, information indicating that Mr. Brady might have destroyed his cellphone was not disclosed until months later on, June 18 2015, and not confirmed until the day of the hearing itself.”"

Based on these findings, under Article 46 of the CBA, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell used his authority to impose league discipline then on Brady for player conduct that is “detrimental to the integrity of, or public confidence in, the game of professional football”.

What was already ridiculous, got even more absurd today. After hearing prior illogical arguments that Patriots locker room attendant Jim McNally was nicknamed “the Deflator” as a joke for weight-loss, there doesn’t appear to be much of a reasonable explanation as to why Brady would destroy his cell phone in the DeflateGate aftermath. Let alone, on the same day he was interviewed by Wells and his investigative team.

That is, unless you’re Tom Brady:

Brady told Goodell it's common practice for him destroy his cell phone when he begins using a new one. (via @AdamSchefter & media reports)
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 28, 2015

Brady either received bad advice, or it wasn’t his smartest decision. By destroying his cell phone, it’s clearly indicating some form of guilt or rather, that he’s clearly trying to hide something to the public eye.

Most normal people don’t destroy their old cell phone as soon as they get a new one. While Brady isn’t the normal person by any means, destroying his cell phone on the day he was interviewed by Wells and his investigative team seems more than suspicious. In fact, it seems to spell out 6 letters…

G-U-I-L-T-Y

Feb 2, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (left) and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pose with the Pete Rozelle trophy during the Super Bowl XLIX-Winning Head Coach and MVP Press Conference at Media Center-Press Conference Room B. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Of course, Brady and the Patriots only have themselves to blame after the national firestorm that has become DeflateGate. If Brady simply pulls a ‘George Washington’ and says, “I chopped down the cherry tree,” the league likely hands him a 1-game suspension at most.

Instead, the Patriots scoffed and turned their collective noses at the league’s investigation, essentially giving them a figurative form of the middle finger. The league gave them every opportunity to be cooperative with their investigation, but the Patriots–namely Brady simply refused, even to the point of destroying potential evidence.

Now, Brady really has no one to blame, but himself. He’s looking at a 4 game suspension instead of 1 game, maybe even just a large fine. No one’s above the game of football and ‘the Shield’. Something that Brady has now seemingly learned the hard way.

It’s another countless example of where the cover-up is much worse than the actual crime, and the Patriots–specifically Brady have no one to blame, but themselves.

Brady has not only destroyed his old cell phone, but much of his established credibility.

Tom Brady Not Only Destroyed a Cell Phone, But His Credibility

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