Make wishtv.com your home page

Legal minds say Deflategate punishment fits the crime

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Fans of both the Colts and the Patriots are reacting to Tom Brady’s penalties for Deflategate

“He definitely should be fined and suspended for at least four games,” said Travis Campbell while eating lunch in downtown Indianapolis.

“I think it’s too much,” said a Patriots fan outside Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

“It’s wrong,” said another.

The two have two completely different views of the ongoing controversy.

“They have a culture of cheating, they were caught once before, this just added to it,” said Pablo Ruiz, Colts fan.

Tom Brady was suspended for four games for his supposed involvement in the scheme to deflate game footballs below regulation levels. And according to documents, he didn’t cooperate with the investigation.

“He had something to hide,” said Ruiz. “I think that it (the penalties) should’ve been more.”

But despite the possibility of the Patriots being without their star quarterback until they come to Indy, Gary Roberts with IU McKinney School of Law says the real punishment is the lost draft picks.

“Those are the future of the franchise and you take away a first round draft choice, particularly, you’re taking away a quality player from a team that will have an impact for a decade or more,” said Roberts, whose expertise is sports law.

On Facebook Ray Inzero, Jr., a Patriots fan wrote, “As a Pats fan, I understand where the NFL is coming from, it wasn’t the deflating of the footballs that got the Pats this huge penalty, it was their arrogance toward the league and the findings. The NFL just put the rest of the league on notice with this penalty.”

Stephanie Cunha, also a Patriots fan wrote, “…what makes me more upset isn’t the NFL, or the punishment, it’s that the team (and Brady) was good enough to win WITHOUT needing to do any of this nonsense.”

Brady’s agent says he will appeal the decision. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will likely handle the appeal.

“He’s got to really stand his ground and not back down especially with being Brady and the Patriots,” said Andrew Belchior while eating on Georgia Street. “Being the Super Bowl champions, you don’t want to show any preferential treatment.”

Also on Facebook, Ann Marie Breen wrote, “The whole thing is a witch hunt. The Pats are the team everyone loves to hate because they win.”

Roberts says the penalty was so harsh because of what’s at stake.

“This goes to the integrity of the competition itself (and) of the product the NFL produces,” said Roberts.

For those who train athletes, they say Deflategate hits to the heart of sportsmanship.

“The correct way is to know the gam,e to be responsible to respect others, and definitely sportsmanship. Its all about sportsmanship,” said Amber Miller, the sports coordinator at the Benjamin Harrison YMCA in Lawrence. She says sports are all about respect, responsibility and honesty.

Brady’s agent hasn’t said when they plan to file their appeal.