Tom Brady SLAMS NFL's suspension over Deflategate scandal

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Tom Brady said the NFL was informed by his lawyer he would be destroying his phone before their investigation
He also said there is not 'smoking gun' in the case as he called the entire controversy 'manufactured'
Brady also confirmed that he will be taking the case to federal court with the help of the NFL Player's Union
He said he did not want his 'unfair discipline' to set a precedent for other players in the league
Robert Kraft said the league is 'reprehensible' for destroying the image of Brady, and that he regrets accepting the team punishment in May
Bill Belichick refused to comment on the matter, and kept repeating 'it’s already been addressed' when asked by reporters

Published: 07:37 EST, 29 July 2015 | Updated: 11:40 EST, 29 July 2015

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Tom Brady is heading to federal court to continue fighting the NFL decision to suspend him for four games after his alleged role in deflating footballs during the 2015 AFC Championship Game, and on Wednesday morning the football great took to Facebook to attack the league and Commissioner Roger Goodell for upholding his punishment.

Brady is also claiming that his lawyer informed the league he planned to destroy his cell phone before their investigation, which would seem to contradict statements made by Goodell on Tuesday.

'There is no “smoking gun” and this controversy is manufactured to distract from the fact they have zero evidence of wrongdoing,' wrote Brady.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft meanwhile went after the league, calling their actions 'reprehensible' and saying that they were destroying the image of one of the greatest players of all time.

Bill Belichick on the other hand refused to comment on the matter, and kept repeating 'it’s already been addressed' when asked by reporters.

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oN THE ATTACK: Tom Brady (above in May) has responded to the decision by the NFL to uphold his four-game suspension for his role in allegedly deflating footballs

Called out: Brady said the NFL was informed by his lawyer he would be destroying his phone before their investigation, and the claim by Commissioner Roger Goodell (above in January) that it was a surprise is false

Angry: Robert Kraft (left) said the league is 'reprehensible' for destroying the image of Brady, and that he regrets accepting the team punishment in May, while Bill Belichick (right) refused to respond

'I was wrong to put my faith in the league,' said Kraft, adding that he 'unequivocally' supports Brady.

He then added; 'The decision handed down by the league yesterday is unfathomable to me.'

As for the issue of the phone, Brady said; 'I also disagree with yesterdays narrative surrounding my cellphone. I replaced my broken Samsung phone with a new iPhone 6 AFTER my attorneys made it clear to the NFL that my actual phone device would not be subjected to investigation under ANY circumstances.

'As a member of a union, I was under no obligation to set a new precedent going forward, nor was I made aware at any time during Mr. Wells investigation, that failing to subject my cell phone to investigation would result in ANY discipline.'

'No hard evidence': Patriots owner stands by Tom Brady

Brady said his decision to take the case to court is not what he wanted, explaining; 'I authorized the NFLPA to make a settlement offer to the NFL so that we could avoid going to court and put this inconsequential issue behind us as we move forward into this season.'

FACT BOX TITLE

'I am very disappointed by the NFL’s decision to uphold the 4 game suspension against me. I did nothing wrong, and no one in the Patriots organization did either.

'Despite submitting to hours of testimony over the past 6 months, it is disappointing that the Commissioner upheld my suspension based upon a standard that it was “probable” that I was “generally aware” of misconduct. The fact is that neither I, nor any equipment person, did anything of which we have been accused. He dismissed my hours of testimony and it is disappointing that he found it unreliable.

'I also disagree with yesterdays narrative surrounding my cellphone. I replaced my broken Samsung phone with a new iPhone 6 AFTER my attorneys made it clear to the NFL that my actual phone device would not be subjected to investigation under ANY circumstances. As a member of a union, I was under no obligation to set a new precedent going forward, nor was I made aware at any time during Mr. Wells investigation, that failing to subject my cell phone to investigation would result in ANY discipline.

'Most importantly, I have never written, texted, emailed to anybody at anytime, anything related to football air pressure before this issue was raised at the AFC Championship game in January. To suggest that I destroyed a phone to avoid giving the NFL information it requested is completely wrong.

'To try and reconcile the record and fully cooperate with the investigation after I was disciplined in May, we turned over detailed pages of cell phone records and all of the emails that Mr. Wells requested. We even contacted the phone company to see if there was any possible way we could retrieve any/all of the actual text messages from my old phone. In short, we exhausted every possibility to give the NFL everything we could and offered to go thru the identity for every text and phone call during the relevant time.

'Regardless, the NFL knows that Mr. Wells already had ALL relevant communications with Patriots personnel that either Mr. Wells saw or that I was questioned about in my appeal hearing. There is no “smoking gun” and this controversy is manufactured to distract from the fact they have zero evidence of wrongdoing.

'I authorized the NFLPA to make a settlement offer to the NFL so that we could avoid going to court and put this inconsequential issue behind us as we move forward into this season. The discipline was upheld without any counter offer. I respect the Commissioners authority, but he also has to respect the CBA and my rights as a private citizen. I will not allow my unfair discipline to become a precedent for other NFL players without a fight.

'Lastly, I am overwhelmed and humbled by the support of family, friends and our fans who have supported me since the false accusations were made after the AFC Championship game. I look forward to the opportunity to resume playing with my teammates and winning more games for the New England Patriots.'

He went on to say that he did not want his 'unfair discipline' to set a precedent for other players in the league.

Goodeell and the NFL will now take on Brady - along with his team of high powered lawyers and the NFL Player's Association - in federal court.

Knowing that he would likely file in federal court, the NFL filed a preemptive complaint in Southern District of New York to confirm their decision on Tuesday.

'On or shortly before March 6, the day that Tom Brady met with independent investigator Ted Wells and his colleagues, Brady directed that the cell phone he had used for the prior four months be destroyed,' wrote Goodell in his decision released on Tuesday.

'He did so even though he was aware that the investigators had requested access to text messages and other electronic information that had been stored on that phone.'

Brady said in his testimony however that it was common practice for him to destroy his old phones when he got a new one so people could not reset it and get his information.

He and his lawyers delivered a 10-hour appeal to Goodell on June 23 as to why his suspension should be overturned.

This decision - should it stay- would mean that backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo would likely start the first four games of the season.

Brady, 37, arrived at training camp on Monday, two days early, and the team veterans are all expected to show up Wednesday to Gillette Stadium.

Brady is still eligible to train with the team and play in preseason games.

The star quarterback was suspended by NFL executive Troy Vincent in May following a league-sanctioned investigation by Ted Wells.

Brady and the Patriots have denied knowingly using deflated footballs in the AFC title game win over Indianapolis. The Patriots went on to beat Seattle in the Super Bowl and Brady was the MVP.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced at a press conference in May that the team would not appeal the $1million fine handed down to them by the NFL for their involvement in the scandal.

'I don't want to continue the rhetoric that's gone on for the last four months,' said Kraft, as he agreed to 'reluctantly' accept the league's punishment.

'At no time should the agenda of one team outweigh the collective good of the whole 32,' explained Kraft.

He then said the decision was the 'best thing for our fans, our team and the NFL.'

He changed his opinion on this on Wednesday however, saying that he now regrets accepting this punishment and only did so believing it would ultimately exonerate Brady.

The team will also lose their first round pick in the 2016 draft and the fourth round pick in the following year.

The NFL fined the club the record amount after determining individuals in the organization had purposely deflated footballs used in the team's 45-7 playoff victory over the Indianapolis Colts earlier this year.

The report also said there was a strong possibility Brady knew this was happening at the time.

Kraft previously told Sports Illustrated he is convinced Brady is innocent of this charge.

'I’ve known Tommy 16 years, almost half his life. He’s a man, and he’s always been honest with me, and I trust him. I believed what he told me. He has never lied to me, and I have found no hard or conclusive evidence to the contrary,' said Kraft.

'I just get really worked up. To receive the harshest penalty in league history is just not fair. The anger and frustration with this process, to me, it wasn’t fair. If we’re giving all the power to the NFL and the office of the commissioner, this is something that can happen to all 32 teams.

'We need to have fair and balanced investigating and reporting. But in this report, every inference went against us … inferences from ambiguous, circumstantial evidence all went against us. That’s the thing that really bothers me.'

NFL Commissioner upholds Tom Brady's suspension

Back: Brady (above in this year's Super Bowl) is now taking the case to federal court

Friends?: Patriots owner Robert Kraft and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell spotted in deep conversation on July 9 with Bob Iger of Disney Read

Tom Brady was suspended for four games over Deflategate

In the report, released on May 6, Wells found that two Patriots equipment personnel were involved in doctoring the footballs, citing text messages from the pair.

Brady was largely implicated due to the revelation that he declined to hand over details of his own emails, text messages and phone messages.

Brady himself has made little public comment on the matter, although he insisted shortly after the report came out that the Patriots' latest Super Bowl triumph was 'absolutely not' tainted by the scandal.

Prior to Deflategate, Kraft and Goodell had been remarkably close, frequently spending time with one another both during the regular and off-seasons.

After the league's Deflategate ruling however Bleacher Report said that one league owner noted that the relationship between Kraft and Goodell was 'pretty much dead.'

They were however spotted chatting at the annual Allen & Company conference in Sun Valley, Idaho earlier this month, though it remains to be seen if their rekindled friendship can withstand the upholding of Brady's suspension.

Also of note is that earlier this year Brady received a letter from Godell saying he was an 'elite player' who held a historic place in the game as it informed him he would be a part of multiple ceremonies over the course of next season to mark Super Bowl 50.

Godell wrote that Brady had left an 'enduring legacy of a great performance on the biggest stage in sports.'

Brady even shared a photo of the letter to his Facebook noting how proud he was of getting the honor from Godell.

Godell closed by saying; 'Thank you for all you have contributed to our great game.'