'Obviously I have a lot of personal feelings but I really don't care to share': With suspension lifted, Tom Brady says he won't tell true thoughts on Deflategate scandal

  • Tom Brady speaks for first time since having his suspension over-turned
  • New England Patriots quarterback turns his attention to first game
  • Two Patriots employees were suspended for their role in the deflated balls
  • Brady said that whether he had contacted them recently was 'personal'

The New England Patriots'  Tom Brady says that he will not share his 'personal feelings' on the scandal that has consumed much of his year.

After his four-game suspension for his role in using underinflated footballs during the AFC championship game was overturned by a federal judge, the quarterback says he just want to move on.

Making his first public comments since the 'Deflategate' court ruling, Brady said he is focused on preparing for Thursday's game against Pittsburgh. He also acknowledged the support of his family, friends and Patriots owner Bob Kraft.

'Everything that's happened over the past seven months, obviously I have a lot of personal feelings, but I really don't care to share many of those,' Brady said Sunday.

Focusing on his first game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady says that he won't share his 'personal feelings' about the Deflategate scandal that has loomed over him until now

Focusing on his first game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady says that he won't share his 'personal feelings' about the Deflategate scandal that has loomed over him until now

Judge Richard M. Berman said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell went too far in suspending Brady after balls for the AFC Championship Game in January (pictured) were doctored

Judge Richard M. Berman said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell went too far in suspending Brady after balls for the AFC Championship Game in January (pictured) were doctored

 'I think now the goal is to focus on what my job is and what I need to go out there and do to help our team win,' he told reporters gathered at his locker. 

'I really care to think about what I need to do going forward. We've got a lot of guys in this locker room who worked really hard to get to this point, and so have I, and I'm excited to be able to go out there and do it.'

Brady has been cleared to play in the Patriots' opener against the Pittsburgh Steeler on Thursday at their home in Foxborough, Massachussetts. 

His ban was overturned on Thursday by a federal judge who criticized NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for going what he said was 'far beyond' the investigative conclusions of attorney Ted Wells.

 'I certainly have a great amount of respect for the Commissioner and what his job is,' he said of Goodell before adding that his own job is to be a quarterback, according to the Boston Globe

The Wells report had pointed to what many believe to be the strongest evidence against Brady, text messages between two employees discussing deflating footballs to keep them in line with the quarterback's supposed preferences.

Two Patriots employees were suspended for allegedly deflating the balls to fit Brady's preferences, but a judge ruled that the NFL went too far in punishing Brady.  Above, the quarterback leaves court last week

Two Patriots employees were suspended for allegedly deflating the balls to fit Brady's preferences, but a judge ruled that the NFL went too far in punishing Brady.  Above, the quarterback leaves court last week

Brady said he had a 'great amount of respect' for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and 'what his job is'. Above, Goodell leaves court on Monday in New York

Brady said he had a 'great amount of respect' for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and 'what his job is'. Above, Goodell leaves court on Monday in New York

The two employees - officials' locker room attendant Jim McNally and equipment assistant John Jastremski - were suspended for their role in the scandal.

'I certainly feel terrible for them that they're not able to be with us right now,' Brady said.

When asked whether he had contacted the employees recently, the Super Bowl champion replied that it was 'very personal'. 

The NFL's has decided to appeal the ruling against Brady's suspension, which he called 'their choice.'

'I think that's just part of this process,' he said. 'My part is to get ready to play football, and that's what I'm really excited to do.'

It could take months for the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals to hear the case because the league would have to show it would suffer irreparable harm to speed up the timetable.

Brady led the Patriots to a Super Bowl win over Seattle on 1 February, but the 'Deflategate' saga dominated headlines all the way into the start of this season. 

He has insisted he played no role in a conspiracy to deflate footballs below the allowable limit at last season's AFC championship, a 45-7 rout of the Indianapolis Colts.

 

 

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