NFL

Celebrate Tom Brady merely remember he's not perfect

"The NFL said Brady cheated. Menstruation."

Tom Brady, left, stands with Patriots head omnibus Bill Belichick, right, during an NFL football practice, Th, Jan. 18, 2018. Steven Senne/AP File Photo

By TIM DAHLBERG, Associated Press

COMMENTARY

Tom Brady's return to New England volition surely be a massive lovefest, at least up until the moment he lines upwards under eye Sunday night for Tampa Bay. With good reason, because there's a lot to celebrate for the greatest quarterback of his time and the legacy he somehow keeps writing at the age of 44.

Everyone knows nigh the six Super Bowl rings for the Patriots and the tardily-game comebacks so numerous they're hard to count. Brady also won 219 regular-flavour games for New England and was 30-ten overall in the playoffs, with 73 touchdown passes.

Along the style, he and jitney Bill Belichick transformed the Patriots into a juggernaut the likes of which the NFL has never seen. Brady's numbers are so impressive that he'll be a first ballot Hall of Famer, assuming, of course, he e'er decides to retire.

Merely while he gets well-deserved accolades for 20 seasons of spectacular work in New England, let'due south non forget some other numbers.

At least five footballs softened past taking some air out of them in the 2015 AFC championship game against Indianapolis. A four-game suspension for Brady for his function in deflating them, and a $1 million fine and loss of two draft picks for the Patriots.

No, it probably won't get mentioned on the NBC telecast because it doesn't fit the narrative. Sunday's game is a moment to celebrate a remarkable run with one squad and 1 coach, not to dwell on the mistakes made along the way.

Like information technology or non, though, Deflategate is role of Brady'south legacy. It always volition be, even though he steadfastly denies the allegations that led to his suspension.

Information technology may not affair to New England fans, who for the about part believe their quarterback was unjustly punished to brainstorm with. Just information technology needs to be remembered, but like all the winning last minute drives and the Super Bowl wins.

The NFL said Brady cheated. Period.

The league suspended Brady later on a 243-page report from investigator Ted Wells said two former equipment managers were involved in letting air out of the balls and that Brady "was at least generally aware" of the scheme.

In upholding the suspension, commissioner Roger Goodell noted that Brady destroyed his prison cell phone right nearly the time he met with Wells to answer questions near the deflated footballs. Goodell said Brady did then "even though he was aware that the investigators had requested access to text messages and other electronic information that had been stored on that telephone."

No, there was no smoking gun linking Brady to the deflation. He wasn't caught with a needle and a bag of footballs behind the grandstands that day in Foxborough.

But in that location was enough circumstantial testify for the NFL to come downwards — and come up downwardly difficult — on the parties involved. Footballs don't just suddenly deflate, especially when those in possession of the opposing team kept all their air.

Brady and the Patriots would go along to beat the Colts in the game, leading 17-7 at one-half before the deflation was discovered, and winning 45-seven. A few weeks afterwards, Brady and Belichick celebrated as they won their fourth Super Bowl together, this one over Seattle.

Two years later, they would win the Super Bowl again, afterward Brady missed the first quarter of the season while serving his suspension. New England possessor Robert Kraft thumbed his nose at Goodell, calling the win "unequivocally the sweetest" of all the team'southward championship wins.

No single incident should ascertain Brady's career, of course, and Deflategate barely registers anymore when information technology comes to evaluating his incredible success. Winning six Super Bowls in New England and adding another in Tampa Bay while playing well into his 40s is what Brady will exist remembered for, and he's washed things no other quarterback can even hope to achieve.

Indeed, the most puzzling thing virtually Brady being involved in deflating game balls is that he seemed to experience he needed help to win. He didn't, and if anyone thinks otherwise all they have to do is accept a peek at the iii Super Bowl rings he'due south won since that year.

Then celebrate him on Sunday in his return to Foxborough because y'all'll never see any quarterback win vii Super Bowls again. Celebrate him on Dominicus because, if he e'er does retire, he'll practise so holding many other records that no other quarterback tin can even hope to match.

Just call back that even the greats aren't necessarily perfect.

Conversation

This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com