January 22, 2015

New England Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady took to the podium for a midday presser to respond to the Deflategate allegations that are swirling around his team. He denied being a cheater or doing anything at all wrong. As you can tell from some of his responses, twitter quickly had a field day with him.

Brady: I didn't alter the ball in anyway. Our equipment guys do a great job breaking the balls in.

When I pick those footballs out, at that point to me they're perfect.

I don't want anyone touching the balls after that. I don't want anyone rubbing them. Putting any air in them, taking any air out. To me those balls are perfect and that's what I expect when I show up on the field

I didn't think anything of it, I woke up Monday morning and answered a question on the radio about it and that was the first I really heard of it.

I feel like I have always played within the rules. I would never break the rules.

I was as surprised as anybody when I heard Monday morning what was happening

Q) Can you answer right now, is Tom Brady a cheater?

Brady: I don't believe so. I feel like I've always played within the rules. I would never do anything to break the rules. I believe in fair play. I respect the league...

Here's what Troy Aikman had to say about Brady and the Pats:

"Now twice, under Bill Belichick and possibly a third time, they've cheated and given themselves an advantage. ... To me, the punishment for the Patriots and/or Bill Belichick has to be more severe than what the punishment was for the Saints."

Aikman referenced the bounty scandal in which the NFL issued sanctions to the Saints, including a season-long suspension for coach Sean Payton and initially an indefinite ban for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, along with forfeiture of draft picks in 2012.

Aikman added that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady must have known the deflated balls were being used because that doesn't happen "unless the quarterback wants that to happen."

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