But how do you explain Brady's behavior after the investigation was begun?   The flurry of communications between him and the ball boys, the giving of autographed merchandise to the ball boys, the refusal to turn over his cell phone?   It sure smells like a cover up.  Personally, I don't think the deflated balls had much to do with winning.   But impeding an investigation like he appears to have done is what deserves punishment.   Martha Stewart didn't get punished for insider trading, she got punished for lying to the FBI.   Same with Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon.   Clinton was impeached for perjury.   Nixon was impeached not for the Watergate burglary, but for the cover up. 

 

Personally, I like and admire Tom Brady for being a dorky 6th round draft pick who became a slam dunk first ballot Hall of Famer who married a Supermodel.   Sure.   But still, he has to be punished for this.  Anything less would smack of star treatment and/or Goodell being in the pocket of his good friend, Bob Kraft.  They suspend people for smoking pot, how can you not suspend people for something that goes to the integrity of the game and the integrity of the investigation? 

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