Ted Wells Report on Patriots Deflategate Released

By DANIEL LIBON

Was there a deliberate effort to deflate footballs when the New England Patriots played the Indianapolis Colts in the 2014 AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium?

The highly anticipated Ted Wells report has concluded that it is likely that officials locker room attendant Jim McNally and Patriots equipment assistant John Jastremski participated in a deliberate effort to release air from Patriots game balls after the balls were examined by the referee. In addition, the report says that quarterback Tom Brady was at least, generally aware of pair’s activities to release air from the game balls.

Despite Patriots personnel providing a kicking ball to game officials that did not have the distinctive inspection mark of the referee, the Patriots were found to not have intentionally introduced an improper kicking ball during the game.

“We find that the Patriots personnel involved believed the ball to be authentic and appropriate. We do not believe that there was any attempt by Patriots personnel, including Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski, to deliberately circumvent the rules by offering the kicking ball for play,” the report stated.

In a statement, Patriots owner Robert Kraft called the conclusion of the report incomprehensible.

“Throughout the process of this nearly four-month investigation, we have cooperated and patiently awaited its outcome,” he said in a statement. “To say we are disappointed in its findings, which do not include any incontrovertible or hard evidence of deliberate deflation of footballs at the AFC Championship game, would be a gross understatement.”

Kraft added that he was offended that the report stated that the team didn’t making individuals available for a follow-up interview. According to Kraft, one individual was interviewed four times and the team felt a fifth request for a part-time game day employee was excessive.

ALSO READ:

• • Belichick Says Patriots Didn’t Alter Footballs, Followed Every Rule
  • Tom Brady Denies Tampering With Footballs
  • Belichick on Deflategate: “I Was Totally Unaware”
  • Report: New England Patriots Used Underinflated Footballs
  • #DeflateGate: NFL Investigating Reports that Patriots Deflated Footballs in AFC Championship Game

After the AFC Championship game against the Colts, the Patriots were accused of using deflated footballs during the game. Early reports stated that 11 of the 12 balls used by the Patriots were under-inflated. NFL rules state that game balls must be inflated between 12.5 to 13.5. pounds-per-square-inches of air.

In the days after the game, both Brady and Belichick denied any knowledge an effort to deflate the footballs but texts from McNally and Jastremski detail an effort to circumvent league rules.

From the report: In the weeks and months before the AFC Championship Game, McNally periodically exchanged text messages with the Patriots equipment assistant primarily responsible for the preparation of the Patriots game balls, John Jastremski. In a number of those text messages, McNally and Jastremski discussed the air pressure of Patriots game balls, Tom Brady‟s unhappiness with the inflation level of Patriots game balls, Jastremski‟s plan to provide McNally with a “needle” for use by McNally, and McNally‟s requests for “cash” and sneakers together with the “needle” to be provided by Jastremski. A sports ball inflation needle is a device that can be used to inflate a football (if attached to an air pump) or release air from a football (if inserted alone into a ball).

For example, on October 17, 2014, following a Thursday night game between the Patriots and the New York Jets during which Tom Brady complained angrily about the inflation level of the game balls, McNally and Jastremski exchanged the following text messages:

McNally: Tom sucks...im going make that next ball a f*****n balloon

Jastremski: Talked to him last night. He actually brought you up and said you must have a lot of stress trying to get them done...

Jastremski: I told him it was. He was right though...

Jastremski: I checked some of the balls this morn... The refs f****d us...a few of then were at almost 16

Jastremski: They didnt recheck then after they put air in them

McNally: F**k tom ...16 is nothing...wait till next sunday

Jastremski: Omg! Spaz

On October 21, 2014, McNally and Jastremski exchanged the following text messages:

McNally: Make sure you blow up the ball to look like a rugby ball so tom can get used to it before sunday

Jastremski: Omg

On October 23, 2014, three days before a Sunday game against the Chicago Bears, Jastremski and McNally exchanged the following messages:

Jastremski: Can‟t wait to give you your needle this week :)

McNally: F**k tom....make sure the pump is attached to the needle.....f*****n watermelons coming

Jastremski: So angry

McNally: The only thing deflating sun..is his passing rating

The next day, October 24, 2014, Jastremski and McNally exchanged the following messages: Jastremski: I have a big needle for u this week

McNally: Better be surrounded by cash and newkicks....or its a rugby sunday

Jastremski: Maybe u will have some nice size 11s in ur locker

McNally: Tom must really be working your balls hard this week

On October 25, 2014, McNally and Jastremski exchanged the following messages:

Jastremski: Size 11?

Jastremski: 2 or 3X? McNally: Tom must really be on you

McNally: 11 0r 11 half......2x unless its tight fitting

Jastremski: Nah. Hasn‟t even mentioned it, figured u should get something since he gives u nothing

On January 7, 2015, eleven days before the AFC Championship Game, McNally and Jastremski discussed how McNally would have a “big autograph day” and receive items autographed by Brady the following weekend, before the playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens. McNally and Jastremski exchanged the following text messages:

McNally: Remember to put a couple sweet pig skins ready for tom to sign

Jastremski: U got it kid...big autograph day for you

McNally: Nice throw some kicks in and make it real special

Jastremski: It ur lucky. 11?

McNally: 11 or 11 and half kid

On January 10, 2015, immediately prior to the game between the Patriots and the Ravens, in the Patriots equipment room with both Brady and Jastremski present, McNally received two footballs autographed by Brady and also had Brady autograph a game-worn Patriots jersey that McNally previously had obtained. In addition to the messages described above, before the start of the 2014-15 season, McNally referred to himself as “the deflator” and stated that he was “not going to espn……..yet.”

On May 9, 2014, McNally and Jastremski exchanged the following text messages:

McNally: You working

Jastremski: Yup

McNally: Nice dude....jimmy needs some kicks....lets make a deal.....come on help the deflator

McNally: Chill buddy im just f*****n with you ....im not going to espn........yet

It is unknown what disciplinary actions the NFL will take against the Patriots.

• Click here to read the full statement from Robert Kraft.
• To read the Wells Report, click here.

File photo.