Patriots quarterback Tom Brady briefly addressed the media Sunday for the first time since Judge Richard Berman vacated his four-game DeflateGate suspension on Thursday. Though Brady didn't elaborate much, he talked about the emotional toll the last eight months have taken on him and expressed his excitement about the upcoming season.
Tom Brady is ready to stop talking DeflateGate and start playing football
Brady addressed the Patriots media Sunday for the first time since his four-game suspension was overturned.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
“I’m excited to run out there Thursday night. It’s obviously been a long seven months for everybody. I think now the goal is focus on what my job is and that’s go out there and help our team win,” Brady said, via NESN. “Obviously I have a lot of personal feelings. I really don’t care to share many of those. I need to think about what I need to do moving forward.”
The defending champions will open their season against the Steelers on Thursday night, when they will raise their Super Bowl banner in front of the home crowd at Gillette Stadium. Brady, though, echoed that everyone had to look ahead to the new season.
“Mostly, we have to focus on what our job is, and that’s to put that celebration behind us,” he said.
Brady was a bit more expansive in a Facebook post Friday night, in which he said all parties involved are DeflateGate losers -- echoing the sentiments of many football fans from around the country. That didn't stop a throng of reporters from hanging on his every word:
Brady is in there pic.twitter.com/L7sAeWsLNP
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) September 6, 2015 When asked about the NFL appealing Berman’s decision, Brady would only offer, “that’s their choice, and I think that’s part of this process.” For now, though, the crux of DeflateGate is over. Brady’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, said Friday on Pro Football Talk Live he doesn’t expect oral arguments in the case to take place until 2016.
It may be difficult for Patriots employees John Jastremski and Jim McNall, the alleged ball deflators in investigator Ted Wells’ report, to leave DeflateGate behind them. Brady said Sunday he feels badly for both men, who are currently serving NFL-mandated suspensions.
Brady on John Jastremski/Jim McNally: "It’s been a very tough situation for everybody; put a lot of stress on everybody’s families..." (1/2)
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) September 6, 2015 Tom Brady on John Jastremski/Jim McNally: "... I certainly feel terrible for them that they’re not able to be with us right now." (2/2)
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) September 6, 2015
Despite the heated legal proceedings between Brady and the NFL this summer, the four-time Super Bowl champion made it a point to reaffirm his love of the game.
“I’ve always appreciated it. I love football, I love the sport, and I love playing in the NFL,” he said. “For the last 20 years, I’ve been playing football this time of year, and it feels good to be doing that again.”
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