Ed Reed, now a former Raven after announcing his recent retirement, has been apart of the league for 11 years. He’s seen many players come and go, but one thing he doesn’t condone is cheating. Reed recently did an interview with the Baltimore Sun and voiced his opinions on the Brady situation and most notably said, “Brady should suffer consequences”:
“It’s a lot of things that affect the integrity of the game,” Reed said, “We make lessons out of guys like Adrian Peterson and Ray Rice when it comes to harsh things that affect the integrity of the game. That’s what we’re about protecting.
“If Brady made some choices, we’ve got to suffer the consequences. That’s for all of us. None of us are perfect, but if you make decisions then you’ve got to suffer the consequences.”
I played football with a smushed-up can. It doesn’t matter to me about the football. It’s whatever. We’re on a professional level. We set an example. That’s what it comes down to.”
I don’t think teams or even personnel care too much about the deflation of the ball or whomever won the game, it comes down to your name and what you represent as a figurehead of an organization. The NFL will have to set example of Tom Brady because there should be no room for cheaters or any slight edge for anyone. Tom Brady is already regarded as one of the best QB’s in the league, what does a slight deflation do for you other than cause an asterisk by your name? His legacy is now tarnished and associated with a word that will forever haunt him, cheater.