QBs of now and then are giving their differing opinions on “Deflategate”, and one of the more accomplished players has now spoken up.
Future Hall of Famer, Brett Favre has made his stance absolutely clear; he does not think embattled Patriots QB Tom Brady is a cheater for allegedly knowingly having footballs deflated to his personal preference to help with ball control and fumbling. Here’s his take on the matter via Chris Chase of USA Today:
I don’t think by any stretch, in my opinion, that Tom was cheating. It sounds crazy. Historically, there’s been stealing of signs—and that goes to baseball and football. Just whatever advantage you could get. Lester Hayes putting Stickum on his arms for the (Oakland) Raiders. Pine tar. It’s just endless, the advantages that players would try to get.
I don’t know if Tom can honestly say he has completed more passes because of it. I think more than anything, it helped with the grip based on conditions. Not every game. And would other players do it? Sure, I have no reason to think otherwise.
Everyone is going to have their opinion, and the guys who’d REALLY know if Brady gained an advantage or not are the guys who have played QB and handled the ball at that level. But rules are rules and the Patriots broke them.
The question that begs in this situation is this: If deflating balls posed no advantage, why risk all these questions & fallout by doing it?
[h/t USA Today]