If you live outside of the Boston area, chances are you side with the majority of NFL fans who believe the sanctions against the New England Patriots, and their superstar QB Tom Brady were completely justified. Ask anyone in Patriot-land, and you’d hear the world is just hating on greatness.
Well now the official numbers are in. In a poll conducted by ESPN/ABC News, NFL fans overwhelmly believe the Patriots cheated and completely agree with the loss of a 1st & 4th round draft pick and $1 million dollar fine:
The ESPN/ABC News poll found that 63 percent of all fans surveyed, and 76 percent of self-described “avid” fans, supported the NFL’s decision to suspend Brady for four games, fine the Patriots $1 million and take away a first-round and fourth-round draft pick from the team for its involvement in the using underinflated footballs during a January playoff game. In addition, 54 percent of all fans and 69 percent of avid fans think Brady “cheated,” while 52 percent overall and 63 percent of avid fans think, regardless of Brady’s actions, that the Patriots cheated.
In addition, the poll also found that 85 percent of fans believe other teams around the league do similar things to step around rules for a competitive advantage. In my opinion, of course other teams are knowingly breaking rules to try to win. However, that doesn’t hold as a defense for the Patriots at all. It’s the same scenario as if you and your friends cheat on tests all semester long, and then someone gets caught. Saying “but everyone does it” won’t get you out of trouble. Unless the Patriots have proof other teams are cheating and are willing to out them specifically, they shouldn’t be able to squeeze out of this one. Tom Brady broke the rules, was caught, and lied about it, so we will see if the NFL stands up to the almighty Patriots…for real this time.
[h/t ESPN]