Hall of Famer Andre Reed: Deflategate puts asterisk on Tom Brady's legacy
Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Andre Reed said on Monday's SI Now that Deflategate puts an asterisk on the legacies of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
Brady was suspended four games by the NFL for his role in Deflategate after independent investigator Ted Wells ruled that the quarterback "was at least generally aware of... the release of air from Patriots game balls." New England was fined $1 million and lost its first-round draft pick in 2016 and its fourth-round draft pick in 2017.
"You break the rules, you got to do the time. Do the crime, do the time," Reed said. "I think there's so many different attitudes about that, and people have their opinions about, 'Are we using Tom Brady as a scapegoat?' You can't take away four Super Bowls, you can't take away what he did. But this does put a little asterisk and a little taint on his legacy, him and Bill Belichick."
• MMQB: Unhappy Pats owner Robert Kraft talks Deflategate
Brady is appealing his suspension. The appeal will be heard by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Reed was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection over his 16-year career. He spent 15 years with the Buffalo Bills before playing his final season with the Washington Redskins.
- Molly Geary
