The Tribune

Sporting Mischief and Mayhem

By INIGO 'NAUGHTY' ZENICAZELAYA

Well, it seems like “I told you so” is becoming a catch phrase here at SMM. First Mayweather v Pacquiao and now Tom Brady.

I actually touched on Brady before Mayweather. If you recall, right here I said before the Super Bowl that even if Brady and the Patriots won, their legacy would be tainted due to their involvement in numerous cheating scandals in the NFL, from “Spy-gate” to “Deflate-gate”. The Patriots are “dirty” period! It’s high time Patriots fans accept the facts of the matter and the opinions of the sporting world, especially the fans of the NFL.

Well, just about four months later allow me to say for the record “I told you so - again!”

There’s an old saying here in the Bahamas, “What you do in the dark will always come out in the light”. Seems like the spotlight is on Tom Brady and the Patriots again, high and bright.

I must admit I enjoy watching Brady, in all his pompous arrogance, squirm, it’s a rare but welcome sight. Watching Brady throw out vague ambiguous answers that rival politicians from his beloved Republican Party (pundits have speculated Brady skipped the team’s White House visit this year so he wouldn’t have to shake a Democratic president’s hand) as if he’s done nothing wrong and has no case to answer is classic.

Unfortunately for Tom Brady, he does have a case or two to answer.

Firstly, he had been awaiting his fate from the NFL in regards to “Deflate-gate”. The NFL’s Wells Report is in and again Brady is in the midst of a scandal involving cheating (deflating footballs below the league’s minimum) and facing suspension.

Considering the NFL is taking a strong stance against violence and domestic violence, Brady should be suspended. Its obvious he’s committed assault and battery against the NFL rulebook over and over again.

It was interesting to see how this all panned out, how long would the suspension be? A year? Eight games? Four games? Or possibly only even one? Last night we got the answer - four.

Something had to be done by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (a fair suspension of Tom Brady) for two reasons.

One, it shows unequivocally that Patriots owner Bob Kraft doesn’t have the NFL hierarchy in his back pocket, and the NFL isn’t catering to brash, arrogant, entitled, semi-sober NFL owners. (Even though there’s one semi-sober owner down in Dallas that could use some catering to.)

And two, it shows that Goodell has the best interest of the league at heart by protecting the integrity of the game. It just can’t be the names Rose, Bonds, Canseco, McGuire and Sosa as the “poster boys” for cheating in sports. They can’t be the eternal “whipping boys” of the sports world.

It can’t just be the likes of Greg Hardy, Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson being vilified by the NFL for their indiscretions, and nothing be done to a proven cheater, Brady (involved one way or another in multiple offences).

The integrity of the game matters, taking nothing away from domestic violence, and for the record I do not condone violence against women in any way, shape or form. In fact the men who perpetrate these heinous acts against women, aren’t men, they are cowards.

But I digress. My point here is that the integrity of the game and the positive effect sports has on the youth is in jeopardy because “Spy-gate” and “Deflate-gate” set bad examples. You don’t want youth league coaches and players adopting this attitude at their level.

Brady must learn “Winners never cheat and cheaters never win”. Brady and the Patriots may have won a few Super Bowls but they will not win the respect of NFL purists and fans alike.

Cain was “marked” in the Bible for killing Abel; so too will Tom Brady and the Patriots be “marked” as “cheaters” who “murdered” the NFL rulebook. All four of their Super Bowl wins are tainted in one way or another.

Their championships will forever be tarnished and the lofty status and respect among the NFL’s greatest franchises like the Steelers, Cowboys, Forty Niners and New York Giants will always elude them. (Yes Patriots fans, the Giants have four rings like your team, but taking into account Eli Manning owns Brady in the SuperBowl, two wins zero loses, without cheating. They are higher on the list with good reason.)

So Tom Brady had to be suspended (I’m sure my good friend, RBPF officer Freddie Lightbourne from Urban Renewal, will crumple his copy of The Tribune immediately after reading this). For those of you who cried for a suspension, I agree.

As much as I despise, detest, loathe and hate Tom Brady, the NFL will be the only one to suffer. The league needs him as it does its other superstars. Brady brings ratings and fills up stadiums, so no, a year is too long, although it’s easily justifiable.

I thought a solid eight-game suspension was in order for Brady’s involvement in multiple infractions against the rules of the sport. Call it conduct detrimental to the game of football. Eight games, half a season, which I thought was fair.

It would have satisfied the NFL purists, the Patriots fans and loyal Tom Brady lobbyists. If Brady appeals the suspension, then drop it to six games and get it over with. However a suspension was in order.

I feared a slap on the wrist in this case for Brady would only damage the image and stature of Commissioner Goodell.

It would once again have shown a form of favouritism from his office toward the Patriots franchise and place Tom Brady on some form of ‘pedestal’ again. This couldn’t happen: Brady had to be punished, suspended or - worst case scenario - fined heavily for his devious actions. In fact, I feel he should be punished with the same fervour with which he has been praised and anointed as football deity, for his ill-gotten victories.

So this week all eyes were on the NFL Commissioner’s office as we awaited the verdict for Brady and the Patriots. I expected it to be four games for Brady and a first round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft forfeited by the Patriots. In fact they lost two picks and were find $1m.

Secondly, as far as Tom Brady’s legacy among the NFLs greatest QBs of all time, and his place amongst the best of the multiple Super Bowl winning QBs, it’s now a moot point as no “cheater” should ever make those kinds of lists.

Sadly, I’m sure some bleeding hearts will entertain him on some level though.

If so, he could never be top five of all time, as none of his peers in this prestigious club of NFL greats ever were accused and or busted for cheating not once but twice! Instant asterisk permanently affixed to his name. Branded a “cheater” for life despite his accomplishments, deserved or not.

Patriot fans know from here on out that you are fighting a losing battle in defending Brady. You can put up all the stats you want, they will never hold water. The fact Brady got suspended for cheating trumps all of that. Ironically his suspension for “cheating” will be his “legacy”, not his four “bogus” Super Bowl wins.

Head Coach Bill Belichick has not been named in all of this. (Obviously he has a get out of jail free card.) That makes one think that the investigation found the real culprits, there is enough evidence to place it at Brady’s feet, and if that means he’s the sacrificial lamb or collateral damage in all of this, so be it.

If it means watching his every move on ESPN during his suspension (if he is suspended) putting up with his horse tooth smile and wannabe Justin Bieber haircut. All while enduring his “Ugg boots” and nauseating wife. (Yes, Giselle Bundchen is no Naomi Campbell, Adriana Lima, not to mention Cindy Crawford in my opinion.) Then so be it, suspend him and let the games begin.

The Brady suspension story will get us right through NFL training camps and pre-season games and then - boom - the NFL season starts and we can have a glimpse into the not too distant future of the Patriots, of life without Brady and his “suspect” wins on Sunday. I can’t wait! Let there be football!

Until next week, keep swinging a big stick and may all your balls land fair!!

• Naughty presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ on KISS FM 96.1 from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday. Comments and questions to naughty@tribunemedia.net