Reports: Ted Wells will attend Tom Brady’s Deflategate appeal hearing
Ted Wells, the NFL’s lead investigator in the Deflategate scandal, will be present for Tom Brady’s appeal hearing on Tuesday, Albert Breer of the NFL Network reported Monday.
Wells took 103 days to investigate and write a report on whether or not the Patriots deliberately deflated footballs in the AFC Championship Game. He concluded that it was “more probable than not that New England Patriots personnel participated in violations of the Playing Rules and were involved in a deliberate effort to circumvent the rules.’’
“Based on the evidence, it also is our view that it is more probable than not that Tom Brady (the quarterback for the Patriots) was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities,’’ Wells said in his report, implicating the four-time Super Bowl winning quarterback.
The NFL suspended Brady for four games for his role in the scandal, citing the Wells report.
“We relied on the critical importance of protecting the integrity of the game and the thoroughness and independence of the Wells report,’’ NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. Goodell appointed himself to hear Brady’s appeal.
Wells will reportedly be present so he can argue the merit of his report after a report from the American Enterprise Institute think tank called the Wells report “deeply flawed.’’
No one from A.E.I. is currently expected to attend the appeal. Breer’s report was later confirmed by ESPN and the Boston Globe.
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Timeline of Deflategate
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