On day 500 of Deflategate, here’s the saga’s estimated cost
'Billable hours' has become as important as 'more probable than not.'
June 1 means that the Deflategate saga is officially 500 days old. As Tom Brady and his legal team await word on whether they will be granted a rehearing, it’s time to take stock of the NFL scandal that began because of the alleged deflation of footballs on January 19, 2015. And, thanks to ESPN’s Darren Rovell, we can even gain some scope of its total cost (so far).
According to Rovell, the estimated cost of Deflategate has bled all parties involved a combined $22.5 million. That means $14.7 million from the NFL (the largest financial loser in this equation), $7.1 million from the NFL Players Association and $750,000 from the Patriots.
New England’s costs stem mostly from hiring a legal team to compose a 20,000 word answer to the infamous Wells Report. More recently, the same firm wrote an amicus brief on Brady’s behalf.
Deflategate still has a few more months to go before it can completely equal the original “gate,” (Watergate), which lasted more than 700 days from June, 1972 through August, 1974. Of course, given the resolve that each side has displayed in the ongoing case, there’s no reason to think that Deflategate won’t eclipse that mark.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com