NFL Rumors: New England Patriots Tom Brady Gets Love from NFL Owners, Goodell Rejects Deflategate Appeal

By Mitch de Leon
Tom Brady
The New England Patriots are looking for a backup to replace Tom Brady. Keith Allison/Wikimedia Commons

The New England Patriots are refusing to back down from the fight versus Roger Goodell. The "Deflategate" scandal, which dragged on from their AFC face off against the Indianapolis Colts in 2014, once again hounds Tom Brady and his team. In the recent ruling regarding the issue, the four-game suspension of the New England Patriots quarterback was reinstated. Given the status of the team in the NFL, one would assume that the other owners in the league would rejoice over this decision. However, the opposite occurred as Brady received support from opposing teams like the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets.

The "Deflategate" scandal, which effectively ruined the reputation of the only quarterback deemed worthy to stand head to head against Peyton Manning, placed the entire NFL under serious scrutiny. Amid the cheating rumors and accusations, however, the New England Patriots stood by Brady and his skills in the gridiron. With the recent show of support from other team owners, it looks like only Roger Goodell and his panel believe in the guilt of the quarterback.

Despite the show of support to Brady, the NFL stood firm by their move to reinstate the four-game suspension. This means that the New England Patriots will not have a quarterback, at least someone with Brady's experience, in the initial games of the season. In an earlier Gospel Herald report, it was disclosed that the former Super Bowl champs are considering signing Brian Hoyer. The rumored sub, who is fresh off from his stint with the Houston Texans, is no stranger to the New England Patriots. In fact, Hoyer had been with the Brady squad in 2009 until 2012.

"I think the most important thing from the ruling is that the judgment that the district court made last summer was incorrect. They obviously reversed that," said Goodell of the decision on the "Deflategate" scandal. He added, "They reinforced our authority here, and they reinforced the fact that we have the facts correct, that it was a fair process and that we came to the conclusion that they supported. From our standpoint, we think that's the right decision and frankly should have been the decision last time."

Goodell also asserted his firm decision to not reduce the penalty imposed on Brady. This move, he said, will be implemented regardless of the opinions of the NFL team owners. That is, Goodell has no plans of being influenced by other big wigs in the league. Instead, the NFL commissioner has every intention to follow the ruling and not waiver from his stand.

"I listen to everybody, but we've had these discussions," shared Goodell. He continued to say, "This was an issue just about a year ago. When we make these decisions, it's with a tremendous amount of thought, a tremendous amount of consideration. Our staff worked very hard on it, and I think that we have given that full consideration."

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.