The Deflategate Text Messages
The NFL report done by league lawyer Tom Wells that concluded that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady “was at least generally aware” that balls were deliberately being under-inflated for the AFC Championship game, also included some interesting text conversations.
As part of the Wells report, text messages between locker room attendant Jim McNally and equipment assistant John Jastremski earlier in the season were released as well as between Tom Brady and Jastremski, when the Deflategate story broke. Things we learned include, the staff thinks Tom Brady is crazy and sucks, talk of deflating footballs was going on throughout the season and it’s not always great getting a text message from a Super Bowl winning quarterback.
Read more at newsweek.com
During an October 16 Thursday night contest between the Patriots and the New York Jets, Jastremski and McNally exchanged the following texts:
Jastremski: “Tom is acting crazy about balls.”
Unknown number presumed to be McNally: “He saying there [sic] not good enough??”
Jastremski: “Tell later.”
The following morning:
McNally: “Tom sucks…I’m going make that next ball a fucking balloon.”
Jastremski: “Talked to him last night. He actually brought you up and said you must have a lot of stress trying to get that done.”
Jastremski: “I checked some of the balls this morn…the refs fucked us…a few of them were at almost 16 [psi; regulation is closer to 12.5 psi].”
McNally: “Fuck Tom….16 is nothing…wait till next Sunday.”
Jastremski: “OMG! Spaz.”
A week later, Jastremski and McNally texted again regarding footballs and air pressure:
Jastremski: “Can’t wait to give you another needle this week.”
McNally: “Fuck tom….make sure the pump is attached to the needle….fuckin watermelons comin this week.”
Jastremski: “So angry”
McNally: “The only thing deflating sun…is his passing rating”
The morning after the AFC Championship Game against the Colts, the “Deflategate” story was broke by the Indianapolis Star’s Bob Kravitz. Tom Brady started texting with assistant equipment manager John Jastremski once the word about under-inflated balls was out.
Brady: “You good Jonny boy?”
Jastremski: “Still nervous; so far so good, though. I’ll be alright.”
Brady: “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Later on, Jastremski texted a heads-up to Brady:
Jastremski: “FYI…Dave [Schoenfeld, the team’s equipment manager] will be picking your brain later about it. He’s not accusing me, or anyone…trying to get to bottom of it. He knows it’s unrealistic you did it yourself.”
Brady: “No worries bud. We are all good.”
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