Skip to main content
Monday, November 9, 2026Nov 9

This story is free to read.

NFL investigator says he found direct evidence against Brady

FILE- In this Jan. 23, 2015, file photo, New England Patriots backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, left, holds a football as starting quarterback Tom Brady, right, stands by during a walkthrough at the NFL football team's facility in Foxborough, Mass. The NFL suspended Brady for the first four games on Monday, May 11, 2015, for his role in a scheme to deflate footballs used in the AFC title game. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
FILE- In this Jan. 23, 2015, file photo, New England Patriots backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, left, holds a football as starting quarterback Tom Brady, right, stands by during a walkthrough at the NFL football team's facility in Foxborough, Mass. The NFL suspended Brady for the first four games on Monday, May 11, 2015, for his role in a scheme to deflate footballs used in the AFC title game. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) FILE- In this Jan. 23, 2015, file photo, New England Patriots backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, left, holds a football as starting quarterback Tom Brady, right, stands by during a walkthrough at the NFL football team's facility in Foxborough, Mass. The NFL suspended Brady for the first four games on Monday, May 11, 2015, for his role in a scheme to deflate footballs used in the AFC title game. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

NEW YORK (AP) – The lawyer who investigated the New England Patriots says that he had found direct, not just circumstantial, evidence to show quarterback Tom Brady knew about employees deflating footballs.

Ted Wells said on a conference call Tuesday that his findings would have been enough to convince a jury in a civil trial under the “preponderance of evidence” standard.

Wells released his report last Wednesday, asserting it was “more probable than not” that Brady “was at least generally aware” of plans by two team employees to prepare the balls to his liking, below the league-mandated minimum of 12.5 pounds per square inch.

On Monday, Brady was suspended for the season’s first four games. A day later, Wells angrily refuted criticism from Brady’s agent.

___

AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL