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Joe Montana Calls DeflateGate 'Funny'

BOSTON (CBS) -- Tom Brady often finds himself compared to his NFL hero growing up, Joe Montana.

So Brady will be happy to hear Montana's take on the recent DeflateGate mess. Montana, in one word, called the situation, "Funny."

"It is one of those things that is a rule, right?" Montana said. "It might be a dumb rule, but it doesn't matter. He didn't deflate them himself, but you can pick up the ball and can tell if it is underinflated, overinflated or what you like. Everybody is afraid to say it, but if the guy did it, so what. Just pay up and move on. It's no big deal."

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Mark Kaboly caught up with Montana while he was in town for a Gridiron Gold event. The four-time Super Bowl champ, who earlier said Brady ordered the inflating of footballs but that it is, "No big deal." This time he added that everyone is doing something to get an added edge on the field.

"Everybody is trying to do something different," Montana said. "Our offensive linemen used to spray silicone on their shirts until they got caught. Once you get caught, you get caught. Period. It doesn't take anything away from Tom's game. But how long has he been doing it? I don't know."

Brady, also a four-time Super Bowl Champion, was suspended for four games for his role in the ordeal. He has appealed the league's discipline, with a hearing scheduled for June 23.

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