Patriots Employee Jim McNally Calls Self 'Deflator' In Texts, Appears To Not Like Tom Brady
BOSTON (CBS) -- While the Wells Report isn't exactly what the New England Patriots and their fans were hoping for, there are a few interesting exchanges that have come to light thanks to Ted Wells' lengthy investigation.
Most of them come in the form of text messages between Jim McNally, the officials locker room attendant at Gillette, and John Jastremski, a Patriots equipment assistant. In Wells' novel of a report, the two are mentioned a combined 1,041 times.
Read: The Wells Report (.pdf)
Not only does it seem like the McNally, a seasonal employee for the Pats for 32 years, really dislikes working with the greatest quarterback of all time, but his texts also hint that this wasn't just a one-time occurrence with under-inflated footballs.
At one point, McNally even referred to himself as, "The Deflator."
Here's an exchange between the two the morning after New England's October 17 game against the New York Jets. Brady complained about the condition of the game footballs following the win.
McNally: Tom sucks... im going make that next ball a (expletive) balloon.
Jastremski: Talked to him last night. He actually brought you up and said you must have a lot of stress trying to get them done…
Jastremski: I told him it was. He was right though...
Jestremski: I checked some of the balls this morn... The refs (expletive) us... a few were at almost 16 [PSI]
Jestremski: They didn't check then after they put air in them
McNally: (Expletive) tom... 16 is nothing... wait till next sunday
Jestremski: Omg! Spaz
Just a few days later, McNally text Jestremeski, "Make sure you blow up the ball to look like a rugby ball so tom can get used to it before sunday," referencing the Patriots' October 26 game against the Chicago Bears.
Two days after that text, the two had this exchange:
Jestremski: Can't wait to give you your needle this week :)
McNally: (Expletive) tom... make sure the pump is attached to the needle... (Expletive) watermelons coming
Jestremski: So angry
McNally: The only thing deflating sun...is his passing rating
Brady completed 30-of-35 passes that afternoon for five touchdowns and 354 yards, good for a passer rating of 148.4.
McNally and Jastremski's later text exchanges also make reference to McNally (referred to as "Bird" in Jastremski's phone) receiving sneakers (McNally also joked that Brady may be giving out some Uggs) and other memorabilia for his work on the footballs.
But perhaps the most damning of their exchanges came well before any Deflategate blew up, back on May 9 before the season even began.
McNally: Nice dude...jimmy needs some kicks...lets make a deal....come on help the deflator
Jestremski did not respond, prompting McNally to text him back eight minutes later.
McNally: Chill buddy im just (expletive) with you....im not going to espn........yet
Brady denied knowing McNally's name and game preparation routine when interviewed by Wells, which contradicted what Jestremski had told him about the two. Brady and Jestremski also spoke often after the controversy broke, and exchanged some texts as well, including this short text conversation on January 19 -- the morning after the AFC Championship game against the Colts.
Brady: You good Jonny boy?
Jastremski: Still nervous, so far so good though. I'll be alright
Brady: You didn't do anything wrong bud.
Jestremski: I know, I'll be all good.
Later, Jastremski sent Brady a text to warn him someone would be coming to speak to him about the matter.
"He's not accusing me or anyone," the text read, "trying to get to bottom of it. He know's it is unrealistic you did it yourself."
A few hours later, Brady requested Jestremski come to the QB room -- essentially Brady's office at Gillette -- for the first time in his 20-plus year career with the team. Jestremski told Wells that meeting lasted just a few minutes, with Brady praising and thanking him for his preparation of the footballs for the AFC Championship game. Jastremski said the two did not discuss anything Deflategate.
While all we can really tell from the Wells Report is that Tom Brady likes his footballs on the lower level of inflation, everything released in the report certainly isn't making Brady look very good. Things will likely get a bit worse with a punishment from the league likely coming.
Not to mention, his feelings are probably a little hurt as well after reading McNally vent about his football preference. It's a good bet that McNally won't be receiving any of those Uggs for Christmas anytime soon.
