Watch CBS News

Got Your Back: Patriots Change Social Media Avatars To Pictures Of Tom Brady

BOSTON (CBS) -  Tom Brady, the future Hall of Fame quarterback of the Patriots, has come under some scrutiny for being "generally aware" that two team employees probably deflated footballs in the AFC Championship game back in January.

The league announced on Monday that the signal caller entering his 16th season will serve a four-game suspension, and the team will be issued a $1 million fine and docked two draft picks for the infraction.

If there's any doubt about what the mindset of the New England Patriots is after being handed down unprecedented discipline for their role in the DeflateGate scandal, then that uncertainty dissipated on Tuesday.

In the face of adversity, the Patriots threw up a giant, figurative middle finger made changes to three of their social media accounts on Tuesday afternoon, which speaks volumes of their support of Brady in the aftermath of the NFL's DeflateGate discipline.

The avatars on all three accounts --  Facebook, Twitter and Instagram -- are now photos of Tom Brady, signifying the team will not go down without a fight in this case, something Peter King and others have hinted at.

Facebook:

patriots on FB new profile pic - brady jersey
(Screenshot)

Twitter:

patriots on twitter new avatar
(Screenshot)

Instagram:

Instagram patriots - new profile pic brady shirt
(Screenshot)

Brady's agent, Don Yee, said the Patriots QB will appeal the league's punishment, and there is little doubt the team will be behind Brady every step of the way.

#NoBradyNoBanner is an online movement started by Mike Curtis, a longtime listener and fan of 98.5 The Sports Hub, that states Gillette Stadium will not raise the Super Bowl XLIX banner on NFL's opening night, Thursday September 10, unless Brady is present and playing.

If Brady's four-game suspension is upheld, and Patriots fans have their way, Gillette Stadium will not raise their championship banner until Sunday October 25 against the New York Jets.

Patriots Super Bowl Banners
(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.