Tom Brady On DeflateGate: 'We Have All Lost'
BOSTON (CBS) - Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is breaking his silence about the deflategate controversy. In a statement posted to Facebook Friday night, Brady thanked his family, teammates and fans for supporting him, but says he is "sorry the league had to endure this."
Tom Brady beat Roger Goodell in federal court, but says "to a large degree, we have all lost."
Brady will be under center for the Patriots on opening night next Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Read full statement from Tom Brady:
The regular season starts tomorrow morning and I can't wait to fully commit my energy and emotion to focus on the challenges of the 2015 NFL season. I want to thank my family, my friends, all of the fans, past and current players and my teammates for the support they have given me throughout this challenging experience. I also want to thank Judge Berman and his staff for their efforts to resolve this matter over the past five weeks. I am very grateful. My thanks also to the union's legal team who has fought so hard right along with me. While I am pleased to be eligible to play, I am sorry our league had to endure this. I don't think it has been good for our sport - to a large degree, we have all lost. I am also sorry to anyone whose feelings I may have hurt as I have tried to work to resolve this situation. I love the NFL. It is a privilege to be a member of the NFL community and I will always try to do my best in representing my team and the league in a way that would make all members of this community proud. I look forward to the competition on the playing field and I hope the attention of NFL fans can return to where it belongs - on the many great players and coaches who work so hard every week, and sacrifice so much, to make this game great. Most importantly, I look forward to representing the New England Patriots on Thursday night in our season opener. I hope to make all of our fans proud this year … and beyond!
Brady was suspended by the NFL for being "at least generally aware" of ball deflation during the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts.
The NFL says they will appeal Judge Berman's decision to vacate the suspension.
