Count Browns coach Mike Pettine as one who thinks the Deflategate report tarnishes the image of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
Asked about Brady today, Pettine said that it’s hard not to lose respect for Brady after the Ted Wells report concluded that Brady was probably involved in having the Patriots’ footballs under-inflated.
“I’ve always had a lot of respect for him,” Pettine said, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “But I lose a lot of respect for guys who cheat.”
Of course, Brady isn’t the only one who was caught cheating this offseason. The NFL also discovered this offseason that the Browns were engaged in texting during games, in violation of league rules, and as a result Cleveland General Manager Ray Farmer was suspended. Did Pettine lose respect for Farmer, too?
But Brady is different. He may be the highest-profile player in NFL history to be found in violation of league rules. And Pettine won’t be the only one who views Deflategate as tarnishing Brady’s legacy.