What is Deflategate? Tom Brady roast joke explained

The Netflix special, The Roast of Tom Brady, featured the former NFL quarterback receiving some jabs, but he also delivered a few of his own, including a joke about Deflategate.

On Sunday night (May 5), Brady’s roast featured a multitude of celebrities and comedians, as well as host Kevin Hart, taking shots at him and the guests. Nothing was off limits.

The Netflix special led to several controversial instances, including Kim Kardashian being booed and facing criticism from Tony Hinchcliffe, as well as Jeff Ross making a joke about the 2019 scandal involving New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

One of the topics of discussion was a joke made by Brady, which some interpreted as an admission of his involvement in the Deflategate controversy. However, what exactly is Deflategate and what was Brady’s statement?

Understanding the Deflategate Scandal

The Deflategate scandal involved accusations that Brady and the New England Patriots intentionally deflated footballs during the 2014 AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts in the National Football League. The Patriots were victorious in the game, which took place on January 18, 2015, and went on to win Super Bowl XLIX.

At the halfway point of the game, officials inspected the balls and discovered that they did not meet the minimum pressure level mandated by NFL regulations. The balls were then reinflated and the game continued normally in the second half. However, this led to a $22 million investigation by the NFL over the next few months, as it was alleged that the Patriots deliberately tampered with the balls in order to give their quarterback Brady an advantage with a softer grip.

An American football stock image — Unsplash

Members of the Patriots were accused of purposely deflating the footballs

Led by lawyer Ted Wells, the original inquiry into Deflategate involved conducting interviews with team members, conducting scientific examinations of the footballs, and examining electronic communications. In a 243-page document, the NFL concluded that there was a higher chance than not that the Patriots intentionally deflated the balls and that Brady was likely aware of this.

Despite the Patriots’ insistence on their innocence, the team was still penalized with a $1 million fine and Brady was suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season. Despite an appeal, the four-game suspension was ultimately upheld, with the primary reason being the accusation that Brady had intentionally destroyed his cell phone.

Despite his innocence, the quarterback expressed his disappointment with the NFL’s decision to uphold the four game suspension against him. In a Facebook post, he stated: “I am disappointed by the league’s choice to maintain the suspension, as neither I nor anyone in the Patriots organization did anything wrong.”

Tom Brady at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, in Denver Colorado, on December 18, 2011 — Wikimedia Commons

Tom Brady denied any wrongdoing

Despite undergoing extensive questioning over the past six months, it is disheartening that the Commissioner maintained my suspension on the grounds that it was likely I had some knowledge of the misconduct.

“I, along with the equipment person, deny any wrongdoing that we have been accused of. Despite providing hours of testimony, it is disappointing that our words were dismissed as unreliable.”

I do not agree with the narrative that was circulating about my cell phone yesterday. I acquired a new iPhone 6 to replace my damaged Samsung phone only after my legal team communicated to the NFL that my phone would not be examined under ANY circumstances.

As a union member, I was not required to establish a new precedent for the future, and at no point during Mr. Wells’ investigation was I informed that not allowing my cell phone to be investigated would lead to ANY form of punishment.

What did Tom Brady say about Deflategate?

During The Roast of Tom Brady, the ex-NFL quarterback delivered a joke about Deflategate, stating, “After the NFL spent $20 million, they concluded that it was ‘more probable than not’ that I was ‘generally aware’ of the possibility of my footballs being deflated. They could have just given me the $20 million and I would have admitted to it.”

Tom Brady busting out a #deflategate joke at #TheRoastofTomBrady. Retirement vibes are 100% IDGAF. #NFL pic.twitter.com/PEHsoVfH72

— Laura Bustamante (@LauraBusta) May 6, 2024

Despite the possibility that it may appear to be just another joke, there are many who view it as a confession, especially considering Brady’s retirement and lack of consequences. Following the airing of the Netflix roast, one individual took to X/Twitter and stated, “Tom Brady has essentially admitted to Deflategate.”

Despite the #deflategate scandal, us NFL fans were aware of Tom Brady’s involvement. However, none of the analysts, announcers, or even Roger were willing to address it. Another person expressed their thoughts, stating that the scandal involved Brady, but no one was willing to acknowledge it. In a poll conducted on the matter, 64% of responders believed that Brady had admitted to being involved in the scandal.

Despite this, there are those who view the situation differently. In fact, one person expressed their interpretation of Tom Brady’s joke as follows: “I understood it as him implying, ‘The NFL wasted a lot of money and didn’t find much, but if they had just paid me the same amount, I would have confessed to anything!’ It’s not quite a true admission, but it’s close.”

Similarly, someone else concurred, stating, “Tom Brady never explicitly stated that he deflated the balls. He merely mentioned that he would have admitted to it for $20M. Why is this difficult for you to comprehend? It was clearly stated in plain English.”

You can currently stream The Roast of Tom Brady on Netflix. If you’re in search of fresh content to watch, take a look at all the movies that are being added to streaming services this month, along with the TV shows you can add to your watchlist.