Patriots Employees Suspended Because of Deflategate Reinstated by NFL | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
As the NFL's appeal of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's nullified suspension drags on, the employees John Jastremski and Jim McNally, who were suspended for their alleged role in the Deflategate scandal, were reinstated on Sept. 16.
Doug Kyed of NESN provided a statement from the NFL:
Doug Kyed @DougKyedJim McNally and John Jastremski have officially been reinstated. #NoBallBoysNoBanner
On Monday, Sept. 14, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reported they wouldn't receive further discipline for their roles.
Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reported Jastremski serves as a locker room attendant for the Patriots and McNally is the officials' game-day attendant.
Howe also said the Patriots requested the reinstatement multiple times and have written letters to NFL executives Troy Vincent and Jeff Pash, but this is the first time the league has acknowledged a request has been received.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the following Sept. 13, citing "sources informed of the situation":
Vincent, NFL Executive VP of Football Operations, has formally requested to meet with Patriots equipment staffer John Jastremski and locker room attendant Jim McNally before either is reinstated by the franchise. ...
... Sources now say that reinstatement would have to include a face-to-face meeting with Vincent. The goal would not be re-investigate the situation around the deflated footballs or begin another back-and-forth about what did or did not happen. This case won't be re-examined.
Ted Wells' report on the Deflategate investigation claimed "it is more probable than not" Jastremski and McNally were part of a "deliberate plan" to release air from New England's footballs during the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts.
In May, when the league announced the punishment for Brady and the Patriots, the team indefinitely suspended Jastremski and McNally. There have been conflicting reports about why the two employees were suspended.
Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports weighed in on the process for the employees' reinstatement:
Charles Robinson @CharlesRobinsonSooo, #NFL absolutely, unequivocally didn't suspend the two #Patriots employees. But the NFL has to clear their reinstatement? Incongruent.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported May 19 through his official Facebook page that the NFL asked the Patriots to suspend the two, and the team complied. However, at the annual NFL spring meetings, commissioner Roger Goodell denied the league made that request.
During an appearance on WEEI radio (h/t Mike Reiss of ESPN), Brady said he would like to see Jastremski and McNally return to the Patriots: "None of those things are my decisions, but I feel terrible—like I said the other day—for what they've been put through, what their families have been put through, what my family has been put through, and what's happened."
It's still unclear what role, if any, Jastremski and McNally may have played in Deflategate.
