14 Biggest NFL Scandals of All Time

14. Deflategate

There’s hardly a better way to start this list but with one of the most recent big scandals that have shaken the NFL. It’s probably still fresh in the memory of football fans across the globe, but to remind you – the scandal happened during the 2014 AFC Championship game between New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. Blowout in such an important game raised suspicion of foul play, and where’s smoke, there’s fire; right? New England Patriots, and especially their prized quarterback Tom Brady were accused of purposely deflating the footballs used in the game. Every team is responsible for their own footballs, that’s true – but they have to inflate them to a gauge pressure between 12.5 and 13.5 psi. Needless to say, 11 out of 12 of New England’s footballs inspected at half time exhibited gauge pressure 2 psi lower than allowed minimum. Brady was suspended for four games of the 2015/16 season based on “substantial and credible evidence” which holds him accountable for knowing about the deflation and failing to fully cooperate with the investigators (destruction of his cell phone). After his initial appeal had been rejected, Brady’s suspension was finally overturned in court. Whether he knew about the deflation or not, he has led his team to another AFC Championship game this season, only to be stopped by Manning’s Broncos in a thrilling game whose outcome was decided in the final possession.

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