Eli Manning hates seeing Tom Brady get suspended
Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who squared off with Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in two Super Bowls, takes no pleasure in seeing Brady suspended. But Manning saw it coming when he learned from the Deflategate report that Brady had broken the rules of the NFL.
“I don’t like to see anybody get suspended, I don’t like to see anybody get in trouble, so in no way am I glad to see this happen,” Manning said, via the New York Daily News. “I think it is about integrity and you have to follow the rules. So if someone’s breaking rules I understand they’re going to get punished.”
Having read the Ted Wells report, Eli Manning did his own test on underinflated footballs. “Yeah, there is a difference,” he said. “A noticeable difference.”
The January 22, 2015 Tom Brady press conference at Gillette Stadium was 32 minutes in length. There were many hesitations by Tom in his dealings with the press at that time. The best QB in the NFL looked like a rookie on the big stage. When asked if he "were a cheater?" Brady smiled and said, “I don’t think so.”
Brady was able to focus on Super Bowl XLIX, being named MVP. Eli Manning witnessed Tom Brady complete 37 of 50 passes for 328 yards, four TD's, and overcome two interceptions. He saw the 10 point fourth quarter comeback win over the Seattle Seahawks. What Eli nor any of us saw was Tom Brady turning over his text messages and emails to an NFL investigation. Tom's Super Bowl record 37 completions were not enough to keep the highest-profile NFL player from being banished for four games to the sidelines. Brady was not able to execute his game plan against Ted Wells.
Eli Manning has been present for two of the more painful NFL days for Tom Brady. There was Super Bowl XLII in 2008 and Super Bowl XLVI in 2012. The leg injury against the Kansas City Chiefs on the low tackle by S Bernard Pollard ended the season for Brady on September 7, 2008. These three events combined don't match the four game suspension levied yesterday against Tom for his involvement in DeFlateGate.
It was nice to see Eli Manning show some compassion for Tom Brady. Unlike Pittsburgh Steelers S Ryan Clark, Eli did not feel the need to pile on. Eli still respects the New England signal caller, and does not think this punishment will tarnish Brady’s legacy.
Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire. .
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