News broke this afternoon that the NFL is upholding Tom Brady’s four-game suspension for his alleged role in Deflategate.
The NFL also announced that Brady allegedly ordered his assistant to destroy his cell phone “on or around March 6,” the day Brady met with investigator Ted Wells. Brady had allegedly been using the phone since November 2014.
The NFL on Brady destroying his phone. Wow pic.twitter.com/WlzE5Aajjl
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) July 28, 2015
Patriots fans were quick to jump to Brady’s defense.
@rjrecch1333 @BenVolin how? Lol. You realize that the nfl just made this statement but there's no proof it happened right?
— Ricky Napolitano (@RickyN1989) July 28, 2015
@Rachel__Nichols he gets a lot a of nudes from more than his wife. I understand destroying the evidence. Doesn't want to be the next tiger
— Ryan (@ryantn615) July 28, 2015
@Rachel__Nichols Damm! I don't keep my old phone when I get a new one. That ain't evidence of trying to cover up cheating
— Tyler Hamm (@tylerhamm35) July 28, 2015
But according to the NFL, Brady’s alibi — that he always destroys his old phones to protect his privacy — was easily deflated, as the phone he used prior to November 2014 was not destroyed and was available to investigators for review.
From the #NFL appeal ruling: Tom Brady's explanation on why he destroyed his cell phone: pic.twitter.com/QWk5hql76L
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) July 28, 2015
Of course, parody Twitter accounts started popping up right away.
I would like to report that Tommy treats me right and would never hurt me
— Tom Bradys Phone (@TomBradysPhone) July 28, 2015
@BleacherReport Fine, good, great. He showed no mercy to ME. I knew too much. #DeflateGate #CellphoneHolocaust
— Tom Brady's Phone (@BradyPhone) July 28, 2015
And the Internet went into overdrive, with people quickly tracking down every phone-smashing GIF ever created.
Brady destroyed a phone? Apparently that's just what champions do. pic.twitter.com/e0taYvLr6O
— Maggie Rogers (@MaggieERogers) July 28, 2015
When the NFL asked to see Tom Brady's phone during the #DeflateGate investigation pic.twitter.com/rDDIG5gpBB
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) July 28, 2015
Goodell: Let me see the phone, Tom.
Tom Brady: pic.twitter.com/vsxjWl6qZH
— NIGris Elba (@hosienation) July 28, 2015
tom brady really be like pic.twitter.com/6THHkfG1gP
— Jeremy Woo (@Jeremy_Woo) July 28, 2015
Tom Brady when the NFL asked him to turn in his cell phone pic.twitter.com/FNSWCT6Z2t
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) July 28, 2015
Footage of Tom Brady giving his phone to Rodger Goodell https://t.co/3nNlAydy7R
— Eric Rosenthal (@ericsports) July 28, 2015
Tom Brady: pic.twitter.com/QZDJsShVLk
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) July 28, 2015
Obviously Brady didn’t think to use this excuse.
Tom Brady be like pic.twitter.com/Xa5MlIKzj5
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) July 28, 2015
[Photo via DailyMVP]