Tom Brady on DeflateGate: 'This Isn't ISIS'

Veronica Elliot Friday, January 23, 2015

The NFL logo is seen on a trailer parked near the New Meadowlands Stadium where the New York Jets and New York Giants NFL football teams play home games in East Rutherford, New Jersey March 14, 2011. | (Photo: Reuters/Mike Segar)

New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady has spoken out in criticism of the recent "deflategate" accusations against his team, saying at a press conference that "this isn't ISIS. No one is dying."

Brady, his teammates and Patriots coach Bill Belichick have been defending themselves after they were accused of deflating 11 of the 12 balls used during Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

The Patriots handily won Sunday's game 45 to 7, and are now heading to the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks.

While fielding questions from reporters during a recent press conference at Gillette Stadium, Brady said he isn't too worried about the alleged "deflategate," as the media calls it.

When asked what he tells his friends when they question him about the allegations, Brady says he replies: "Things are going to be fine — this isn't ISIS […] No one's dying."

Brady also played down the claims in an interview with Boston's WEEI radio the day after the game.

"I think I've heard it all at this point [...] it's ridiculous," Brady said. "I don't even respond to stuff like this."

The NFL also issued a statement this week saying that they will be investigating the claims that Patriots' team balls were deflated during Sunday's game.

"Our office has been conducting an investigation as to whether the footballs used in last Sunday's AFC Championship Game complied with the specifications that are set forth in the playing rules. The investigation began based on information that suggested that the game balls used by the New England Patriots were not properly inflated to levels required by the playing rules, specifically Playing Rule 2, Section 1, which requires that the ball be inflated to between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds per square inch," the statement reads.

"Prior to the game, the game officials inspect the footballs to be used by each team and confirm that this standard is satisfied, which was done before last Sunday's game," the statement added.