Thursday 14 May 2015 17:46, UK
The New England Patriots have refuted claims by the Wells Report over the scandal surrounding the use of deflated footballs in the NFL play-offs last season, saying it lacks context.
Ted Wells, an attorney hired by the NFL to investigate the 'Deflategate' scandal, issued a 243-page report that said Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was most likely aware of the plot to deflate balls in the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Wells responded on Tuesday to allegations by Brady's agent that the investigation was biased. The star quarterback received a four-game suspension.
Patriots lawyers claim the conclusions of the report are "at best, incomplete, incorrect and lack context" in a statement.
It continued: "The Report dismisses the scientific explanation for the natural loss of psi of the Patriots footballs by inexplicably rejecting the referee's recollection of what gauge he used in his pregame inspection.
"Texts acknowledged to be attempts at humor and exaggeration are nevertheless interpreted as a plot to improperly deflate footballs, even though none of them refer to any such plot.
"There is no evidence that Tom Brady preferred footballs that were lower than 12.5 psi and no evidence anyone even thought that he did.
"All the extensive evidence which contradicts how the texts are interpreted by the investigators is simply dismissed as 'not plausible'. Inconsistencies in logic and evidence are ignored.
"Our intention is to provide additional context for balance and consideration."
The Patriots defeated Indianapolis 45-7, then went on to beat the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl to become four-time champions.
