Cheating is one of the most unprofessional and unsportsmanlike things a person can do while playing on the highest stage of the gridiron. However, there have been many documented cases of players and coaches being caught in the act of cheating. Cases like the Tuck Rule, Deflategate, and Bountygate are all major cases of cheaters being caught while working in or for the NFL. Each time one of these scandals breaks into the public view, there is more distrust in the integrity of the current players and coaches and past legends amongst the football community.
Tom Brady is considered nothing less than the absolute greatest player to ever enter the gridiron in all of the NFL’s history. However, even after winning six championships and numerous accolades, many still wish to diminish his legacy with claims of cheating and help from the referees who control the game’s pace. One of the earliest controversies that the “GOAT” faced was the introduction and prompt exit of an unknown rule deemed the “Tuck Rule.” In 2002, during the AFC Divisional Playoff game, the Oakland Raiders, led by league MVP Rich Gannon, were playing the prior Superbowl champions, the New England Patriots. Charles Woodson, an Oakland defensive back, blitzed Tom Brady during this game. He was able to strip the ball, leading to a turnover that would have most likely secured the game. However, after a review of the play the head referee, Walt Coleman, declared the play an incomplete pass that would result in the ball returning to New England’s hands, which, after a game-tying field goal, would lead to New England winning the game and eventually the 2002 Super Bowl. Although many consider the call simply a missed call after tons of controversy about the NFL having a script to follow, some question if the call was overturned to begin the rein of Tom Brady. Whether there was actual fruition of cheating or if it was simply a bad call, the call permanently altered the perceived integrity of the game for all of Oakland after the game.
Another Tom Brady controversy made national headlines after outside forces altered another major game. During the 2014 AFC Championship game, pairing the New England Patriots against the Indianapolis Colts after a routine interception by Colts linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, the Indianapolis equipment team noticed that one of New England’s footballs measured to be around two pounds per square inch lower than the league rule. This discovery led to testing all New England’s footballs, which found five under the regulated minimum. This major discovery of cheating was blamed on New England’s starting quarterback, Tom Brady. Brady was accused of ordering his equipment management and purposefully deflating his footballs to give better grip and throw velocity. Although after following the investigation, there was no blame to be placed on Tom Brady, the NFL still found it necessary to suspend the quarterback for his implied involvement in the scandal.
Most likely, one of the scariest scandals to be brought into light during the 2009 Super Bowl Champions was the New Orleans Saints, when many of their NFC Championship game rival players claimed that the Saint’s defense was playing to injure their players compared to just stopping them. However, without any evidence, the NFL could only attempt to investigate the Saints and their team practices. This investigation would lead to the discovery that not only the existence of a bounty system within New Orleans but the involvement of almost all of the coaching staff had played some sort of role in the scandal. Of the Saints players and staff that were involved, the only coaches punished were:
- Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who was suspended indefinitely.
- Head Coach Sean Payton, who was suspended for one year.
- General Manager Mickey Loomis, who was suspended for the first eight games of the 2012 NFL season.
- Joe Vitt, assistant head coach, was suspended for the first six games of the 2012 NFL season.
Through the discovery and disciplinary action of the ”Bountygate,” the NFL was more adept at identifying and discovering the use of any form of “bounty system” as they would implement an annual investigation into each NFL team in order to ensure that no other team would attempt to mimic the overall success of the bounty system that New Orleans experienced.
Though the NFL has been alleged to be completely unbiased, many more cases of referees missing calls or changing vital penalties completely change the outcome of many games. Even with the modernization of many other professional sports, the NFL has been one of the slower leagues in adapting any real modern changes that can identify and enforce these vital moments during games.