Patriots fans around Lynn outraged Brady denied appeal

LYNN – As the news broke of Tom Brady?s appeal being denied by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Patriots? quarterback?s four-game suspension being upheld, New England fans reacted. Among supporters in Lynn on Tuesday, the decision was met with outrage, disappointment, and vehement disagreement.
When asked what she thought about the ruling, Everett resident Lily Cirolo had some choice words, some of which would be unfit for print.
?The (air pressure) of the ball didn?t make the Colts score only 7 points,” Cirolo said, referring to the Patriots? 45-7 win over the Colts in the AFC Championship, the game in which the balls were ruled to have been underinflated. “This is ridiculous, and I don?t understand why (the NFL) is hating on the Patriots.
?The punishment is over the top ? I figured he?d have to pay a fine, and then we could all let the whole thing go,” Cirolo said. “Upholding this is like a slap against humanity. You can beat your wife and get a lesser punishment,” she added, referring to former Baltimore Raven Ray Rice, who initially was handed a two-game suspension after he was charged with third-degree aggravated assault against his then-fiancee. (After Rice was later suspended indefinitely by the NFL, he appealed in federal court and won. He reached a settlement with the Ravens and is now a free agent.)
A common theme among those polled was the suspicion that the league was singling out Brady and the Patriots, for whatever reason.
“I think it’s the most outrageous thing in the NFL,” said Lynn?s Tom Martin. “It’s not just Brady, (Packers quarterback) Aaron Rodgers admitted to having his balls tampered with, too. This defeats having a (players?) union if you can’t fight this.”
?I don?t understand why he?s getting punished for something other people did,” said Cambridge resident Rosemarie D?Alfonso, referring to the fact that there is no evidence that Brady himself tampered with the footballs. “I mean, how many people handled the ball before it got onto the field? (The league) likes to pick on and single out the Patriots. I get that it?s part of the rules, but the ball doesn?t make the plays.”
?I personally think that (the NFL is) trying to keep (Brady) down,” said Lynn?s Randy Jackson. “I really don?t think that any of this is necessary, and I hope he comes right back from this.”
Brady?s camp and the NFL Players Association have announced they intend to appeal the decision in federal court, which Lynn?s Patrick Smith supports.
?I definitely think it should be taken to court,” said Smith. “Honestly, I thought they came down pretty tough on him. I thought maybe he?d get it reduced to two games and a fine. They were pretty rough on him.”
But one fan, Lynn native Bob Eldridge, is looking ahead to the season, confident that Brady will put the drama behind him.
“In the end, he’s still going to play because of the injunction,” said Eldridge. “The Pats will still win the Super Bowl. Brady is going to go to court, play the entire season, win the Super Bowl again, and then retire with five (Super Bowl rings) and tell Goodell to ? ”
Well, you get the idea.Katie Morrison can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @KatieMo61.