FYI, the Patriots are worth $2.6 billion.
Poor Tom Brady! Boo hoo!
The quarterback has been suspended for four games without pay for his knowledge of -- if not full participation in -- the so-called “Deflategate.” Meanwhile, the New England Patriots have been fined $1 million and must forfeit their first-round draft pick in 2016 and fourth-round pick in 2017.
Now, a Pats fan named Michael J. Whitman has started a GoFundMe crowd-funding page to raise the $1 million. “We obviously know we won’t reach One Million Dollars,” Whitman disclaimers. “However we do believe the fine is bulls**t and want to help anyway we can.”
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As of now, the page has raised over $7,000, with many fans chipping in $12 to show their solidarity with Brady, who wears the No. 12 jersey. “He don’t deserve it,” one fan wrote alongside his donation. “They got it wrong.”
“out [sic] of a sense of powerlessness in the face of autocratic evil a great rage emerges. I also believe NE fans should boycott Sunday Night Football for the 2015 season,” another wrote, while a different fan said, “I’m not exactly rolling in the cash but I can do this for a cause.”
Let us present you with a few numbers (via Forbes):
-The New England Patriots were valued at $2.6 BILLION in 2014, the second most valuable team in the NFL, after only the Dallas Cowboys.
-Patriots owner Robert Kraft has a net worth of $4.3 BILLION.
-Tom Brady himself has made over $150 MILLION in the NFL.
-THE NFL HAS NEVER EVEN PAID TAXES. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says they will start paying taxes this year, but for 70 years the NFL has kept every cent they’ve made.
One million dollars is chump change to these people. Just off the top of our head, here are a few actual causes that would be more worthy of donations: Relief efforts in Nepal, any anti-domestic violence organization, the homeless, animals, etcetera.
Please do not donate to this, people. It is truly, supremely stupid.
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As for Brady’s suspension, NFL Executive VP Troy Vincent said in a statement, “The integrity of the game is of paramount importance to everyone in our league, and requires unshakable commitment to fairness and compliance with the playing rules.”
“Each player, no matter how accomplished and otherwise respected, has an obligation to comply with the rules and must be held accountable for his actions when those rules are violated and the public’s confidence in the game is called into question,” he continued. Brady’s agent says it’s “ridiculous” and Brady will appeal.
A brief aside: Whether the (alleged) crime fits the punishment or not, Brady’s four game suspension seems stiff, when the NFL originally only suspended Ray Rice for two games after knocking his fiancée out in an elevator. It was only changed after the NFL -- and the public, more importantly -- saw the video. But that’s probably more of a commentary on the NFL’s issues with domestic violence. End of aside.
Anyway, don’t cry for Tom Brady. He’ll probably be fine.
Light a candle tonight for Tom Brady who will miss four games. With Gisele. In this house. pic.twitter.com/ssuxhszKH8
— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) May 11, 2015poor tom brady this guy just can't seem to catch a break pic.twitter.com/tjApdTaTxQ
— Max (@MaxwellJohn) May 11, 2015Speaking of sports controversies, hear what Jamie Foxx had to say about everyone hating on his recent “Star-Spangled Banner” performance:
