Patriots quarterback Tom Brady met with the press today in Foxborough and confessed ignorance as to how New England came to be using under-inflated footballs—and, incredibly, that he didn't even notice the illegal balls.
When I pick those footballs out, at that point, you know, to me, they're perfect. I don't want anyone touching the balls after that. I don't want anyone rubbing them. [...] Wasn't even a thought, inkling of a concern of mine that, you know, they were any different. I just assumed that they were exactly the same, first half, second half.
Brady later iterated his claim that he had never knowingly played with a football that was not at 12.5 pounds of pressure. When asked if he believes the scandal to be "a media thing," Brady insisted "it's very serious. This is a very serious topic. The integrity of the sport is very important."
Brady later stated the NFL had yet to contact him about the under-inflated balls.
[Fox Sports 1]