Many are speculating over why New England Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft and former head coach Bill Belichick were not inducted into the Hall of Fame. And a new voice has chimed in, explaining why Tom Brady is distancing himself from them.

Former NFL quarterback Shaun King spoke to Jason Whitlock on Friday and alluded that their massive past scandals are costing the Patriots these honors now.

“The NFL has sent a message to that New England Patriot era, that ‘we feel like you guys cheated for your success.’ Only thing that makes sense, right?” King said in an X post shared by Whitlock.

“There’s some undercurrent that’s really powerful. Tom Brady distancing himself from that energy makes all the sense in the world.”

King Believes That The Patriots Are Excluded From the Institution Due to Their Rule-Bending Tendencies

In 2105, Tom Brady was under the spotlight for a scandal dubbed “Deflategate.”

An investigation by lawyer Ted Wells concluded that the Patriots were using underinflated footballs to their advantage in the AFC game that year. The Investigation said that it “was more probable than not” that Brady had been “at least generally aware” of it. 

King stated that Brady is doing the most to stay away from his former associates to ensure this issue does not affect him in 2028, when he's eligible for the honor.

“He’s comin’ up here in what, next year or year after? He’ll be on the ballot. Now’s he’s got a period where he can go out besides someone’s energy so it don’t spill over to him,” King said.

Whitlock assessed King’s imposition and said he doesn’t believe that Brady would face difficulty in getting in the Hall of Fame. 

“We didn’t think Bill would struggle. We didn’t think Robert Kraft would struggle,” King replied immediately.

King was referring to another massive scandal that broke out seven years prior and marred Belichick's reputation.

On the opening Sunday in 2007, Matt Estrella, a 26-year-old video assistant for the Patriots, was caught recording the defensive signals sent by the New York Jets’ coaching staff in the first half of the game. 

As per ESPN, an investigation later revealed that the Patriots had a library full of “scouting material containing videotapes of opponents' signals, with detailed notes matching signals to plays for many teams going back seven seasons.” 

The investigators found handwritten diagrams and notes of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive signals used in the 2002 AFC Championship Game, which the Patriots won 24-17.

This library was accessible only to Belichick and a few others. Belichick, who owned upto this strategy by saying “my mistake,” was fined $500,000. And the franchise had to pay a $250,000 fine. 

The Patriots were a long-reigning dynasty for over 20 years and won six Super Bowl championships. But with history catching up to them, is Brady next in line for similar treatment?

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Joyita Das