Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen’s relationship appears to be doing better, now that Brady’s four-game suspension has been uplifted. Bündchen was spotted visiting her husband at Gillette stadium, the home of the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Thursday, Sept. 3.
Bündchen drove to Gillette stadium and stepped out of her car with a large Givenchy Paris shopping bag. The supermodel was wearing her hair in a bun and had no makeup on. She wore a grey tee-shirt, light blue jean shorts, black rubber flip flops, and a gold necklace. Bündchen was seen holding a blue glass water bottle and her iPhone 6 on her way out of the stadium.
Brady and Bündchen have been married for the past six years and they are raising two children together. Their marriage has been under media scrutiny ever since the NFL’s investigation of Deflategate.
A photo of Gisele Bündchen taken on July 2014.
Brady, a Patriots quarterback with a cult fan-following was in danger of being disciplined for his alleged involvement in the delating of footballs used in the 2015 AFC Championship game.
“Yippee! I can go back to private texts and enjoying the game congrats #TB and @Patriots #letsmoveon,” tweeted Brady’s ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan on Thursday.
Judge Richard Berman of the Southern District of New York ruled in favor of Brady on Thursday. Berman wrote in a 40-page decision that this case was “the apparent first-ever discipline of a player based on a finding of “general awareness” of someone else’s wrongdoing.”
Berman pointed out that the NFL had “several significant legal deficiencies” in handling Deflategate. The judge also stated that Brady did not receive “notice of a four-game suspension in the circumstances” and added that a notice is “at the heart” of the U.S. “criminal and civil justice systems.”
"The court finds that Brady had no notice that he could receive a four-game suspension for general awareness of ball deflation by others,'' wrote Berman.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated that the NFL disagreed with Berman’s decision in the case of “NFL Management Council vs. NFL Players Association.” The NFL appealed to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan.
"We are grateful to Judge Berman for hearing this matter, but respectfully disagree with today's decision. We will appeal today's ruling in order to uphold the collectively bargained responsibility to protect the integrity of the game,” stated NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
“The commissioner's responsibility to secure the competitive fairness of our game is a paramount principle, and the league and our 32 clubs will continue to pursue a path to that end."
The NFL initiated a $3 million investigation regarding the game balls used in a game between the Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts. Theodore V. Wells, Jr. and his law firm discovered text messages that linked Brady with the individuals who deflated the footballs.
Brady destroyed his cellphone, along with over 10,000 text messages prior to being investigated by the NFL. Phone calls and messages to Brady were found on the records of Jim McNally, the Officials Locker Room Attendant and John Jastremski, an equipment assistant who deflated the footballs below the minimum pressure required of NFL game balls. The under-inflated footballs were discovered and re-inflated at half-time.
NFL’s Game Operations Manual states that “once the balls have left the locker room, no one, including players, equipment managers, ball boys, and coaches is allowed to alter the footballs in any way.” It further states that if anyone alters the footballs or if a non-approved ball is used, the person behind it will be disciplined.
Berman wrote that Brady’s performance improved in the second half of the Patriots vs. Colts game. “Specifically, in the first half, he completed 11 of 21 passes for 95 yards and one touchdown, and in the second half, he completed 12 of 14 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns,” stated Berman’s decision.
Robert Kraft, the owner of the Patriots was fined $1 million by the NFL. In addition, the Patriots also had to forfeit first round selection in the 2016 NFL Draft, as well as the fourth round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Brady was supposed to be suspended for four games in the 2015 regular season, without pay. Judge Berman’s ruling allowed for Brady to play in the season opener on Sept. 10 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“As I have said during this process and throughout his Patriots career, Tom Brady is a classy person of the highest integrity. He represents everything that is great about this game and this league," stated Kraft.
"Yet, with absolutely no evidence of any actions of wrongdoing by Tom in the Wells report, the lawyers at the league still insisted on imposing and defending unwarranted and unprecedented discipline. Judge Richard Berman understood this and we are greatly appreciative of his thoughtful decision that was delivered today. Now, we can return our focus to the game on the field."
The Patriots lost 9-12 against the New York Giants in a pre-season game on Thursday at Gillette stadium. The two football teams will meet again on Sunday, Nov. 15 at MetLife stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
