New York's football hierarchy assembled for the 22nd annual Gridiron Gala in Manhattan Tuesday night in support of the United Way, but the topic on everyone's lips had nothing to do with the Giants or the Jets.
It was all about the Patriots.
Some 24 hours after the NFL handed down stiff penalties against Tom Brady and the Patriots for their role in using deflated footballs in the AFC Championship Game in January, many were still digesting the discipline and its meaning.
"The National Football League has researched and investigated, done their work, and you have to believe that the league has done their due diligence," said Giants coach Tom Coughlin, who was honored at the gala.