The New England Patriots on Thursday released a lengthy rebuttal to the report on possible deflation of footballs at the A.F.C. championship game, disputing many of its findings. “The conclusions of the Wells Report are, at best, incomplete, incorrect and lack context,” it contends.
The rebuttal says that “basic science fully explains the drop in psi of the Patriots footballs.” It defends the decision not to turn over Brady’s cellphone and the locker room attendant Jim McNally’s removal of footballs from the officials’ room.
It also suggests that a text mention of “deflator” referred to McNally’s efforts to lose weight.