Tom Brady claims no wrongdoing in Deflategate, defends Patriots

Tom Brady vowed to fight his four-game suspension for the scandal known as Deflategate, writing Wednesday in a 507-word Facebook post: "I did nothing wrong, and no one in the Patriots organization did either."

Breaking his silence a day after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell upheld the punishment, Brady also denied destroying his cellphone to keep it out of the hands of investigators.

"To suggest that I destroyed a phone to avoid giving the NFL information it requested is completely wrong," the three-time Super Bowl MVP said. "There is no 'smoking gun' and this controversy is manufactured to distract from the fact they have zero evidence of wrongdoing."

Brady was suspended four games and the team was docked $1 million US and two draft picks after the league found improperly inflated footballs were used in the AFC championship game against the Indianapolis Colts. Investigator Ted Wells zeroed in on two equipment managers, one who called himself "The Deflator," and said Brady was "at least generally aware" of the illegal deflation scheme.

The Patriots went on to win the Super Bowl for their fourth NFL title under Brady and coach Bill Belichick.

I respect the commissioner's authority, but he also has to respect the [collective bargaining agreement] and my rights as a private citizen.- Patriots QB Tom Brady after the NFL upheld his 4-game suspension

Brady, who had earlier denied cheating accusations with the tepid "I don't think so," more forcefully defended himself in the Facebook post, claiming he co-operated with the investigation except where doing so would have set a bad precedent for his union brethren.

"I respect the commissioner's authority, but he also has to respect the [collective bargaining agreement] and my rights as a private citizen," Brady wrote. "I will not allow my unfair discipline to become a precedent for other NFL players without a fight."

Much of the post involved an explanation of Brady's cellphone swap, which was cited by Goodell as new evidence of the quarterback's failure to co-operate. Brady said he replaced a broken phone only after his lawyers told the league they couldn't have it.

"Most importantly, I have never written, texted, emailed to anybody at any time, anything related to football air pressure before this issue was raised at the AFC Championship game in January," he wrote.

Brady's comments were liked by 51,000 people, including his wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, in the first 30 minutes after it was posted on Facebook. The Patriots were scheduled to open training camp later Wednesday; it was not clear when Brady would speak to the media for the first time.

Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty says the team supports Brady in his fight against the NFL.

Faith in Garoppolo

He also says he has faith in backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo if he has to fill in for the three-time Super Bowl MVP during his four-game suspension. McCourty says Garoppolo has shown to be a hungry player who wants to improve. He says the second-year quarterback has been listening to Brady and trying to emulate him.

McCourty says the Patriots will approach training camp the way coach Bill Belichick tells them. That means each player focusing on football, concentrating on his own job and trying to get better.

Belichick says Brady's suspension and the saga surrounding deflated footballs won't alter his team's preparation for the season.

Belichick deflected all questions about the scandal known as "Deflategate" on Wednesday. Instead of offering his take, Belichick referred to statements about the issue from team owner Robert Kraft as his team opened training camp.

When asked whether Garoppolo would get more practice in camp, Belichick replied by saying: "We practice everybody."

Belichick says every player needs to re-establish his level of performance.

Belichick says when asked whether he has spoken to Brady that he talks to the team every day.

He says the team is focused now on getting the team ready for the 2015 season.