Unsportsmanlike Conduct

If it's true that pitchers routinely cheat, that's baseball's problem. It doesn't give quarterbacks a moral hall pass to cheat, too. And there's no evidence that other quarterbacks routinely do.

As to the case against the Patriots and Brady, the report by lawyer Ted Wells makes rather convincing reading, particularly text messages between equipment assistant John Jastremski and locker room attendant Jim McNally. In the texts, McNally refers to himself, even before the start of the 2014-15 season, as "the deflator."

Did Brady know? The Jastremski-McNally texts feature discussions of Brady's interest in inflation levels, including Jastremski telling McNally that Brady "actually brought you up" and "said you must have a lot of stress trying to get them [the balls] done." The report concludes, plausibly, that the low-level aides did not likely act on their own. That Brady declined to provide emails, text and phone records does not help his case.

In the-best-defense-is-a-good-offense school of public relations, Kraft said he found "the time, effort and resources expended to reach this conclusion ... incomprehensible."

Don Yee, Brady's agent, complained that the NFL "cooperated with the Colts in perpetrating a sting operation," because the Colts expressed concern before the game. Um, a sting operation only works if those being stung are caught.

As for Brady, he helicoptered above the fray. "I haven't had much time to digest it fully, but when I do I'll be sure to let you know how I feel about it," he said at Salem State.

Apparently, being a team owner, or being its star quarterback, means never having to say you're sorry. Fine, but that lack of remorse should be factored into the punishment. And the consequence should not consist of simply writing a check, which won't hurt. It should involve a serious loss of playing time, which will.

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Ruth Marcus' email address is ruthmarcus@washpost.com.