Troy Aikman says the Patriots' punishment should exceed what Saints received for bounty scandalTelevision broadcaster and former Dallas Cowboys' Troy Aikman walks the field before an NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Julie Boudwin, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
on January 22, 2015
New Orleans Saints fans might readily agree with former Dallas Cowboys quarterback broadcaster Troy Aikman, who said Thursday about the Patriots' reportedly deflating footballs when compared to the Saints' bounty scandal.
Aikman was on the 1310-AM The Ticket in Dallas and said the Patriots' reported use of deflated footballs should warrant a stiffer penalty than what the Saints received during the bounty scandal. New England Patriots blew out the Indianapolis Colts, 45-7, in the AFC title game to advance to Super Bowl 49.
"Now twice, under Bill Belichick and possibly a third time, they've cheated and given themselves an advantage. ... To me, the punishment for the Patriots and/or Bill Belichick has to be more severe than what the punishment was for the Saints."
Aikman referenced the bounty scandal in which the NFL issued sanctions to the Saints, including a season-long suspension for coach Sean Payton and initially an indefinite ban for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams along with forfeiture of draft picks in 2012.
Aikman added that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady must have known the deflated balls were being used because that doesn't happen "unless the quarterback wants that to happen."
http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2015/01/troy_aikman.html#incart_river