It seems that a number of coaches across the NFL believe the findings of the Wells Report - the investigation into the lowered inflation levels of footballs used by the New England Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady during the AFC Championship Game - warrant fairly harsh sanctions for the Pats and their future Hall of Fame quarterback.
According to a report from Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, various unnamed NFL coaches want Brady suspended and Pats head coach Bill Belichick and his staff fined for their alleged transgressions and lapses spelled out in Ted Wells' report.
"In talking to four head coaches from around the league last night, they're basically tired of what the Patriots are doing and they're pretty tired of the NFL's stance of not taking a hardline as with the Atlanta and Cleveland situations and what they really want to see in this situation is a suspension of some kind for Tom Brady, a fine for the Patriots of a significant amount and they really want to put an end to all of this," Cole reports.
"One of those coaches called this a quote-unquote, 'mess,' that needs to be fixed as soon as possible. Other coaches have been livid with the continual sort of line stepping by Bill Belichick and the Patriots. They want to see this put to the end, once and for all."
Brady's agent, Don Yee, released a statement early Thursday essentially calling into question every aspect of the Wells Report and its findings, dubbing the investigation "a significant and terrible disappointment."
Patriots owner Robert Kraft essentially did the same in a statement of his own shortly after the report was published, so it's safe to assume the Pats believe there was no wrongdoing on their part and that they should remain unpunished.
If Cole's report is accurate, at least a portion of the rest of the league's coaches don't feel the same.
Whether that results in a punishment beyond what the Falcons were assessed for piping in false crowd noise during home games - the forfeiture of a 2016 fifth-round draft pick and the assessment of a $350,000 fine - and what the Browns received for GM Ray Farmers decision to send impermissible communications to the sidelines during a game last season - a four-game suspension for Famer and the assessment of a $250,000 fine - remains to be seen.
