Carson Palmer On Tom Brady’s Suspension: Patriots QB Is ‘Suffering The Consequences’

Carson Palmer, quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, seems to think Tom Brady deserves his four-game suspension for his involvement in the ‘Deflate-gate’ controversy, saying the Patriots quarterback is simply “suffering the consequences” of his actions.

Carson Palmer On Tom Brady’s Suspension: Patriots QB Is ‘Suffering The Consequences’

Brady, 39, is banned for the first four games of this season for his involvement in the scandal surrounding the deliberate deflating of footballs during the Patriots’ AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts in January 2015.

Palmer weighed in on the suspension ahead of the Cardinals’ season opener against the Patriots, which is scheduled for Sunday night in Arizona.

“I tried not to follow it just because it was everywhere for so long,” Palmer said on Wednesday of the drawn-out Deflate-gate proceedings, according to CSN New England. “But I go back and … you follow what the rule book says and go about your business and your work and if they tell you not to do it and you get busted and what happens happens, then you suffer the consequences.”

Clearly, the 36-year-old Cardinals QB– who won the Heisman Trophy at USC in 2002– had not trouble telling it like it is.

When pressed about whether he believed the NFL had “proved” that Brady was guilty or not, Palmer simply said he didn’t follow the controversy in very much detail through the end, partly because he was tired of hearing about it.

“To be honest … there was … supposedly the balls went somewhere and they weren’t supposed to go there. There was humidity and not enough humidity and whatever it was and altitude,” Palmer said. “I don’t really know. I didn’t follow the story. As soon as it came on I just turned it off because I was so sick of hearing about it.”

Palmer also added that he felt it was difficult– at least among NFL players– to genuinely have a strong opinion on the scandal.

“I’m sure you guys look at it a lot differently, but I know a lot of players around the league just looking at it… I don’t know if you can feel too strongly about it one way or the other,” Palmer said.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said at a press conference that he hadn’t heard Palmer’s comments, but offered praise for the Arizona quarterback.

“I didn’t see it,” Belichick said of the comments. “But I have a lot of respect for Carson Palmer. I’ve known Carson through the years. Had him out at the Pro Bowl. Really have a lot of respect for Carson and what he’s done in his career with three different organizations. I think he’s an outstanding person and an outstanding quarterback. A great competitor. He’s had a tremendous career.”

HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 28: Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals passes against the Houston Texans in the first quarter of a preseason NFL game at NRG Stadium on August 28, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)