Cleveland Browns tackle Joe Thomas has blasted the NFL's treatment of Tom Brady for the deflategate scandal.
The New England Patriots quarterback was suspended for four games by the league for being generally aware that members of his side's equipment staff had deflated footballs in their AFC championship win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Brady has taken the NFL to court over the punishment, despite the pleas of judge Richard Berman for the two sides to settle.
Thomas believes that the league's sanctions against the three-time Super Bowl MVP were far too severe, but claims that commissioner Roger Goodell has succeeded in making the NFL relevant even when games are not played with scandals such as deflategate.
"I would equate what [Brady] did to driving 66[mph] in a 65 speed zone, and getting the death penalty," Thomas told reporters.
"I'm not sure if [Goodell] realises what he's doing is brilliant, but what he's doing is brilliant because he's made the NFL relevant 365 [days] by having these outrageous, ridiculous witch hunts. It's made the game more popular than ever and it's become so much more of an entertainment business and it's making so much money.
"That's why I'm sure there's plenty of people saying this is embarrassing for the league. But it's an entertainment business when it comes right down to it. When the game gets eyeballs in newspapers and on TV, that's what in the end is the goal for everyone. And that's what this controversy is giving them."
Brady and the NFL will meet in court again on August 31.
Simon Sinclair
