Ted Wells has dismissed criticism from the agent of Tom Brady after he claimed that the investigation into the deflategate scandal was biased against the New England Patriots.
The Super Bowl champions were docked their first-round pick in the 2016 Draft and a fourth-round selection in 2017 along with a $1m (£631,000) fine, while Brady was suspended for four matches for his part in the incident.
Brady's agent Don Yee slammed the investigation by Wells, claiming that he was not impartial and was determined to find evidence against the Patriots.
However, Wells has insisted that he was not biased towards either organisation, insisting that his past work with the NFL did not impact on his findings in the case.
Wells told reporters: "It is wrong to criticise my independence just because you disagree with my findings. I think that is wrong and that is what motivated me to speak today. The conclusions in the report represent the independent opinions of me personally and my team, and those conclusions were not influenced in any way, shape or form by anyone at the league office.
"We made a fair and reasonable review of the evidence, and we reached conclusions based on the preponderance of the evidence standard, which I was required to apply based on the league's rules.
"To the extent Mr Yee is suggesting that I have some type of conflict because I and my law firm do other work for the NFL, I want to be clear that it is well known that I worked for the NFL in the Miami Dolphins investigation involving Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito, and also that it is known that I represent the NFL in the concussions case.
"Those facts were well known at the time I was appointed. When I was appointed to be the independent investigator, no-one at the Patriots or Mr Brady's camp raised any issue of my independence."
Brady and the Patriots will appeal the sanctions given to them by the league.
Simon Sinclair
