Richard Sherman has claimed that the New England Patriots will not be punished for allegedly deflating the footballs in their AFC championship win because of the relationship between Robert Kraft and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
The NFL is currently investigating the incident after a report suggested that 11 of the 12 balls used by the Patriots were under-inflated by two pounds per square inch (PSI).
However, the Seattle Seahawks cornerback feels that the relationship between Patriots owner Kraft and Goodell, who was seen at Kraft's house at a party before the AFC championship game, will prevent New England from sustaining any punishment.
He told reporters, when asked if he felt the Patriots would be punished: "Not as long as Roger Goodell and Robert Kraft take pictures at their respective homes. Talk about conflict of interest."
The Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick were fined a combined $750,000 for the Spygate scandal in the 2007 when they were found guilty of video-taping the defensive signals of the New York Jets.
Simon Sinclair
