Former WR Troy Brown: Brady ban 'about being out to get the Patriots'

Former New England Patriots wide receiver Troy Brown caught passes from Tom Brady for a half-dozen seasons and is convinced the four-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback was scapegoated as the target of anti-Patriots league sentiment.

"They had nothing concrete on Tom. It's unfortunate you suspend a guy for four games saying, we're going to suspend you anyway because we think you did something," Brown told USA TODAY Sports on Monday, when Brady received his Deflategate-related ban to start the 2015 season.

"I bring up the question, 'Is it about the integrity of the game or about the Patriots?' The answer is, it's more about being out to get the Patriots than it is about the integrity of the game.

"This was a misdemeanor they're treating like a felony. The Cleveland Browns GM Ray Farmer texting to the sideline was a misdemeanor. The Atlanta Falcons pumping in crowd noise was a misdemeanor."

Brown feels the evidence against Brady in the 243-page document produced by Ted Wells' investigative team — it found that it was more probable than not that the three-time Super Bowl MVP was generally aware two club assistants deflated 11 footballs in January's AFC Championship Game in violation of playing rules — wasn't convincing enough to merit sitting Brady down for a month or taking $1 million and two draft picks from the Patriots.

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"If I'm going to lose four games — four paychecks — I want you to point that finger directly on my forehead and say, 'You're guilty,' and not say it's more probable than not that you generally knew they did something to the footballs," Brown said.

"That's an awful way to serve a suspension if you think I did something."

As for the previously sterling reputation of Brady, also a two-time league MVP?

"Tom's legacy is fine," Brown said. "You look at some of the players who are bashing him, they're players who didn't like the Patriots anyway. People hated Mike Tyson when he was on top. They were so happy for Buster Douglas to knock him out.

"That's just the way it is on top. They don't like Donald Trump or Obama. ... It's the nature of being good and perceived arrogance."

How will Brady respond even if he doesn't win the appeal his agent plans?

"Knowing Tom, he's very positive. He'll get through it," Brown said.

"And if I know Tom, he'll be even stronger coming back out of this. Teams need to watch out. He'll be ready to rock and roll."

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Follow Jim Corbett on Twitter @ByJimCorbett