Patriots ask league to reinstate two team employees suspended during Deflategate

Now that Tom Brady’s punishment has been lifted, the New England Patriots are looking to have the same done for the two team employees who were suspended during the Deflategate investigation.

The Patriots have requested for the NFL to reinstate equipment assistant John Jastremski and officials locker room attendant Jim McNally, who have been suspended since May for their alleged involvement in deflating footballs prior to the Patriots’ AFC championship game against Indianapolis in January.

Back in May, investigator Ted Wells wrote in his Deflategate report that “it is more probable than not” that the two men “participated in a deliberate effort to release air from Patriots game balls after the balls were examined by the referee.”

But Wells also found it to be “more probable than not” that Brady was “at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities of McNally and Jastremski involving the release of air from Patriots game balls.”

The star quarterback was suspended four games by the NFL, but U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman dismissed that penalty in a ruling last week.

So now it might be McNally and Jastremski’s turn to put Deflategate behind them. Although their suspension was handed down by the Patriots, the NFL needs to approve before the two men can be reinstated.

The Boston Herald reports that the team has sent numerous such requests to the league since Monday. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Wednesday that the league is reviewing the request.

Even if the request is granted, neither man will be allowed to handle game balls again.