New England Patriots

Eli on Brady suspension: The NFL had to do it

Published May. 12, 2015 12:07 p.m. ET

foxsports

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning certainly doesn't like to see NFL players in trouble, but he also holds the integrity of the game to a high standard. On Monday, the NFL announced that the Patriots were fined a record $1 million and docked next year's first-round draft pick as well as a fourth-rounder in 2017 for their involvement in the tampering of live game footballs. In addition, star quarterback Tom Brady received a four-game suspension for his involvement.

Manning didn't see any other way that the NFL could have ruled in this particular incident.

"I think it's about integrity and you have to follow the rules," Manning told reporters after his sponsorship event for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. "If someone's breaking rules, I understand you're going to get punished for it."

"Anytime you lose a starting quarterback for four games and draft picks, it's a pretty big statement," he said "Obviously the NFL is serious about not messing with the integrity of the game no matter how big or little the issue is."

Manning isn't sold on the idea that Brady's involvement gave him and the Patriots a significant advantage, but he admits that it a deflated ball makes a noticeable difference to each individual quarterback.

"There is a noticeable difference," Manning said. "Whether it's an advantage or not, I guess that's dependent on what a quarterback likes."

There are no doubts about it, Manning is not happy to see Brady suspended.

"Tom's been a friend of mine," he said. "I don't like to see anybody getting suspended. I don't like to see anybody getting in trouble. I don't like to see anything happen to the NFL or to a player or to another quarterback. In no way am I glad to see this happen."

If Manning really looked into it, he would probably be disappointed to find out that Brady's final game suspended will come against NFC East rival the Dallas Cowboys.

(h/t Newsday)

Photo Credit: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images