Fansided

Gostkowski didn’t cooperate with Deflategate investigation

By Alexandra Huber

Nov 30, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski (3) before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski (3) before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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Patriot’s kicker Stephen Gostkowski refused to cooperation with Ted Wells’ “Deflategate” investigation.

Ted Wells is a real thorn in the New England Patriots‘ side.

Since the Wells report was released on Wednesday, details and tidbits about the investigation have been trickling out like a leaky faucet. The latest noteworthy story involves Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski.

According to pages 30 and 31 of the Wells report, “Stephen Gostkowski declined a similar request for pertinent electronic communications, but, unlike Brady, we did not press our request to him because his communications were not viewed as central to our work.”

Gostkowski is just the latest name on the list of players that refused to cooperate with the investigation. It was previously reported that the Patriots refused to make Jim McNally, a former Patriots ball boy, available for a follow-up interview with investigators. Additionally, quarterback Tom Brady refused to provide his personal information.

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Let’s give the Patriots the benefit of the doubt and say that the Wells report is an obnoxious, and in their minds ridiculous, thing to deal with. Even so, if you have nothing to hide, why are you refusing to give the investigators access to your phone records? If Gostkowski is doing this just to prove a point, it’s a poor decision

Gostkowski’s failure to cooperate with an investigation organized by the league means that he technically engaged in conduct detrimental to the league. That leaves he, and his fellow detractors, open to discipline.

Furthermore, it is not common practice to refuse to cooperate with league investigations. Recently, teams including the New Orleans Saints (BountyGate), the Dolphins (player bullying scandal) and the Baltimore Ravens (Ray Rice assault case) have been on board with assisted with their respective investigations.

Guilty or not, this is a terrible look for the Patriots, especially if Gostkowski is not the final name on that list of refusals.

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