SI's complete coverage of Deflategate

SI's complete coverage of the investigation into the New England Patriots for deflating footballs used in the AFC Championship Game.

After handing down a debilitating set of penalties to the Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady for their roles in the Deflategate infractions, it's the NFL's turn to go on the defensive. Tom Brady and the NFLPA filed an appeal of Brady's decision, citing the NFL's "history of inconsistency and arbitrary decisions in disciplinary matters," and team owner Robert Kraft was vocal in proclaiming Brady and his staff's innocence before accepting the Patriots' penalties at the league's owners meetings on Tuesday. (Brady's appeal of his suspension will go forward, as the NFLPA seeks to set a precedent for future discipline rulings.) As all sides lay out their cases and the debate over how much of an advantage underinflated footballs can possibly provide grinds on, keep track of every angle from SI.com's coverage of the Deflategate saga below.

FEATURES

. Next in the Deflategate drama: The Brady Appeal

By Andrew Brandt

Tired of the lawyerspeak this NFL offseason? Well, hang on a little longer. The union’s appeal of Tom Brady’s four-game suspension is next on the docket, with Judge Roger Goodell presiding.

. Kraft takes diplomatic route, won't appeal Patriots' punishment

By Austin Murphy

Robert Kraft’s journey from anger to acceptance in the wake of the NFL's punishment of the Patriots was the most surprising development of owners meetings.

. Robert Kraft speaks, and he's not happy

By Peter King

The Patriots owner is ‘really worked up’ at the unprecedented penalty the NFL levied on his team based on what he tells The MMQB is ‘ambiguous evidence.’

. Goodell hearing Brady's appeal could be a good thing

By Michael McCann

Roger Goodell presiding over Tom Brady's appeal may turn out to give the Patriots' star quarterback better odds of winning.

. Can Jimmy Garoppolo handle the heat?

By Robert Klemko

With Tom Brady suspended (for now) for the first four games, a 2014 second-round pick out of Eastern Illinois will lead the Super Bowl champions into 2015.

. Put the pitchforks away

By Don Banks

Deflategate is the ultimate judgment call, and no one is embracing the nuances of a complicated, murky case.

. The NFL's new discipline era

By Andrew Brandt

Why the NFL came down hard on the Pats and what it means for Roger Goodell to potentially lose a powerful ally in Robert Kraft.

. Deflategate, digested

By Peter King

How do football fans outside of New England feel about the Deflategate penalties?

. Ted Wells strikes back

By Jenny Vrentas

In the ugly battle between the NFL and its reigning champ, Ted Wells has chosen his side.

. What are Brady's, Patriots' options for fighting Deflategate punishment?

By Michael McCann

There's no doubt Tom Brady and the Patriots will fight back against their Deflategate punishment. Here are their options.

. Hell hath no fury like a Patriots fan scorned

By Emily Kaplan

Boston sports fans react the day after the NFL hands down harsh punishments to the reigning Super Bowl champions.

. NFL's punishment for Brady, Pats shows league's lack of perspective

By Don Banks

Deflategate called for the Patriots to be punished, but this punishment didn't remotely fit the crime.

. The NFL drops the hammer and sends a message

By Peter King

The punishment for Tom Brady and the Patriots in the wake of the Deflategate controversy proves the NFL doesn't play favorites.

. Pats sources: Strong statements by NFL officials left out of Wells report

By Greg A. Bedard

How will Deflategate impact the relationship between Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Roger Goodell?

. Patriots' Deflategate cover-up could lead to punishment for Brady

By Don Banks

For Tom Brady, the risk of breaking the rules isn't worth tainting his image, and now the cover-up looks worse than the actual crime.

. What are Tom Brady's legal options after release of Deflategate report?

By Michael McCann

Tom Brady, accused of being generally aware of ball deflation, has a few options to help repair his tarnished image in the wake of the Wells report.

. Did Tom Brady cheat? The NFL has a big decision to make

By Peter King

With no smoking gun, it's up to Roger Goodell to determine how to properly punish one of the NFL's all-time greats.

. Wells report finds it likely Patriots deflated balls, Brady knew about it

By Doug Farrar

The conclusions drawn in the Wells report do not look good for Tom Brady.

. Yes, it's a big deal

By Andrew Brandt

While many of the details in the Wells report seem trivial, the overall implications for Tom Brady and the Patriots are serious.

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. The Deflategate Rundown (and a little Super talk)

By Peter King

The Patriots aired their side of the story Thursday, and now the football world awaits the NFL's ruling. (Don't hold your breath.) Here's where things stand, along with a quick peek ahead to what we'll be watching for next week in Phoenix.

. Deflategate: Some perspective, please?

By Don Banks

In a season like no other in NFL history, I've come down with a serious case of controversy fatigue. Let's all take a deep breath and exhale. This doesn't rise to the level of threatening the integrity of the game in any lasting way.

. Tom Brady's story simply doesn't add up

By Michael Rosenberg

This looks a lot like a designed misdirection play by the most successful organization in the NFL. It looks like Belichick passing the buck to Brady, who exchanges it for a quarter, then hands it to the NFL.

. Belichick's denial of Deflategate involvement shifts focus to Brady

By Doug Farrar

New England Patriots' coach Bill Belichick spoke Thursday for the first time about the deflation situation, and he adamantly denied any involvement with deflating the Patriots' game balls in the AFC championship.

. Implications of an NFL investigation into Patriots' Deflategate

By Michael McCann

If the NFL finds that the New England Patriots did in fact use 11 under-inflated footballs during Sunday's AFC Championship Game victory over the Indianapolis Colts, the Patriots and coach Bill Belichick are subject to penalties from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

. Reaction around the league: From anger to shrugs

By Greg A. Bedard

Most NFL coaches and GMs are in Alabama for the Senior Bowl -- seemingly a million miles from the epicenter of Deflategate -- and sentiment over the severity of a possible Patriots offense is decidedly mixed.

. Deflategate: The pressure is building

By Peter King

Don't expect discipline before Super Bowl Sunday—the NFL desperately needs to get this one right. But if anyone in the Patriots organization is found to have tampered with a game ball, the punishment will be severe.

. Report: 12 Patriots footballs were under-inflated in AFC title game

By Doug Farrar

According to reports, 11 of the Patriots' 12 footballs were found to be under-inflated by two pounds of air (psi), based on league regulations.

. Deflated footballs just latest corner Belichick's Pats accused of cutting

By Michael Rosenberg

Did the Patriots really illegally deflate footballs in the AFC championship game, as the NFL is investigating? If any coach would try it, it’s Bill Belichick.

. Media circus starts week early as Pats face questions about controversy

By Greg Bishop

Following their victory in the AFC championship, Patriots facing questions about not the upcoming Super Bowl, but about controversy over deflated balls.