Patriots want to reinstate two suspended employees

       The NFL says it didn't suspend New England Patriots employees John Jastremski and Jim McNally, who were implicated in deflate-gate. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell emphatically denied that the NFL had anything to do with suspending them. But now it's the NFL that solely will decide whether those two employees can be reinstated. Even though it did not suspend them, Goodell said
       Patriots owner Robert Kraft advised Commissioner Roger Goodell last week that Patriots employees John Jastremski and James McNally have been indefinitely suspended without pay by the club, effective on May 6th. Neither of these individuals may be reinstated without the prior approval of NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent. If they are reinstated by the Patriots, Jastremski is prohibited from having any role in the preparation, supervision, or handling of footballs to be used in NFL games during the 2015 season. McNally is barred from serving as a locker room attendant for the game officials, or having any involvement with the preparation, supervision, or handling of footballs or any other equipment on game day.
       The NFL has said that the Patriots can't reinstate the two employees without approval from NFL vice president of football operations Troy Vincent. There will be conditions if they are reinstated (but again, keep in mind the Patriots can't reinstate them or it would have happened). This is from the NFL's statement in May:

"If they are reinstated by the Patriots, Jastremski is prohibited from having any role in the preparation, supervision, or handling of footballs to be used in NFL games during the 2015 season. McNally is barred from serving as a locker room attendant for the game officials, or having any involvement with the preparation, supervision, or handling of footballs or any other equipment on game day."

       While it's clear to folks who have read the reports on deflate-gate that there was no evidence of Tom Brady's wrongdoing, there's more evidence of the two employees doing something with the footballs, though that's not conclusive either. McNally took the footballs out of the officials locker room on the day of the AFC championship game before he was allowed. Jastremski and McNally sent texts to each other that are hard to explain, such as one in which McNally refers to himself as "the deflator." It's not definitive evidence, but there's reason for the NFL to be suspicious.
       One way or another, before either Jastremski or McNally is reinstated, the Patriots must reach out to Vincent.