Patriots Employee, Amherst Resident to be Reinstated

By Dan Libon/Patch

Two suspended Patriots employees that became infamous during the Deflategate controversy will return to work at Gillette Stadium.

Wednesday, the NFL announced that the Patriots have satisfied the league’s requirements for the reinstatement of John Jastremski and Jim McNally, who lives in Amherst, granting permission for the team to bring back both men. Earlier this week, the Patriots requested that the two employees be allowed to come back to work.

Adam Schefter of ESPN originally reported that the two were expected to be reinstated within the next 24-48 hours.

The men became well-known after the Wells Report claimed that McNally, a locker room attendance and Jastremski, an equipment assistant, likely participated in an alleged deliberate attempt to deflate game day footballs.

In a number of text messages from the two in the report, McNally and Jastremski discussed Tom Brady’s unhappiness with the inflation level of Patriots game balls, Jastremski’s plan to provide McNally with a “needle” for use on game balls, and McNally’s requests for “cash” and sneakers together with the “needle” to be provided by Jastremski.

McNally, most infamously, referred to himself as “The Deflator” in a Jan. 10, 2015 text message to Jastremski.

Neither men have not made a public comment on the report or the allegations.

Both men have been suspended since May. While Schefter reported that the suspension came from the league, NFL Commissioner denied the report during an appearance last week on ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike.

When they do come back, both are prohibited from having any role in the preparation, supervision, or handling of game day footballs and equipment while McNally will be barred from serving as a locker room attendant.