Deflategate and What It Means For Your Company

So yesterday Tom Brady was officially suspended for "Deflategate."

In case you don't know what it is, click here.

Without risking an impending fistfight with a Southie for having the gal to suggest Tom Brady may have done something wrong, here are some lessons to take away from this one -

1. Dragging Things Out Hurts More Than Helps - Just like ripping off a bandaid, if there is a problem you are aware of, you should just address it and fix it rather than dance around it.  Sure you're innocent until proven guilty, but that doesn't mean you're not guilty if you actually are.
2. Good Looks And A Winning Record Only Go So Far - Ok, deflated balls aren't quite stolen crab legs or physical assaults on your spouse, but its bad.  And just because you are insanely popular in your network.  Breaking the rules is a bad thing.  Don't expect people to be behind you just because.
3. Influential Friends Can't Fix Everything - Yes, powerful friends can help get you out of a jam.  But don't rely on them when you're wrong.
4. Nuance Looks Guilty - Splitting hairs on issues makes you look like you're looking to get off on a technicality.
5. A Heartfelt Apology Is Gold - Don't let your ego get in the way of your reputation.  We all F up from time to time.  We are human.  People want to see us fall.  We are human.  People also want to feel good about forgiving you.  We are human.  So be human and make those things possible.

In the end Tom Brady will sit out a few games.  Star in some commercial or an movie teaser that makes us all like him again, and by October we will have forgotten about all of this.

The difference is we would have forgotten a month ago had this just been open from the start.  Or at least from the day after the Super Bowl.