Everything — from the coverage to the penalty to the appeals — has seemed out of proportion when it comes to Deflategate. Maybe that’s because the whole thing is about something else. ESPN’s excellent Don Van Natta and Jr.Seth Wickersham take you inside what really split the NFL and Patriots apart.

+ “It was a special moment. remember saying ‘I couldn’t have done it without you.” Hilary Sargent shares the inside scoop on one of Tom Brady’s closest confidantes: The quarterback’s quarterback.