Deflategate has been the subject of many late night talk show zingers the past few months, but Jeopardy! offered an older Patriots reference Wednesday night.
In the "Before and After" category, the show provided this clue:
The answer was "Who Is Peeping Tom Brady?" and as you might suspect, Patriots fans got pretty heated. Maybe it was unintentional, but this clue evokes the Patriots/Spygate flap of 2007.
Really @Jeopardy - Peeping Tom Brady ! ? !
— Valerie Collanton (@VCE96) July 15, 2015
An answer on Jeopardy was just "Peeping Tom Brady" #IHateJeopardy #booTrebek
— Karuna (@Fluffy4Life96) July 15, 2015
Some, including NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano, are not buying the anti-Patriots conspiracy theory. They might be right.
Anyone who thinks Jeopardy made fun of Tom Brady/Patriots last night has clearly never watched the show and doesn't understand the category.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) July 16, 2015
QBs Picked Before Tom Brady In 2000 NFL Draft
No. 18, New York Jets: Chad Pennington, Marshall
Injuries crippled Pennington's potential. He took the starting job from Vinny Testaverde five games into the 2002 season and helped the Jets win the AFC East at 9-7. He dealt with injuries for the next three seasons before starting 16 games and winning Comeback Player of the Year in 2006. Another injury-laden season in 2007 meant his departure from the Jets. In 2008, Pennington led the Dolphins to the No. 3 seed in the playoffs and finished second to Peyton Manning in MVP voting. Shoulder injuries ended his career in 2011.
No. 65, San Francisco 49ers: Giovanni Carmazzi, Hofstra
Carmazzi never played in an NFL regular-season game. Instead, it was seventh-round pick, Tim Rattay, who stayed with the 49ers long term. Carmazzi stuck around with 49ers for two years until Rattay took the back-up job from him. Carmazzi tried NFL Europe, playing with the Rhein Fire in 2001. He also spent time with the BC Lions and Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League before calling it quits.
No. 75, Baltimore Ravens: Chris Redman, Louisville
Redman, who broke a few NCAA records for completions, went to the Ravens in the third round. He backed up Trent Dilfer and Tony Banks on the 2001 Ravens Super Bowl team. He started just six games in four years with Baltimore.
No. 75, Baltimore Ravens: Chris Redman, Louisville
After a year each with the Patriots and Titans, Redman fell out of the league temporarily. He signed with the Allen Wranglers of the Arena Football League in 2007 before heading to the Atlanta Falcons that year. He started six games in five seasons with the Falcons before retiring in 2012.
No. 163, Pittsburgh Steelers: Tee Martin, Tennessee
After winning a national title at Tennessee, Martin played one game for the Steelers in 2001, and eventually left for the Rhein Fire in 2002. He led the Fire to 7-3 record in 2002 and fell in the World Bowl. He spent the next few years trying to find a roster spot with the Philadelphia Eagles (2002) and Oakland Raiders (2003). Martin ended his career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL.
No. 168, New Orleans Saints: Marc Bulger, West Virginia
Bulger was waived after training camp and spent no time with the Saints in 2000. He tried to make the Falcons roster that year, but ended up on the practice squad. He spent time on the Rams practice squad late in 2000 and was re-signed in 2001.
No. 168, New Orleans Saints: Marc Bulger, West Virginia
He spent 2001 backing up Kurt Warner, but led the Rams to a 6-0 record filling in for Warner in 2002. He took the starting job in 2003 and led the Rams to the playoffs. He became the quickest NFL quarterback to 1,000 completions in 2006. He earned two Pro Bowl appearances in 10 seasons with the Rams. He retired after one season, 2011, with the Ravens, serving as Joe Flacco's backup and never played a regular-season down.
No. 183, Cleveland Browns: Spurgen Wynn, Southwest Texas State
Wynn made the Browns roster in 2000 and played in seven games. His lone start came in a 48-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. After the season, the Browns sent him to Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe.
No. 183, Cleveland Browns: Spurgen Wynn, Southwest Texas State
He was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 2001 and started two games that season before heading to the CFL in 2002. He spent time with the BC Lions, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts, where he ended his career in 2006.
No. 199, New England Patriots: Tom Brady, Michigan
In a book about Brady, author Matt Doeden writes: "Mel Kiper Jr. ... dismissed Tom's potential, saying he didn't have the total package of skills.'"
No. 199, New England Patriots: Tom Brady, Michigan
According to New York Daily News NFL columnist Gary Myers, the Jets had a scout who wanted to draft Brady in the sixth round at No. 179. But since the team had already invested a first-round pick in Pennington, Bill Parcells opted for North Carolina State defensive back Tony Scott.
