One theory has emerged about New England Patriots' sudden surrender to the NFL over the Deflategate punishment: owner Robert Kraft, and more importantly, coach Bill Belichick's faith in Tom Brady also has deflated.

Comcast SportsNet New England has reported that Michael Felger, co-host on Sports Tonight, suggested that Kraft and Belichick began to doubt their quarterback's truthfulness over his account of what happened with Deflategate.

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Fellow commentator Ron Borges then dropped a bombshell about Belichick's status in the Brady situation.

"Belichick never believed his story, from what I was told," said Borges, according to CSNNE.com. "Because they all know. Why do you think all those retired quarterbacks, the Troy Aikmans of the world -- Troy Aikman is about as nice a guy as I've ever met in football -- nobody's backed [Brady]. Nobody, not a single guy. Why do you think that is? Because they hate Brady? No. Because they're not stupid. They know nothing's done with those balls that the quarterback doesn't wantnews conference after the Patriots' AFC Championship Game victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

"Remember Belichick's bizarre press conference from the height of Deflategate, the one in whic done."

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USA TODAY Sports' For the Win added that Belichick's doubts were evident as far back as it seemed like he was throwing Brady under the bus but was possibly trying to shift blame to the Golden Boy quarterback, someone who would never be sanctioned by the NFL?" For the Win reported. "No one could believe it was the first, so the second made more sense, especially in a 'Belichick is crazy like a fox' reading of the situation. Now it looks like it was indeed Belichick hanging his quarterback out to dry. Why else would he have repeatedly invoked Brady's name at that press conference?"

FTW referenced on quote in particular from Belichick that seemed to put all the responsibility for the incident on his quarterback's shoulder.

"Tom's personal preference on his footballs are something he can talk about in much better detail than I can possibly provide," Belichick said.

Under these circumstances, the only question about the theory is why no one on the Patriots tried to convince Brady to confess and nip the story in the bud.

Do you think Bill Belichick believes that Tom Brady was lying about his role in deflategate? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.