Tom Brady defended himself and the rest of the New England Patriots against accusations of intentionally altering footballs during the NFC Championship game last week during the ‘deflategate’ press conference Thursday.

Tom Brady Talks ‘Deflategate’

Brady took to the podium yesterday, steadfastly denying that he had anything to do with having air taken out of the footballs he used last weekend. “I didn’t alter the ball in any way,” Brady told reporters. “I would never do anything outside of the rules of play.”

The Patriots’ standout quarterback said that he tested out the balls prior to the game and believed that they were just right. “When I pick those footballs out, at that point, to me, they’re perfect,” he said. “I don’t want anyone touching the balls after that. I don’t want anyone rubbing them, putting any air in them, taking any air out. To me, those balls are perfect, and that’s what I expect when I show up on the field.”

When asked if he was a cheater, Brady said he didn’t think that he was, adding, “I would never do anything to break the rules. I respect the league.” He also said that he believed the equipment people on staff who denied letting any extra air out of the balls he was to use in the game.

Many people who caught Brady’s press conference believed that the quarterback may have been lying and took to social media to lambaste the athlete with memes and a Simpsons reference.

Brady, for one, doesn’t understand the massive story – and viral Internet sensation – that the ball issue has turned into over the last week. “This isn’t ISIS, this isn’t, you know, no one’s dying,” Brady said during his press conference.

Interestingly enough, Seattle Seahawks player Kevin Williams seems to agree with the QB of the team he’ll face at the Super Bowl, saying that he thinks it’s more or less a non-issue. “You’ve still got to tackle, you’ve still got to cover and you’ve still got to rush the quarterback. It doesn’t matter how much air is in the ball,” Williams said, though adding, “I’m glad it’s their problem and not ours.”