FOXBORO -- The NFL released a statement on Wednesday announcing that suspended Patriots employees John Jastremski and Jim McNally have been reinstated. Both are now allowed to return to work for the team.
"Last week, the New England Patriots requested the reinstatement of both John Jastremski and Jim McNally. The Patriots have satisfied the league’s requirements for reinstatement and the league has granted permission for the employees to return."
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell recently denied that the NFL requested for the pair be suspended, but it could be that the Patriots were nudged by the league to take action against their employees.
When the NFL announced its punishment for the Patriots (a first-round draft pick in 2016, a fourth-round pick in 2017 and a $1 million fine) and Tom Brady (a four-game suspension, which has since been vacated by judge Richard Berman) in a statement, it acknowledged that the Patriots had suspended both Jastremski and McNally for their alleged roles in Deflategate. The league also said that neither employee could be reinstated without the league's permission. If they were reinstated, the league explained, they would not be eligible to return to jobs they had manned in the past.
Jastremski was a full-time equipment assistant who helped Brady prepare game footballs. McNally was a part-time game-day employee who worked as an attendant in the officials locker room.
"Jastremski is prohibited from having any role in the preparation, supervision or handling of footballs to be used in NFL games during the 2015 season," the NFL statement ready. "McNally is barred from serving as a locker room attendant for the game officials or having any involvement with the preparation, supervision or handling of footballs or any other equipment on game day."
NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent requested to meet with both McNally and Jastremski before they were reinstated to discuss their future roles with the team.