Houston Texans owner Bob McNair has claimed that the New England Patriots escalated the deflategate scandal by not cooperating with the NFL's investigation.
The league launched an investigation after it was suggested that 11 of the 12 balls used by the club were deflated by up to two PSI in their AFC championship win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Although the balls were proven only to be slightly under-inflated, the Patriots were docked a first-round pick in the 2016 Draft and fined $1m (£653,000), while quarterback Tom Brady was banned for four matches.
However, Brady appealed his suspension, which was upheld by commissioner Roger Goodell, but the 38-year-old and the NFL Players Association took the matter to court.
The NFL and Brady's camp are now awaiting the decision of judge Richard Berman over whether the ban will be vacated or sustained, but McNair believes that the whole incident could have been over had the Patriots and the three-time Super Bowl MVP cooperated in the first place.
"What escalated the whole thing is that Brady and the Patriots were going to cooperate fully, and then when it came down to it, they didn't," McNair told Houston's Sports Radio 610.
"If it was JJ Watt, I think he would have been cooperative, and it wouldn't be a question. I don't think JJ would destroy his cell phone."
Judge Berman has revealed that he will make his decision by the end of the week.
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