Tom Brady's father rips Roger Goodell over Deflategate

The father of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady ripped NFL commissioner Roger Goodell over his handling of the Deflategate scandal.

Tom Brady Sr. pulled no punches when asked by KRON-TV in San Francisco about his thoughts on Goodell, who handed down the quarterback's four-game suspension to open the 2016 season.

"What the league did to him and what Roger Goodell constantly lied about is beyond reprehensible as far as I'm concerned," Brady Sr. said Friday in defending his son. "(Goodell) went on a witch hunt and went in way over his head and had to lie his way out in numerous ways and the reality is that Tommy never got suspended for deflating footballs. He got suspended because the court said that he could, Roger Goodell could do anything that he wanted to do to any player for any reason whatsoever. That's what happened. The NFL admitted they had no evidence on him.

"When it happens to your son, it's a whole different context -- or your daughter or any one of your kids. I think any parent kind of understands that. They'd rather take slings and arrows in the heart than have their kids take it. For what the league did to him and what Roger Goodell constantly lied about is beyond reprehensible as far as I'm concerned."

Earlier this week, Goodell said it would be "an honor" to hand the Lombardi Trophy to Brady should the Patriots win Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons on Feb. 5 at NRG Stadium in Houston.

Goodell was asked by FOX Sports' Colin Cowherd on Wednesday whether it would be an awkward moment for him after a long court battle between the league and Brady.

"Not for a second. These are great teams. I'm going to be thrilled," Goodell said in an interview on "The Herd" radio show. "Tom Brady is one of the all-time greats. He has been for several years. He's on the precipice of at least potentially winning his fifth Super Bowl ring. He's an extraordinary player, great performer, and a sure-fire Hall of Famer. So it would be an honor."

Brady's father continued his criticism of the commissioner.

"It should be an honor, because somebody that has Roger Goodell's ethics doesn't belong on any stage that Tom Brady is on," Brady Sr. told KRON-TV.

The Patriots will travel to Houston on Monday ahead of their matchup with the Falcons, who will arrive Sunday afternoon.