I worked for VZW between 2003-2008 in retail stores and in B2B sales. My wife worked there until 2011 and I still have many friends who work there and at other carriers.
I can say unequivocally that just about everyone does a factor reset on their old phone when they purchase a new one.
In general the word "destroyed" is being misused here. Tom Brady reset his phone, to wipe his content off of it.
On a side note - I am sort of glad Goodell upheld the suspension, if he did something else it would have opened up the possibility that he will not be exposed for the worthless, lying, manipulative, piece of **** that he is. Goodell embodies everything that is wrong with this corporate America.
I would like to hear more details on the disposition of the phone - from Brady's side: (A) Was it "destroyed"(broken into pieces) or was it erased/set back to 'out of the box'? (B) What day and time exactly was it shattered or erase-reset?
On point A, when the NFL says "destroyed", it conjures up a person breaking it into many pieces. IMHO it is reasonable to interpret this act (if it the case) as being suspicious and the act of a man who believes he has done something wrong.
If, on the other hand, this was am erase-reset then it immediately and significantly reduces the level of it being a very suspicious act.
Look it is quite probable that Giselle sent pictures to Tom that would be completely inappropriate for anyone else whatsoever to even be in possession of the phone for a minute (just look to the big I-hack and the many dozens of actresses having their private nude pictures released to the public to know how that works). There are a few other reasons other than deflategate for Tom to be worried about the phone getting into others hands. But it is still reasonable to have suspicion of even an erase.
On point B, IMHO this is probably more important than the state of the phone itself. What day was the phone broken and/or when he asked someone to do it?
To me point B is big. If this was in fact just an erase (not a smashing of the phone) and if the phone was old enough for it to be swapped to a new model (something countless people do after 12 to 24 months), that makes the word "destroyed" a very sensational description to use, it is an overt act, and an admission by proxy, that the NFL wants Brady to be guilty, and fairness/actual guilt will not be part of the NFL's MOD (not that it was in doubt - but this would be a grossly blatant tactic).
I have agreed with Brady and his team remaining quiet up to now but on the phone 'destroyed' issue someone from his side needs to release a clear and succinct statement of what the NFL meant by "destroyed". To let this word go by without a clear response is, IMHO, game-set-match for consideration of guilt. Even a federal court win will be a procedural win without any innocence attached to it. That would be a shame...
