But much of the debate would have been whether it was a big deal or not that he deflated the balls.
A perfectly decent response would have been "I tell our guys to keep the pressure low. We are a quick passing team. Sometimes I don't even grab the laces. I want as much grip on the footballs as I can get. So I told the guys to push the low end on the PSI. Now how much of an advantage it really is between 15 PSI and 13.5 idk; I just was looking for every single advantage, no matter how slight"
-takes responsibility
-gives perfectly reasonable motivation
-cast doubt on actual benefit
-speaks to his ultra-competitiveness
Now, it's all about his low character in destroying evidence and witness tampering