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Tom Brady decried as “known cheater” on Pittsburgh TV news

By Patrick Morgan

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 28: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots talks to the media during Super Bowl LIII Opening Night at State Farm Arena on January 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 28: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots talks to the media during Super Bowl LIII Opening Night at State Farm Arena on January 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was labeled as “Known Cheater” during a Pittsburgh TV news broadcast on Monday.

There remains no love lost between the Patriots and the Steelers, two of the AFC’s very best teams, year in and year out.

Such is the distaste between the two organizations that a local Pittsburgh TV news station decided to get in on the action Monday, adding an interesting wrinkle to their coverage of the New England send-off rally for Super Bowl 53.

Evidently, the 30,000 passionate fans showing up to Gillette Stadium to wish their team well in Atlanta did little to impress KDKA, Pittsburgh’s CBS affiliate. While the station did run a story on the rally as part of their coverage running up to the Super Bowl, they chose to include the script “Known Cheater” in the chyron caption beneath “Tom Brady” as the 41-year-old quarterback was shown on screen.

Of course, this decision quickly made the news “news” in a whole different way.

Within hours, KDKA was trending online and across multiple social media platforms, as viewers posted screenshots of the satirical label with all manner of accompanying emojis and reactions. Predictably, Steelers fans were smugly satisfied, Patriots fans were righteously indignant, and the rest of NFL fandom were mainly just amused.

Die-hard chowderheads will be quick to point out that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger doesn’t exactly have the most squeaky-clean reputation himself. If Patriots fans want to keep it classy, though, while still exacting some semblance of revenge, they need only turn to the head-to-head record between the two quarterbacks as the ultimate rebuttal. Brady holds a lifetime 8-3 record against Roethlisberger, even though the Steelers gunslinger did win the most recent matchup during the 2018 regular season.

PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 17: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots shakes hands with Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at the conclusion of the New England Patriots 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 17, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 17: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots shakes hands with Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at the conclusion of the New England Patriots 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 17, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

Honestly, it’s not that surprising that the Steelers would take aim at the Patriots this time of year. Aside from the fact that once again New England’s players are competing for a Super Bowl championship – while Pittsburgh’s players are either competing at the Pro Bowl or competing at Madden from their couches at home – the good people of Steel City, Pennsylvania, know exactly what’s at stake this weekend in Atlanta.

Next. Which Patriots might consider retiring after Super Bowl 53?. dark

If Tom Brady, “known cheater” that he is, delivers another Lombardi Trophy to New England, the Patriots will tie the Steelers atop the NFL hierarchy of championships with six titles apiece.

No wonder people in Pittsburgh – including official TV news networks – are getting a bit hostile ahead of the big game on Sunday.

UPDATE (1/30/19):

The employee responsible for the graphic was fired on Wednesday.

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