Does this taint Bradys legacy ?
Yes and no.
To Patriot haters, probably. The fact that the behavior is commonplace* and only results in $25k fines and "don't do it again" notes when other teams/qbs engage in the behavior (Vikings, Panthers) is irrelevant to them. See Jet fans, who put up "Tom Shady" billboards in MA mocking it... these same yobs are oblivious or just don't care that their own franchise just committed a far worse offense and was fined $100k for tampering with Revis impending free agency.
To Pats fans, not at all.
To rational fans, not at all. Is Montana's legacy tainted because Jerry Rice copped to using stick'um? Should Peyton's be tainted by alleged "Noisegate" (Colts piped in excess noise to disrupt opposing team's offenses)?
The situation is a joke. The league is a joke.
And now "probably having knowledge" that a rule was being broken results in a 4 game suspension, 7 figure fine, and a loss of draft picks, I look forward to this being applied across the board on other potential rules violations. It's pathetic when someone is better off gobbling up PEDs and punching out a woman on video tape than maybe knowing something was going on and refusing to surrender his cell phone to a league that was intentionally leaking info as part of their witch hunt.
The funniest thing of all of this is the creation of
http://yourteamcheats.com/ where everyone's documented sins are laid bare.
* - there are numerous QBs who have gone on records about this. Rodgers told Simms he prefers to overinflate his. Brad Johnson has stated he paid some $7500 to scuff the balls prior to the Bucs smashing the Raiders back in 2002. Jeff Blake, former Jets QB, said everyone does it. Hell, 3 of the Colts 4 balls were also underinflated. Either the MIT atmospheric condition tests were correct or Luck/Indy are cheaters too and also need to get hit with the hammer.