I'm still not sure how the New England Patriots' misdemeanor in deflate-gate became a felony, but it happened....

The former San Francisco 49ers great seemed to laugh and shrug at the whole controversy involving the Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady in an interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Mark Kaboly (h/t to Larry Brown Sports). Because his 49ers had their own methods of skirting the rules. Like most other teams.

“Everybody is trying to do something different,” Montana said. “Our offensive linemen used to spray silicone on their shirts until they got caught. Once you get caught, you get caught. Period. It doesn't take anything away from Tom's game. But how long has he been doing it? I don't know.”

Well between the silicone admission and Jerry Rice's admission he used stickum, those championships need an asterisk, right? Rice and Montana and all the great 49ers need their legacies downgraded, correct? No, of course not. Nobody would or should think that. And it's just as mindless to say that as it is to say the Patriots and Brady should have championships vacated and their accomplishments are tainted.