Broncos' Emmanuel Sanders decries Patriots as Super Bowl champions

Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders denounced the New England Patriots' Super Bowl victory due to their involvement in underinflating footballs during the AFC Championship Game.

Sanders' contention will not change the actual result, but the Pro Bowl wide receiver fumed about their complicity in the scandal.

"Am I mad about Deflategate?'' Sanders said via Mike Klis of 9News Denver. "I feel like I'm on ESPN with that question. … Yeah, yeah, I'm kind of mad. I don't think that they should be the Super Bowl champion this year.

"You aren't supposed to cheat. Cheating is not good, especially when you've got guys who are working their butts off for 365 days out of the year and one person cheats - whether it helps them win the Super Bowl or not, they still cheated and shouldn't be a champion."

The Broncos were defeated by the Indianapolis Colts 24-13 during the Divisional Playoffs. Indianapolis were in turn routed by New England 45-7 during the AFC Championship Game.

Although it's far too late for any action to be taken - aside from the league upholding Tom Brady's four-game suspension -Sanders' comments added fuel to one of the league's best rivalries.