Former NFL quarterback A.J. Feeley: I saw Patriots use illegal footballs in 2004

Former NFL quarterback A.J. Feeley says he personally witnessed Tom Brady and the New England Patriots using illegal footballs a decade before the "Deflategate" scandal.

In an interview on 97.5 The Fanatic on Wednesday, Feeley said he saw Brady using broken-in footballs when the former was a member of the Miami Dolphins in 2004 - before the NFL altered its rules to allow quarterbacks to break in balls before games.

"Prior to what (Brady) and Peyton Manning going to the league and saying, 'Let us doctor our balls' we used to all play with the same balls," Feeley said. "Somehow this beat-up ball from the ball boy was getting thrown in on offense for New England, yet when we were on offense this orange brand new ball was getting thrown in."

Feeley said he was bothered by Brady's actions when he saw them and said something to the ball boy about it, but he didn't mention if he lodged a formal complaint with the NFL.