New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was probably "at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities" of a locker room attendant and an equipment assistant in the controversy known as "Deflategate," according to an NFL-commissioned report released Wednesday.

The report found that "it is more probable than not" that the locker room attendant and equipment assistant "participated in a deliberate effort to release air from Patriots game balls after the balls were examined by the referee" in violation of NFL rules at January's AFC title game, which the Patriots won.

"Based on the evidence, it also is our view that it is more probable than not that Tom Brady ... was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities ... involving the release of air from Patriots game balls," wrote Ted Wells, the attorney who led the investigation.

The report said there was no evidence that any other Patriots player or staffer was involved, adding specifically that investigators do not believe coach Bill Belichik, any other coach or the team's ownership took part in or knew of any wrongdoing.

The Patriots beat the Colts 45-7 in the January 18 AFC title game and went on to win the Super Bowl. Controversy swirled after the Colts raised concerns that the footballs used solely by the Patriots' offense in the first half were underinflated.

New England went on to win the Super Bowl.

The assumption underlying the controversy is that intentionally deflating the footballs below NFL standards would be cheating to favor the quarterback. A ball with lower inflation is said by some to be easier to grip and may give the passer a competitive advantage.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft was defiant in response to Wednesday's report, saying he was disappointed in the findings and still believed the team did nothing to violate NFL rules.

Kraft criticized what he called "inferences from circumstantial evidence," adding that "the time, effort and resources expended to reach this conclusion are incomprehensible to me."

"To say we are disappointed in its findings, which do not include any incontrovertible or hard evidence of deliberate deflation of footballs at the AFC Championship Game, would be a gross understatement," Kraft said.

Brady denied any knowledge of tampering with footballs during his interview with investigators, according to the report. He answered questions voluntarily, but declined to make available communications, including texts and emails, the report said.

Brady made the same denial to reporters on January 22, days after the game.

"I didn't alter the ball in any way. I have no knowledge of wrongdoing," Brady said.

But after interviews with those two, investigators "do not believe that they would personally and unilaterally engage in such conduct in the absence of Brady's awareness and consent."