DENVER - John Elway says the lesson from the New England Patriots' punishment for deflating footballs is that no one is above the law in the NFL.

The league suspended Tom Brady four games, fined the Patriots $1 million and took away two draft picks for deflating footballs used in the AFC title game.

At first, the Broncos GM said the punishment didn't matter to him because "I knew that Tom Brady was going to be playing in Week 12" in Denver.

Asked if the league's heavy hammer ultimately was good for the game, Elway said, "The integrity of the game is No. 1 ... I support the commissioner 100 per cent."

Elway is among the highest profile football figures to chime in on the punishment.