This judge sounds more like a fan than he does a federal arbitrator, and based on what we’ve heard Wednesday, it sounds like he’s leaning in Brady’s direction.
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The public portion of the first hearing in front of Berman ended after an hour and 20 minutes, with the judge now meeting privately with the NFL commissioner and the league’s lawyers. Brady appealed and on July 28 Goodell upheld his own decision, further criticizing Brady by saying he’d destroyed a cell phone containing text messages that were central to the investigation. If the NFL folds and gives Brady a reduced punishment after months of sticking to its guns, it will encourage more players to take their cases to a third-party in hopes of pressuring the league to overturn or lessen their punishment.
The National Football League and the players union met with a federal judge on Wednesday to provide closed-door updates on the status of settlement talks in their dispute over New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s “Deflategate” suspension.
The Minnesota court is viewed as cordial to unions, and in February voided a NFL suspension of Minnesota Vikings pursuing back Adrian Peterson his no-challenge supplication to hitting his child with a tree limb.
Berman in Manhattan repeatedly asked NFL lawyer Daniel L. Nash for “direct evidence that implicates Mr. Brady” as he gave both sides a chance to state their case in the first hearing before him.
At one point, the judge asked NFL lawyer Dan Nash if there was any direct evidence showing Brady knew footballs were underinflated.
Berman is expected to continue discussions with both sides, but if no settlement is reached by next week another hearing will be held next Wednesday.
Brady has denied knowing about any plan to deflate footballs, which can make them easier to grip. Berman and his magistrate-judge have their work cut out for them to get this case settled. But the sides aren’t done for the day; they will remain behind doors while attempting to find common ground on a potential settlement on Brady’s four-game suspension.
“Tell Tom Brady I’m sorry”, said Jane Rosenberg, a courtroom artist for 35 years. Ken Belson at the New York Times reported that Berman asked the most questions about the Wells report and things related to that investigation. Berman also remarked that Brady did better with more inflated balls than underinflated balls. Brady has contended that he did nothing wrong regarding the inflation of footballs and he was suspended for four games by Goodell. Its regular season begins at home on September 10, in a nationally televised game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Poser did note, however, that while Ugg will not break ties with Brady, it may opt to decrease his exposure.
