A federal judge looking to broker a settlement between suspended Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and the NFL cast doubt on the league’s findings by questioning whether it had any direct evidence linking Brady to the deliberate underinflation of footballs used in the first half of the AFC Championship Game on January 18. Kessler said Brady had concerns about his privacy, noting the publicity related to last week’s release of some of Brady’s private emails, specifically a conversation about Brady having to buy a new pool cover.
Advertisement
The federal judge meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has not decided who would prevail in their fight over the Deflategate scandal.
As Goodell arrived at the courthouse, he was greeted by a smattering of boos as he walked inside.
U.S. District Judge Richard Berman started the hearing Wednesday after meeting separately with Goodell and Brady with their lawyers.
About 100 people waited outside the courthouse, including journalists-some with lawn chairs-and onlookers just getting off work.
When the union got its chance to argue, the judge asked attorney Jeffrey L. Kessler why one of the Patriots employees would deflate balls without Brady’s knowledge.
Kessler said the union does not believe the balls were deflated, but, if they were, the employees believed it would help their quarterback.
Brady and Goodell didn’t speak during the hearing except to introduce themselves to Berman.
Goodell stands by his decision to suspend Brady four games for allegedly knowing about the inflation levels. Brady and the National Football Players Association then took his case to federal court.
They called a June appeal hearing before Goodell “a kangaroo court proceeding, bereft of fundamentally fair procedures”.
NFL lawyer Daniel Nash says the collective bargaining agreement with the players gives the NFL commissioner authority and the responsibility to protect the integrity of the game, including imposing suspensions. According to reports from the courtroom, Berman said he was trying to understand the direct link from Brady to the deflation of the footballs before the AFC championship game.
At one point, the judge also seemed to try to defuse the controversy, saying: “This Deflategate”.
Advertisement
But Berman’s function right now is that he wants to get both sides to agree on a settlement. Brady, his head lowered, looked dour as lawyers spoke for about 1 hour, 20 minutes. This could be another huge win for Brady – if his suspension is reduced to zero games, if I were him I’d have another ring made. Both men went through a security sweep like everyone else going to court.
