The NFL Commisioner’s Office has upheld the four-game suspension of Patriot star quarterback Tom Brady, citing Brady’s intentional destruction of a key piece of evidence in the Deflategate scandal as the compelling factor in the league’s decision.
Advertisement
The league and union filed a joint letter in U.S. District Court on Friday proposing a ruling by that date in Brady’s attempt to have his four-game suspension overturned.
New England opens at home against Pittsburgh on September 10. They’ve also agreed it can be resolved quickly, with the NFL and NFLPA submitting initial documents supporting their respective positions by August 7 and the parties then responding to each other’s initial submissions seven days later.
Brady and the NFL Players Association filed their suit Wednesday in Minnesota. With both camps fully aware of the significance of Brady’s participation in the Patriots’ games, an agreement has been made which stated that the “Deflategate” issue shall be resolved before the 2015 NFL season commences. The judge’s decision will be based exclusively on oral arguments by lawyers.
In a new filing Friday, the union denied the NFL’s claims against Brady, saying the quarterback hadn’t been put on notice he could be suspended for equipment tampering.
Kessler had said the lawsuit should be heard in Minnesota because it was related to a case involving Adrian Peterson’s suspension last season.
Brady is allowed to participate in all training camp and preseason activities.
Berman already has told both sides to “tone down the rhetoric”.
Advertisement
The union said Goodell should not have been permitted to arbitrate Brady’s case after the commissioner had lauded findings by Ted Wells, a lawyer hired by the NFL to investigate what happened. If the suspension were upheld, then Brady would not return until October 11 when the Patriots visit the Colts.
