The New England Patriots quarterback was originally suspended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after the league’s investigation of alleged underinflated footballs in a Patriots game against the Indianapolis Colts in January 2015.
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At William Hill’s Nevada Sports Books, Tom Brady’s Patriots remain the favorite (7/1) to win Super Bowl 51.
The three-judge panel reinstated Brady’s four-game suspension in the case affectionately known as “Deflategate”. “Nor is it our role to second-guess the arbitrator’s procedural rulings”, the opinion said.
“Our obligation is limited to determining whether the arbitration proceedings and award met the legal minimum standards established by the National Labor Relations Act …”
The NFL appealed, leaving it to the 2nd Circuit to decide whether the suspension would be reinstated.
The appeals court decision focused on the authority granted to Goodell in the collective bargaining agreement between the players and the NFL.
The NFL said in a statement that it was pleased with today’s ruling.
The NFL players’ association is fighting back, saying they’re disappointed by the decision and their union will carefully review their options.
Though Katzmann agreed that the collective bargaining agreement that the players union agreed to gave Goodell broad authority to impose discipline, he made it clear he thought the commissioner went far beyond the Wells Report findings. “Leave him alone”, pal Donald Trump said. “It’s enough. It’s enough”.
In May 2015, the NFL imposed the suspension on Brady after an independent investigator found it “more probable than not” that the Patriots quarterback was involved with locker room attendant Jim McNally and equipment assistant John Jastremski in the AFC Championship Game in a scheme to take air out of the footballs New England would use.
Other legal options Brady could consider include filing a defamation suit against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Drew, who has used Deflategate as a case study for her law students over the past year and a half, said she was very surprised at the ruling last year that overturned Brady’s suspension. Garoppolo showed he could handle the media spotlight a year ago when it was uncertain if Brady would be available to open the 2015 season, and a nationally televised audience will be watching to see how he holds up in what would be his first-ever National Football League regular-season start.
If the petition for rehearing is granted, a source with knowledge of the Second Circuit procedures tells PFT that it’s quite possible (if not likely) that Brady will be able to play the entire 2016 season, regardless of the outcome.
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Circuit Judge Denny Chin said evidence of ball tampering was “compelling, if not overwhelming” and there was evidence that Brady “knew about it, consented to it, encouraged it”. The NFL and NFLPA could also agree to a settlement in which the suspension is reduced, but it seems unlikely Brady would agree to such a settlement, as it would make him appear as if he is admitting to guilty or wrongdoing.
