Patriots fans defiant after ‘Deflategate’ ruling

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday upheld a four-game suspension of Tom Brady for his role in deflating footballs used in the game that put the New England Patriots in the 2015 Super Bowl, saying for the first time that the star quarterback had his phone destroyed to keep it out of hands of investigators.

Goodell mentioned exactly that in the conclusion of his appeal decision. The report then determined it “more probable than not” that Brady “was at least generally aware” of their actions.

Brady’s main interest is to be back on the football field for the start of the 2015 NFL season.

The Patriots accepted their punishment without contest.

However, earning an injunction is rather unlikely.

And, No. 2, is there any way we can make this Goodell vs. Brady court case a “loser leaves town” kind of match?

As much as this website detests Brady (our founding editor is a longtime Colts fan), we have previously argued against the punishment handed down by the league … Perhaps this is the end of the Deflategate saga, perhaps its just another episode, but for the moment Tom Brady will miss four games.

Can Brady be adequately compensated by monetary damages if the NFL’s final decision is vacated? The calculation is quite easy. He may ultimately decide not to gamble, and serve his four-game suspension starting Week 1 against the Steelers.

Brady however had rejected any idea of wrongdoing, with his agent decrying it as “ridiculous” and with “no legitimate basis”.

The 10-time Pro Bowler’s suspension was for violating the league’s policy on integrity of the game, the NFL stated.

Lawyers for Brady, one of the National Football League’s highest-paid players, said he plans to take the case to federal court to overturn to the suspension. Losing parties in arbitration have the right to petition to vacate an award.

In the court of public opinion, though, Brady has lost and has lost badly. Exactly what wiggle room did Brady leave Goodell?

It was a tactical play for sure. Many are confident the suspension will be reduced before the new season kicks off in September if the players’ union takes the fight to court, as expected.

After five weeks of speculation about the fate of the superstar quarterback, Goodell left no doubt about his view of Brady’s guilt, stating the evidence proves “that Mr. Brady knew about, approved of, consented to and provided inducements and rewards in support of a scheme…” to tamper with game balls.

The appeal decision says Brady acknowledged in his testimony that he was aware investigators wanted the information from the cellphone before he had it destroyed.

It also says that Brady, through his attorney, did not provide investigators with relevant material such as emails and text messages.

The footballs were found to be lower than legal league standards and equipment managers close to Brady were found to be guilty of deflating them. But it’s not a good look to have evidence destroyed because it shows you know you did something wrong.