NFL Players’ Union Asks Minn. Judge to Stop Brady Suspension

When NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell upheld the four-game “Deflategate” suspension against New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady this week, he cited the allegation that Brady “destroyed” his personal cell phone as evidence that the future Hall of Famer had something to hide, and was executing a sinister, if sloppy, cover-up of his supposed football-deflating violations.

Judge Richard Berman would have to agree Brady has a reasonable chance to win the case in order to get the injunction. He spoke in a 10-hour appeal hearing last month but Goodell ruled against him Tuesday and Brady went to court to fight the ban. However, it is alleged that Brady destroyed his cell phone to hide evidence pertaining to the case, according to SB Nation. “We don’t believe this discipline can ever be sustained”.

The league started its investigation of the Patriots and Brady after reports surfaced that the Patriots used underinflated footballs during their 45-7 AFC championship game rout over the Indianapolis Colts.

The NFL Players Association said later Wednesday that it will file a lawsuit in federal court in Minnesota challenging the punishment. “This is the case”, Jones said Wednesday from Oxnard, Calif., where the Cowboys opened training camp.

The CBA only provides that teams and executives be on fined for tampering with equipment, with the petition saying that no player in NFL history has been suspended for “non-cooperation” or “obstruction”. Kessler called it “offensive” that the league accused Brady of destroying his cellphone to obstruct the inquiry by investigator Ted Wells, a claim Goodell made in upholding the suspension Tuesday.

As you can see, Cuban thinks that Brady “trying to make a fool out of the commissioner of the NFL” warranted a stiffer penalty.

New England Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty says the team supports Tom Brady in his fight against the NFL.

Kraft apologized to Patriots’ fans and said, “I was wrong to put my faith in the league”. Before the Patriots took the field Thursday, a judge in Minnesota rejected the union’s suit and said the case would be heard in New York.

Brady, a four-time Super Bowl champion, denied his phone, which the NFL said held some 10,000 text messages, contained any damning evidence.

“As the NFLPA points out, the NFL did not investigate or discipline the Jets kicker for “general awareness” or specific involvement, even though the Jets kicker (like Brady in this case) was the player most likely to benefit from the behavior and, in turn, the player most likely to be aware of the conduct”.

The agent representing star NFL quarterback Tom Brady on Wednesday suggested the league’s commissioner upheld a four-game suspension over under-inflated balls to distract the public from criticism of an inconsistent disciplinary record.