Brady, Goodell leave court after hearing, talks

The case moved to federal court when the NFL asked a judge to validate its upholding of a four-game suspension.

At the hearing, Berman asked Brady lawyer Jeffrey Kessler why the quarterback refused to turn over any texts or emails to NFL investigator Ted Wells, whose report was the basis for Goodell’s suspension.

Brady was in New York to stand before a federal judge as drama surrounding Deflategate continues to unfold. Berman said he doesn’t yet know whose side he favors in the arguments.

During a public session, the judge questioned lawyers, but not Brady or Goodell.

Berman repeatedly asked NFL lawyer Daniel L. Nash for direct evidence as he gave both sides a chance to state their case in the first hearing before him.

Trevor Schramn, 20, was wearing a “Free Tom Brady” T-shirt and said he had come to “support our boy”.

During Wednesday’s court proceedings, Berman pointed out that Brady’s performance in the second half of the game against the Colts was better than his first half performance.

Both sides thus far have refused to acquiesce.

Implying that the artistic rendering of Brady looks unwell, another meme Photoshops him into Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video as a dancing zombie.

Another important date is September 10. The Patriots likely would have been in fine shape for yet another playoff run, even with Brady coming back in Week 6, as an angry Brady was liable to go off, just like he did last year after people questioned his starting role after a bad loss to Kansas City.

As Goodell arrived at the courthouse, he was greeted by a smattering of boos as he walked inside. He also was steadfast that the NFLPA still does not believe that the footballs were deflated intentionally prior to the AFC Championship Game.

But in an interview with The Boston Globe, Rosenberg was a bit more direct: “I don’t tend to flatter people and make them look lovely”, adding that Brady was often checking his cell phone during the hearing.

Deflategate erupted after the Patriots won the January 19 AFC championship game over the Indianapolis Colts. “You might say he got no competitive advantage”, Berman said at one point (via ESPN). And while 72% said they thought the Patriots had deliberately deflated footballs, only 16% said they were upset with the Super Bowl champions over the allegations. At the same time, as Paolantonio pointed out, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is 0 for his past 4 (overruled by former commissioner Paul Tagliabue on the New Orleans Saints’ Bountygate; a 10-game suspension for Greg Hardy cut down to four by arbitrator Harold Henderson; and federal judges overturning decisions on Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson).

In hindsight, however, “You’re right, it could have been done a different way”, the attorney said of the phone. McNally and Jastremski are the two men accused of messing with the inflation of the fotoballs. As in, their assertion that Brady was “at least generally aware of inappropriate activity” concerning the deflation of footballs.

The Patriots were punished, too.