Internet deflates artists’ courtroom sketches of Tom Brady

Brady has repeatedly said he knew nothing about a plot to deflate game balls.

The next scheduled settlement talks in court are next Wednesday (August 19). During an open hearing in between closed-door negotiating sessions, Berman grilled Daniel Nash, an attorney representing the league, about a lack of solid evidence that the Patriots quarterback ordered balls to be deflated in the AFC Championship Game. Kessler acknowledged Brady didn’t cooperate out of privacy concerns and said Brady “should have conducted himself differently with Wells”.

Berman spoke before allowing lawyers to make a brief argument. Nash said there’s “considerable evidence Mr. Brady clearly knew about this”, but admitted there’s no “smoking gun”. In its motion the league asked U.S. District Judge Richard Berman to confirm the suspension while the union asked him not to.

“It looks like Brady’s face was put in one of those machines that crushes cars”, USA Today said.

Goodell is confident in his role as the disciplinarian in the NFL, while Albert Breer of NFL Media reports that things were hung up on “Brady’s refusal to admit guilt” in the situation.

Goodell and Brady, along with their lawyers, met separately with the judge before the hearing started.

He also pointed out that Brady actually played better with properly inflated balls in the second half.

Goodell and the league are arguing that the punishment was justified under the current players’ contract. Without excusing what Enemkpali did, Ryan called the player “a good teammate” and said he believes the linebacker can learn from the mistake that prompted the Jets to immediately release him. He also questioned Brady about destroying his cell phone.

Berman had urged the sides to try to reach a settlement before the hearing, a message he reiterated Tuesday when he pressured the sides for 11th-hour talks. Notices filed by the court Thursday afternoon indicate “principals are not required to attend on 8/19/15”, meaning neither Goodell nor Brady will be required to be in court that day.

Goodell, commissioner since 2006, was greeted with boos. Of the respondents, 78% thought that Brady’s four-game ban was too long.

In short, the ruling wouldn’t end the case, but it would likely be far more effective at forcing a settlement than the current posture, where both sides seem to be so unwilling to compromise that they’re willing to flip a coin quickly and end it.