NFL’s ‘Deflategate’ appeal to be heard in February: court order

The Super Bowl will be played February 7 in Santa Clara, Calif., and in all likelihood the lawsuit would not be heard before then if Brady and the Patriots are playing in the game. Either way, this simply confirms the fact that Brady will play the entire 2015 season and not serve out a suspension this year. The team sits atop the AFC East having won all three of its games so far.

The “Deflategate” appeal could be heard as early as Super Bowl week, according to an expedited appeal process that was approved this week.

The NFL’s opening brief in its appeal is scheduled for October. 26.

The National Football League had asked the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for an expedited hearing in its appeal of a federal judge’s decision to nix New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s “Deflategate” suspension.

On September 3, U.S. District Court Judge Richard M. Berman overturned the suspension.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy has mentioned the importance of getting off to a fast start this season, and a victory against the 49ers on Sunday would mean the 4-0 first-quarter record McCarthy envisioned.

The Boston Globe reported on Tuesday that an appeals court granted a motion asking for a stepped-up briefing schedule of the league’s appeal. He also ruled that Goodell was incorrect when he denied Brady’s attorneys access to certain investigative files and didn’t allow them to question NFL lawyer Jeff Pash, co-author of the Wells Report – the lengthy investigative document that found that Brady was at least “generally aware” that footballs may have been partially deflated.