Patriots circle wagons in camp and focus on football

A judge in New York said Friday he expects New England quarterback Tom Brady and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to be available for conferences in August aimed at resolving “Deflategate“.

It’ll be very inneresting to see how this all plays out. The NFL issued a press release earlier this week accusing Tom Brady of destroying his phone despite league investigator Ted Wells earlier telling the quarterback, “Keep the phone”.

In a one-page order, U.S. District Judge Richard Berman directed all parties “forthwith actively to begin to pursue a mutually acceptable resolution” of the dispute, if they have not already done so.

The NFL Players Association said later Wednesday that it will file a lawsuit in federal court in Minnesota challenging the punishment.

The union also released a 54-page filing to the court arguing the handling of the situation. The team didn’t appeal its penalty, but Brady and his lawyers made their case during a 10-hour appeal hearing on June 23.

Mara said he was “saddened” the issue is still lingering over six months after Brady and the Patriots allegedly tampered with footballs in the AFC Championship Game.

“It is hard to imagine any person in Goodell’s position even attempting to serve as arbitrator under these circumstances, but that is exactly what he did”, the union said. And the NFLPA said that league rules regarding tampering with equipment do not include suspensions, only fines.

The union did not ask the judge to let Brady play while he decides the case.

While the Brady ruling took a while after it was finally announced Tuesday, expect this ruling to be completed before the start of the NFL season in September.

The sign was created by Jets Fan Media, and the trolling plane flew over the training camp of the New England Patriots on Thursday.

Wells blamed two Patriots employees, but his report said Brady was “at least generally aware” of the plan to deflate footballs, which can make them easier for quarterbacks to grip.

Belichick, stoic in the eye of the storm, has remained unemotional to the point. “He’s learning the ways of the NFL and he’s going to continue to learn forever, as long as he’s playing”.

And Thursday, the stonewalling continued.

Brady, meanwhile, took part in training camp Friday for a second consecutive day without speaking to reporters.

“Right now we’re practicing for today. Prepare for practice, practice and evaluate it”. Some players – second-year running back James White and defensive lineman Sealver Siliga, for example – are looking for bigger roles, and others are fighting just for a roster spot.