Steelers MMQB: NFL training camp news
By Kim Myers
Brady vs. Goodell: Deflategate the federal case
Jul 30, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) looks on during training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Roger Goodell dropped the friggin hammer down on Tom Brady last week by announcing that his four-game suspension for his part in tampering with the air pressure in footballs would be upheld.
The main reason for upholding the suspension being that Brady had destroyed his cell phone which contained texts and email communication the league believed implicated him in not only directing Patriots employees to purposely deflate footballs but also trying to cover the whole thing up.
Brady fired back with a Facebook rant defending his integrity and denying destroying his phone as part of the cover up. The Patriots backed Brady as well as the NFLPA and before you knew it the court date was set. The player’s union attempted to have the case held in federal court in Minnesota, which has been favorable to the players in past cases.
The NFL filed their case in New York first and they were granted the first victory in the battle. The Minnesota court deferred to the New York court to have the case heard there. The judge in the case, according to Around the NFL Editor Gregg Rosenthal, wants the sides to start working on a settlement ASAP.
I’m not quite sure how this plays out but it has been enjoyable to watch as a spectator so far. I thought I’d be over it by now and for the most part I am over hearing about text messages, PSI and weather conditions but I want a front row seat for this showdown. I hope the entertainment level keeps up.
What won’t keep up is the battle, however. The settlement talks between the league and Brady are set for August 12th and the entire case is expected to be resolved in one way or another before the defending champs kick off against the Steelers on Sept 10th.
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