NFL Upholds Brady's Four-game Suspension for Role in 'Deflategate'

[mystery-ak]

http://www.newsmax.com/PrintTemplate.aspx/?nodeid=659304


Newsmax
NFL Upholds Brady's Four-game Suspension for Role in 'Deflategate'
Tuesday, July 28, 2015 03:10 PM

By: REUTERS

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday upheld the four-game suspension given to quarterback Tom Brady for his role in a scheme to deflate the footballs in the AFC championship game that put the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Brady, one of the National Football League's most popular players and in many ways the face of the sport, could take the case to federal court in a bid to overturn to the suspension.

NFL-hired investigator Ted Wills determined, in a 243-page report, that Brady was complicit in a plan to deflate the footballs below league standards, a move that can make the ball easier to grip.

Attorneys for Brady, 37, a four-time Super Bowl champion, had previously indicated that if the quarterback is suspended at all they would take the case to federal court.

The Patriots beat the Indianapolis Colts 45-7 in January's AFC title game, a game played in raw conditions in which the ball might have been difficult for a quarterback to grip.

Brady has denied any knowledge of a plan to deflate the footballs, a program Wells said was carried out by two Patriots employees, officials' locker room attendant Jim McNally and equipment assistant John Jastremski.

[mountaineer]

Brady's Facebook post:

I am very disappointed by the NFL’s decision to uphold the 4 game suspension against me. I did nothing wrong, and no one in the Patriots organization did either.

Despite submitting to hours of testimony over the past 6 months, it is disappointing that the Commissioner upheld my suspension based upon a standard that it was “probable” that I was “generally aware” of misconduct. The fact is that neither I, nor any equipment person, did anything of which we have been accused. He dismissed my hours of testimony and it is disappointing that he found it unreliable.

I also disagree with yesterdays narrative surrounding my cellphone. I replaced my broken Samsung phone with a new iPhone 6 AFTER my attorneys made it clear to the NFL that my actual phone device would not be subjected to investigation under ANY circumstances. As a member of a union, I was under no obligation to set a new precedent going forward, nor was I made aware at any time during Mr. Wells investigation, that failing to subject my cell phone to investigation would result in ANY discipline.

Most importantly, I have never written, texted, emailed to anybody at anytime, anything related to football air pressure before this issue was raised at the AFC Championship game in January. To suggest that I destroyed a phone to avoid giving the NFL information it requested is completely wrong.

To try and reconcile the record and fully cooperate with the investigation after I was disciplined in May, we turned over detailed pages of cell phone records and all of the emails that Mr. Wells requested. We even contacted the phone company to see if there was any possible way we could retrieve any/all of the actual text messages from my old phone. In short, we exhausted every possibility to give the NFL everything we could and offered to go thru the identity for every text and phone call during the relevant time. Regardless, the NFL knows that Mr. Wells already had ALL relevant communications with Patriots personnel that either Mr. Wells saw or that I was questioned about in my appeal hearing. There is no “smoking gun” and this controversy is manufactured to distract from the fact they have zero evidence of wrongdoing.

I authorized the NFLPA to make a settlement offer to the NFL so that we could avoid going to court and put this inconsequential issue behind us as we move forward into this season. The discipline was upheld without any counter offer. I respect the Commissioners authority, but he also has to respect the CBA and my rights as a private citizen. I will not allow my unfair discipline to become a precedent for other NFL players without a fight.

Lastly, I am overwhelmed and humbled by the support of family, friends and our fans who have supported me since the false accusations were made after the AFC Championship game. I look forward to the opportunity to resume playing with my teammates and winning more games for the New England Patriots.

[sinkspur]

The Courts will uphold the NFL.  Brady's a cheater, the Patriots are cheaters, and Brady's arrogant actions during the investigation merit at least a 4 game suspension.

His whining though is typical of the entire Patriots' organization. bleep.

[evadR]

Nifong rules again.

Goodell is a pawn in a high stakes game of chess.
I'm not sure why anyone would think the courts would rule with the NFL on this one, not if they have any regard for the rule of law.

[DCPatriot]

They should have suspended him for the entire 2015 season.

Destroying his cell phone (coverup) is worse than the 'crime'.

[jmyrlefuller]

Nifong rules again.

Goodell is a pawn in a high stakes game of chess.
I'm not sure why anyone would think the courts would rule with the NFL on this one, not if they have any regard for the rule of law.

What grounds do they have to overrule the league on an internal matter like this?

[evadR]

What grounds do they have to overrule the league on an internal matter like this?

I guess that's a good point. It probably isn't likely. Brady is just f*ked.