New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will have to sit the first four games of the 2016 NFL season after his suspension was restored over his involvement in the Deflategate controversy.
BREAKING: Appeals court rules Patriots quarterback Tom Brady must serve 4-game 'Deflategate' suspension.
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 25, 2016
Brady was initially suspended four games by the league for his role in doctoring footballs. The Patriots were fined $1 million and forced to forfeit a first-round and fourth-round draft pick in 2016 & 2017. Brady’s suspension had been appealed multiple times and was thrown out by a judge in September who said the NFL was ‘fundamentally unfair‘ to him. The NFL quickly appealed the decision.
In making their ruling, the U.S 2nd Circuit Appeals Court wrote Roger Goodell properly exercised his power and that Brady wasn’t deprived of ‘fundamental fairness’ by the NFL.
“We hold that the Commissioner properly exercised his broad discretion under the collective bargaining agreement and that his procedural rulings were properly grounded in that agreement and did not deprive Brady of fundamental fairness,” the U.S. 2nd Circuit Appeals Court wrote in its ruling.
As Albert Breer of the NFL Network reports, Brady still has options to fight the suspension. He can file an injunction and ask for another hearing before the Appeals Court or can appeal to the Supreme Court itself.
If the suspension sticks, Brady would miss games against Arizona, Miami, Houston, and Buffalo. He would be eligible to return in Week 5 against Cleveland.
Who thought when Deflategate began that it could go potentially as high as the Supreme Court? One thing’s for sure, Brady’s fight with the NFL isn’t over – it’s about to get even uglier. This situation is going to get hairy over the next four or so months.
[ESPN]
