March 28, 2024

Brady’s ‘Deflategate’ appeal rejected by federal court

NEW YORK (AP) — Quarterback Tom Brady’s last best chance to avoid serving a four-game “Deflategate” suspension to start the new season was flatly rejected Wednesday by an appeals court.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan issued a one-sentence rejection of requests by the National Football League Players Association and Tom Brady to reconsider an April decision that reinstated the suspension.

“We are disappointed,” the players association said in a statement. “The track record of this league office when it comes to matters of player discipline is bad for our business and bad for our game. We have a broken system that must be fixed.”

The NFL declined comment.

The court’s action left intact a 2-to-1 ruling by a three-judge panel that found NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell acted within his powers by upholding the suspension of the star quarterback for his role in a scheme to doctor footballs used in a January 2015 playoff game.

The decision affirmed wide-ranging powers given to the commissioner by the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement. It was a setback for organized labor groups arguing for due process in employee discipline.

The players association and Brady had requested that the panel reconsider or that all the 2nd Circuit judges hear arguments and decide anew.

Brady’s remaining hope is to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“That is an extremely long shot,” said Nellie Drew, a sports law professor at the University at Buffalo. She said the 2nd Circuit acted correctly and that any changes to how the NFL handles arbitrations over player issues will have to be handled at the negotiating table.

She predicted Patriots backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo “will be getting a whole lot of repetitions” as the Patriots prepare for their season opener Sept. 11 at Arizona.