The consistently incompetent Roger Goodell has upheld the initial 4-game suspension given to Tom Brady following the media frenzy that was Deflategate.
Via ESPN:
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has upheld the four-game suspension imposed on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s role in deflating game footballs.
In Monday’s announcement, Goodell emphasized important new information disclosed by Brady and his representatives in connection with the hearing into what has been known as Deflategate.
Brady appealed the penalty, levied in May, on June 23 to Goodell, who served as arbitrator in the case.
Attorney Jeffrey Kessler, who has had success taking on the NFL in other high-profile cases, led Brady’s defense and said at one time that he had “a very compelling case” to change the initial outcome of Brady’s punishment.
Brady and the NFL Players Association took issue with Goodell playing arbitrator on this incident in fear that he could not be impartial due to his recent monumental missteps with the Ray Rice case. Goodell, citing the collective bargaining agreement, said it was his responsibility to oversee the hearing and protect the integrity of the game. Lol.
The news comes directly after Stephen A. Smith reported this morning that he heard that Tom Brady “destroyed his cell phone” during the NFL’s investigation. Huffington Post confirmed that rumor moments ago.
NFL confirms that Tom Brady decided to destroy his cell phone instead of turning it over to investigators pic.twitter.com/zl43LtdF8m
— HuffPost Sports (@HuffPostSports) July 28, 2015
Brady testified at the 10-hour hearing at the NFL offices that it is his practice to destroy his cell phone and SIM cards when he gets a new phone. Brady reportedly sent 10,000 text messages with his old phone, all of which are now unretrievable.
It is likely Brady and the NFLPA will fight this decision in court which could allow him to suit up for the first game of the season against Pittsburg. Renowned sports attorney Jay Reisinger believes the decision for Goodell to uphold the initial suspension was not a smart move by the league.
“I think (the league) would be the underdog (in court). The court is going to give an unbiased view of the evidence that was presented against (Brady) as opposed to the jaundiced view that was given by Roger and the rest of them.
Roger should have appointed a neutral arbitrator to hear the case. At least you can claim there was some semblance of impartiality.I think Tom has a good chance of prevailing (in federal case).”
P.S. Ray Rice knocked out a chick in an elevator. Two games. Two. It’s refreshing to see Goodell get tough when it really matters.