The NFL has announced that Patriots QB Tom Brady’s appeal has been denied, and that he will sit for the first four games of 2015, including the NFL season opener on September 8th in Foxboro against the Steelers.
The penalties were issued after NFL-appointed investigator Ted Wells found that Brady was “at least generally aware” of plans made by two team employees to prepare the balls to his liking, below the league-mandated 12.5 pounds per square inch.
The NFLPA appealed Brady’s punishment on three grounds: that only the commissioner has the authority to impose discipline (league vice president Troy Vincent issued the original penalty); the four-game suspension is “grossly inconsistent” with prior treatment of similar alleged conduct; and the discipline is based on the Wells report, which contains insufficient evidence to find Brady in violation of NFL rules.
The union also asked Goodell to recuse himself in favor of a neutral arbitrator, but the commissioner rejected the motion, citing the importance of his duty to safeguard the integrity of the game.
The Patriots were also fined $1 million and docked two draft picks, one of them next year’s first rounder, in the wake of the Wells report findings. Patriots owner Robert Kraft eventually decided not to fight those aspects of the league’s discipline even though he’s adamantly defended his team throughout the course of the Deflategate proceedings.
NFL says Tom Brady directed that his cell phone be destroyed on or shortly before March 6, when Brady met with investigator Ted Wells.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 28, 2015
This is not much of a surprise, but you can bet we’ve not heard the last of the situation, as there’s rumblings that Brady and the Pats are going to continue to push the issue, and take it to an even higher court.
If there’s one thing the Pats should finally learn – cheaters will eventually get caught.
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Pingback: NFL Upholds Patriots QB Tom Brady’s Suspension – Steelers Won’t See Him Opening Night | Sports Feedr
DaveB
July 28, 2015 at 7:24 pm
The fact that he asked a Patriot assistant to destroy his cell phone knowing full well that the league had asked to see it , tells you all you need to know about this case . He did it and did everything in his power to cover it up . Yes Tom , your legacy is officially tainted .
DrGeorge
July 31, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Take a look at Christopher Carter’s article on Behind the Steel Curtain regarding the unfettered power of Roger Goodell under the new CBA. Only Pittsburgh voted against it in 2011, after warning the other teams (no doubt based on the heavy fines levied unjustly on Harrison and Ryan Clark among others). Boston sports writers jeered and flung approbrium in Harrison’s direction, calling him “a dirty player, a maniac.” Now that the hammer has fallen on Brady, they are singing another tune in Boston. What goes around … .