Summary: After a federal judge dismissed the four-game suspension imposed by the NFL Commissioner, the appeals court ruled that the NFL had the authority to give out the sentence on Tom Brady.
The NFL’s decision to appeal a federal judge’s decision to dismiss Tom Brady’s four-game suspension paid off today. The federal appeals court reinstated the punishment against New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in relation to his involvement in the “Deflategate” case.
Read Tom Brady Will Still Face a Four-Game Suspension to learn more.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell imposed a four-game suspension on Brady but federal judge Richard M. Berman rejected the punishment on the basis of “several significant legal deficiencies” in relation to how the accusations of deflated footballs during the AFC Championship Game in 2015 were investigated.
Of the three member appeals court, Judges Denny Chin and Barrington D. Parker ruled with the NFL while Chief Judge Robert A. Katzmann took Brady’s side.
Read Tom Brady Deflategate Case Still to Be Decided.
The NFL released a statement after the ruling saying, “We are pleased the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled today that the Commissioner properly exercised his authority under the collective bargaining agreement to act in cases involving the integrity of the game. That authority has been recognized by many courts and has been expressly incorporated into every collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and (the NFL Players Association) for the past 40 years.”
See Tom Brady Suspension Thrown Out by Judge.
It is not clear if the NFL will impose the suspension given after their original investigation that found Brady was “more probable than not” involved in the scheme to deflate the footballs New England used during the game. Deflated footballs would be easier to catch. The Patriots went on to win the game 45-7 against the Indianapolis Colts.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/25/us/nfl-wins-deflategate-appeal-tom-brady-suspension/
Photo: cbssports.com