Posted on 09/03/2015 8:05:14 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Judge Richard Berman has overturned Tom Brady's four-game suspension for "Deflategate," according to the AP. Berman made the decision after Brady and the NFL met several times and were unable to come to a settlement.
Of course this doesn't mean that Deflategate is over.
It has been widely reported that whichever side lost would then file an appeal, setting up court hearings for several more months.
Right now, though, it seems we'll see Brady in Week 1.
There was feeling around the NFL world that Berman would rule in Brady's favor after the NFL got crushed during a hearing earlier in August.
One of the strongest arguments in Brady's favor was the lack of a "smoking gun."
Though the NFL's investigation found Brady was "generally aware" of the plan to deflate the footballs, it seemed Berman questioned the leap from "generally aware" to a four-game suspension.
Additionally, Berman didn't agree with Roger Goodell's comparison of Brady being generally aware of ball deflation to a player being generally aware of steroid use.
In Berman's 40-page decision, he specifically mentions questioning the comparison:
"The Court finds that no player alleged or found to have had a general awareness of the inappropriate ball deflation activities of others or who allegedly schemed with others to let air out of footballs in a championship game and also had not cooperated in an ensuing investigation, reasonably could be on notice that their discipline would (or should) be the same as applied to a player who violated the NFL Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances."
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
About time!
Haters are going to shriek conspiracy when there was none! The NFL business model HATES dynasties...Goodell is 0 for 4 in his taking players to court. I think he may be gone soon!
Wow! Reading the judge’s statement and decision, it leaves a very tough road for the NFL to overcome it. Among other things, it seems to indicate that the NFL did a railroad job on this from the beginning.
Goodell gets deservedly skewed again, lol!
As predicted. Next shoe to drop is Goodell losing his job.
YES!!!!!
Among other things, it seems to indicate that the NFL did a railroad job on this from the beginning.
...
Anybody who read the Wells report should have come to the same conclusion.
Yep and Kraft should get his million dollars back and two draft picks he had to give up. Goodell has been a very embarrassing and expensive joke and should have to pay with his own job.
“...it seems to indicate that the NFL did a railroad job on this from the beginning.”
Seems to me the real issue is why the NFL even had ball protocol rules set up the way they are. I mean, isn’t that the obvious question for a multi billion dollar industry?
The only thing I can think of is anything to maximize scoring as long as the average fan’s sensibilities aren’t outraged, because scoring = excitement to the lowest common denominator fan?
Freegards
I did read the Wells report. :)
This was overblown to begin with. Go Pats!
We aren’t capable of deciding such things ourselves or through our voluntary organizations.
So, this is just another wise decision from our judicial Overlords, for our own good.
Q: What do you call someone who condones and ratifies cheating?
A: A New England Deflatriot fan.
NFL might retaliate by calling the game a lot less favorably for the patriots.
They hate us cause they ain’t us.
If you have money, you can get away with cheating! Lesson learned!
I don’t care whether Brady knew or not; the larger point is what business does a federal judge have sticking his nose in the administration of a private enterprise?
One can only hope, the way Goodell has been onboard with Obama the last eight years has disgusted me.
where was this judge when goodell thru the book with no evidence against the Saints???
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