N.Y. Judge Nullifies Four-Game Suspension of Tom Brady
A federal judge lifted the four-game suspension of New England Patriots' quarterback player Tom Brady who was involved in a Deflategate controversy - a matter that is considered a threat to the integrity of the National Football League (NFL).
According to an article posted Thursday on Foreign Policy, the controversy cropped up after the league, led by Commissioner Roger Goodell, found out that the quarterback played with deflated game balls on purpose during a playoff game in January against the Indianapolis Colts to give his team an advantage over the opponent.
Brady was given a four-game suspension by Commissioner Goodell. However, the suspension was nullified by US District Judge Richard M. Berman on Thursday, who said that the league's commissioner crossed the line with his decision to suspend Brady - who denied his involvement on the Deflategate issue.
"As I have said during this process and throughout his Patriots career, Tom Brady is a classy person of the highest integrity." Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a dispatch. He represents everything that is great about this game and this league."
"Yet, with absolutely no evidence of any actions of wrongdoing by Tom in the Wells report, the lawyers at the league still insisted on imposing and defending unwarranted and unprecedented discipline."
He went on, "Judge Richard Berman understood this and we are greatly appreciative of his thoughtful decision that was delivered today. Now, we can return our focus to the game on the field."
Berman's decision is not yet the end of the controversy since the NFL appealed the ruling to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan on the same day.
"We are grateful to Judge Berman for hearing this matter, but respectfully disagree with today's decision," Goodell said in a statement. "We will appeal today's ruling in order to uphold the collectively bargained responsibility to protect the integrity of the game.
"The commissioner's responsibility to secure the competitive fairness of our game is a paramount principle, and the league and our 32 clubs will continue to pursue a path to that end."
Meanwhile, Berman saw "several significant legal deficiencies'' in the way the league is administering the issue and added that "there was no notice of a four-game suspension in the circumstances presented."
"Commissioner Goodell may be said to have 'dispensed his own brand of industrial justice,''' Berman said.