Judge Repeats That He'll Rule By Friday On Tom Brady's 'Deflategate' Suspension
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A federal judge on Tuesday reiterated that he will rule by the end of the week whether New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady must serve a four-game suspension for ``Deflategate.''
Manhattan U.S. District Judge Richard Berman issued a one-sentence order Tuesday saying he planned to rule by Friday whether the NFL properly followed its collective bargaining agreement with players when it suspended Brady for his role in using underinflated footballs in a playoff game.
His order Tuesday came out after an apparently new and bogus Twitter account with his photograph claimed he would rule by 4 p.m. Tuesday. The tweet did not come from his chambers.
Goodell in July upheld a four-game suspension of Brady, concluding the quarterback colluded with two Patriots ball handlers to deflate footballs before the 45-7 victory over the Colts. Brady said he had no role in it. The players union wants the suspension eliminated.
The NFL wants Brady's suspension upheld. The NFL Players Association wants it struck down.
Berman has said a settlement would be "rational and logical" but also cited weaknesses in the way the NFL handled the controversy that was nicknamed "Deflategate." The judge has also suggested that the league's finding was too vague, that Brady was generally aware that game balls were being deflated.
At a court hearing last month, Berman told the NFL there was precedent for judges to toss out penalties issued by arbitrators.
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