The background: On Tuesday, Tom Brady will appeal against his four-game suspension by the NFL. The punishment was handed down in May after the Wells report into the Deflategate scandal found “it is more probable than not” that at least two New England Patriots employees improperly deflated footballs in the team’s AFC Championship win over the Indianapolis Colts and that Brady was “at least generally aware” of the wrongdoing. Brady’s appeal was filed through the NFL Players Association. “Given the NFL’s history of inconsistency and arbitrary decisions in disciplinary matters, it is only fair that a neutral arbitrator hear this appeal,” the union said in a statement.
Brady’s team, the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, were docked draft picks and fined $1m over the scandal but have decided not to challenge their punishment.
Who will hear the appeal? Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner. Goodell has said he is not “wedded” to the findings of the Wells report. “I look forward to hearing directly from Tom if there is new information or there is information that can be helpful to us in getting this right,” said Goodell in May. Brady will appear with his attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, who has contested a number of high-profile appeals against the NFL.
When is the appeal and when will there be a verdict? The hearing will take place at 9.30am ET on Tuesday 23 June at the NFL’s office in New York. Thursday 25 June has been set aside in the event that it stretches into another day. It is highly unlikely a decision will be reached immediately, with a verdict likely to come towards the end of July.
What will Brady’s case revolve around? ESPN gave details of a letter sent to the NFL by the Players Association. It argues that the Wells report was “dubious, contradictory, and [includes] mischaracterized circumstantial evidence that does not prove [Brady] deliberately ordered illegal tampering with footballs.” Brady is also expected to argue that his punishment was unusually heavy.
Does Brady have other options if he loses? The quarterback is understood to be angry at a verdict that he believes has tarnished his image. He could ultimately bring the case to federal court if he wants to carry on his fight against the NFL.
