At long last the Deflategate scandal, which has haunted the NFL for 18 months, may finally be inching towards a conclusion. Tom Brady’s attempt to get a new hearing to appeal against his four-game suspension for the start of the new season has been rejected by the second US circuit court of appeals.
In April, the second US circuit court of appeals upheld NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s decision to suspend the New England Patriots quarterback for four games. The league had ruled that footballs had been tampered with during the Patriots’ 45-7 victory over the Colts in the January 2015 AFC Championship game, and Brady was likely to have played a part in the incident. The case has developed partly into an argument over the limits of Goodell’s powers, and has cost both sides millions of dollars in legal fees.
Brady, however, can still take his case to the US supreme court.
Wednesday’s ruling means Brady is set to miss games against the Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans at the start of the new season. The Patriots were also fined $1m and docked a first-round draft pick in this year’s draft over the Deflategate scandal.
