Tom Brady must sit out four games this season, thanks to the latest twist in the Deflategate saga. Siding with the NFL, a federal appeals court overturned a lower court’s decision that favored the New England Patriots quarterback.
“The decision by a three-judge panel may end the legal debate over the scandal that led to months of football fans arguing over air pressure and the reputation of one of the league’s top teams. It is also likely to fuel a fresh round of debate over what role, if any, the quarterback and top NFL star played in using underinflated footballs in the AFC Championship Game in January 2015. The Patriots won the contest over the Indianapolis Colts and then won the Super Bowl.”
In a 2-1 decision in New York, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled: “We hold that the commissioner properly exercised his broad discretion under the collective bargaining agreement and that his procedural rulings were properly grounded in that agreement and did not deprive Brady of fundamental fairness.”
So how are others taking it?
“Just outrageous. It makes me sick.”@RealSkipBayless unleashed fury after Tom Brady’s suspension was reinstated: https://t.co/5WGVAtYb6o
— ESPN (@espn) April 25, 2016
“Please make it stop,” a weary nation says as appeals court reinstates Brady suspension https://t.co/2BbUuvwJHF pic.twitter.com/bWiXYUfBuj
— Slate (@Slate) April 25, 2016
Tom Brady re-did his contract recently with this in mind. He’ll now lose just over $200K instead of $2M. But it’s the games he cares about
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 25, 2016
Fully expecting naked “Free Tom Brady” streaker on stage at draft Thursday night, likely a Bud Light drinker
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) April 25, 2016
Here is the full ruling/opinion on Tom Brady from the circuit court: https://t.co/70PMuJILZb
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 25, 2016