NFL Upholds Brady’s 4 Game Suspension
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has upheld Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's four game suspension for his role in deflategate.
Read Roger Goodell's Final Decision here.
Goodell's announcement sites that " by the time of the AFC Championship Game, the inflation level of the footballs was a matter of particular interest to Mr. Brady," and that Brady told the Patriots equipment staff that he wanted the footballs inflated at the lowest permissible level.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTBrady Not Cooperating
One of the biggest talking points throughout the appeal process was the fact that Brady did not hand over his cell phone. Goodell had the following to say:
"Mr. Brady explained that when he changes cell phones, he gives his old cell phone to an assistant with the instruction 'to destroy the phone so that no one can ever, you know, reset it or do something where the information is available to anyone.'"
Goodell goes on " Mr. Brady's direction that his cell phone (and its relevant evidence) be destroyed on or about March 6 is very troubling. Rather than simply failing to cooperate, Mr. Brady made a deliberate effort to ensure that investigators would never have access to information that he had been asked to produce.
Goodell goes on to say that " Mr. Brady's denials of involvement in the tampering scheme were not credible, I found that Mr. Brady had failed to cooperate with the investigation. "
Goodell Comes to Final Decision
Goodell concludes his reasoning by saying "The four-game suspension is confirmed. In response to a concern raised by the NFLPA, this will confirm that compensation of the intervening bye week will be paid to Mr. Brady in equal installments over the remainder of the season once he returns from suspension."
What is Next
According to reports, Tom Brady has given the NFLPA authorization to appeal in federal court.
Barring a court ruling in his favor, Brady will miss the first four games of the NFL season and return in week six against the Indianapolis Colts. Brady is eligible to practice ad play in all preseason games with the team.
The Patriots first preseason game is August 13 against the Green Bay Packers at Gillette Stadium.
Training Camp Opens
The New England Patriots are set to open training camp on Thursday, July 30 at the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium. The camp is free and open to the public.
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