After months of investigation, appeals, and mud slinging we finally have at least a partial ending to the saga known as “Deflategate.” Judge Richard Berman has issued a ruling that vacates the four-game suspension of Patriots QB Tom Brady.
Brady was suspended for his role in deflating footballs below the legal limit used in the AFC Championship Game against the Colts. An exhaustive investigation found that equipment staff employed by the Patriots likely were doctoring the footballs and that they communicated with Brady, but there was never any hard evidence against him.
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The ruling by Judge Berman didn’t absolve Brady of any guilt, but stated that he could be fined but not suspended for his infractions. Judge Berman also stated that Brady was not properly notified of the fact that he could be suspended for his actions and that a player has never been suspended for obstructing an NFL investigation.
From the very beginning of this investigation, the Patriots and Brady were arrogant and dismissive of the NFL. The team has been found guilty of cheating before and commissioner Roger Goodell vowed that he would come down harder on the Pats if there was another incident.
The Patriots were fined $1 million and lost their first round draft pick in 2016. Earlier this year, team owner Robert Kraft said that for the good of the league, he would accept those harsh penalties and move on from the incident. When Brady’s appeal was denied, Kraft proceeded to attack the NFL and was very upset at the ruling.
There are two problems with these reactions from Kraft. If your organization didn’t do anything wrong, then why did you accept the fine and loss of draft picks? Those two equipment managers were also placed on indefinite leave, and haven’t been brought back. Two, if Kraft took this penalty for the good of the league, he can’t then be upset when Brady’s suspension is upheld. He doesn’t get to have it both ways.
This ruling, along with other recent losses by the league, is a huge blow to the NFL’s disciplinary process. A process, by the way, that was collectively bargained with the NFL Players Union. Now whenever a player is suspended, they have a good chance at overturning that suspension in a federal court.
The NFL is sure to appeal this decision, but it could take some time before anything else happens with this story.
Had the suspension been upheld by Judge Berman, Brady’s first game back would have been against the Colts on Sunday Night Football.