Roger Goodell will hear Brady’s appeal
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will preside over Tom Brady’s appeal of a four-game suspension for his role in Deflategate. The Patriots’ quarterback filed an appeal of the punishment through the NFLPA on Thursday.
“Commissioner Goodell will hear the appeal of Tom Brady’s suspension in accordance with the process agreed upon with the NFL Players Association in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement,’’ Aiello said in an email.
Under Article 46 of the collective bargaining agreement, Goodell may appoint himself as hearing officer in a case involving player suspension. The hearing must occur within ten days of the league’s receiving Brady’s notice of appeal.
In its filing, the NFLPA asked that Brady’s appeal be heard by a “neutral arbitrator.’’
“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 NFLPA said. “If Ted Wells and the NFL believe, as their public comments stated, that the evidence in their report is ‘direct’ and ‘inculpatory,’ then they should be confident enough to present their case before someone who is truly independent.’’
Deflategate Headlines
[bdc-gallery id=”465939″]
The league on Monday announced it would suspend Tom Brady four games for being “at least generally aware’’ of tampering with footballs by two Patriots personnel. In its announcement, the league cited Brady’s refusal to turn over “electronic evidence’’ including emails in texts as factoring into the penalty.
“Your actions as set forth in the (Wells) report clearly constitute conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the game of professional football,’’ NFL Executive Vice President Troy Vincent wrote in a letter to Brady included in the announcement.
Brady’s agent and the Patriots contend the NFL’s investigation into Deflategate was flawed, though Brady himself has not issued a statement.
“The Wells report, with all due respect, is a significant and terrible disappointment,’’ agent Don Yee said in a statement. “Its omission of key facts and lines of inquiry suggest the investigators reached a conclusion first, and then determined so-called facts later. One fact alone taints this entire report.’’
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com