- Title: NFL-BRADY/COURT HEARING Deflategate hearing goes back to court
- Date: 19th August 2015
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (AUGUST 19, 2015) (REUTERS) BLACK CAR PULLING UP NFLPA (NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DEMAURICE SMITH EXITING CAR SMITH ENTERING UNITED STATES FEDERAL COURT HOUSE TOM BRADY'S LAWYER JEFFREY KESSLER GETTING OUT OF CAR KESSLER ENTERING COURTHOUSE VARIOUS OF NFL LAWYER GREGG LEVY ENTERING COURTHOUSE DANIEL NASH (IN THE BACK WEARING SUNGLASSES), LEAD COUNSEL FOR NFL WALKING NASH ENTERING COURTHOUSE WIDE VIEW OF NEW YORK FEDERAL COURTHOUSE SIGN OF COURT HOUSE ENTRANCE SIGN OF 500 PEARL STREET
- Embargoed: 3rd September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAAHX0456F2AQ9VUVMI82SBADX1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A federal judge on Wednesday (August 19) urged the National Football League and its players union to continue discussing a possible settlement to resolve their dispute over New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's four-game "Deflategate" suspension.
U.S. District Judge Richard Berman, sitting in Manhattan, said both sides had enough "strengths and weaknesses" to their cases that they should come together to resolve their dispute rather than asking him to rule.
"A settlement is a logical and rational option," Berman said.
The judge said he would meet privately with the lawyers about a settlement later on Wednesday. Berman also scheduled an Aug. 31 hearing and directed both Brady and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to attend. Both Brady and Goodell were not present on Wednesday's hearing.
Berman's remarks came at the outset of a hearing over whether the judge should confirm or vacate Goodell's July 28 decision confirming Brady's suspension.
Since the NFL filed a lawsuit seeking his confirmation last month, Berman has repeatedly encouraged both sides to settle. But despite the personal participation over the last week of both Brady and Goodell in settlement talks, no deal has emerged.
The parties have asked Berman to rule by Sept. 4, six days before New England's 16-game season begins in a nationally televised game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Brady was suspended for four games over his alleged role in a scheme to deflate footballs in the Patriots' 45-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in a January playoff game.
An underinflated football can be easier to grip for a quarterback, particularly in raw outdoor conditions like January's American Football Conference title game outside of Boston.
The Patriots' victory in that game allowed the team to advance to the Super Bowl, where they beat the Seattle Seahawks 28-24. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
