Appeals Court Considers Reinstating ‘Deflategate’

A three-judge appeals court panel this week considered reinstating the four-game suspension of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, despite the player’s union arguments that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell did not have “blanket authority” to impose such a punishment. Goodell issued the sanction after Brady was accused of deflating footballs in an NFL playoff game last year. Before the season began, a U.S. district judge in Manhattan overturned that decision, saying it was unnecessarily strict. During this week’s hearing, U.S. Circuit Judge Robert Katzmann asked the union’s lawyer why Goodell should not be able to impose punishment for conduct detrimental to the league. “Isn’t that why the language in the agreement gives the commissioner broad authority for dealing with conduct detrimental?” he asked. The NFL’s lawyer asked the court to rule quickly, to bring the dispute to a close before the start of next year’s season.