We are in the midst of training camp season. Let the battles begin! There are plenty of jobs open across the NFL, and these are the nine most interesting.
If any suspension remains after Goodell’s ruling, Brady is expected to challenge the decision in federal court. It’s possible that Goodell could cut down Brady’s suspension to less than four games, but the NFLPA has already begun work on a case to be heard in front of a federal judge and feels confident that it is a strong case, so the chance to eliminate a suspension altogether is likely going to be pursued.
That case is expected to be filed by the NFLPA in Massachusetts or Minnesota. Massachusetts would serve as a sort of “home field advantage” for Brady, while Minnesota has been a labor-friendly state in the past, and is the state that ruled in favor of Adrian Peterson after he took the NFL to federal court for upholding an indefinite suspension during the 2014 season.
Of course, it’s possible that no such case will be necessary. Goodell said that Brady’s non-cooperation with the league’s investigation played a factor in the punishment handed down and that “new information” provided by the quarterback could result in a different decision. If Goodell eliminates Brady’s suspension altogether, that would officially mark the end of DeflateGate.
The NFLPA has laid out a few points that it wants to attack the NFL on, including the fact that Goodell didn’t recuse himself. The union’s argument would be that Brady wasn’t treated fairly and didn’t receive due process. A league-funded investigation found him guilty, the league commissioner punished him and the league commissioner heard his appeal.