Roger Goodell: Deflategate decision to come soon
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told CNBC on Thursday that a decision on the appeal of New England quarterback Tom Brady's suspension after the Deflategate scandal will come as early as next week.
Goodell said a ruling was coming “hopefully soon” and that it “could be” next week.
Goodell spoke to CNBC while attending the annual Allen & Company tech and media finance conference in Sun Valley, Idaho.
The NFL Players Association filed an appeal on the behalf of Brady after he was suspended four games without pay for his role in the Deflategate scandal.
The appeal was heard by Goodell despite the NFLPA's request that he recuse himself from the proceedings.
Brady, a 10-time Pro Bowler, three-time Super Bowl MVP and twice the winner of the NFL’s MVP award, has maintained his innocence throughout and reportedly testified under oath during the appeal hearing.
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The league started its investigation of the Patriots and Brady after reports surfaced that the Patriots used underinflated footballs during their 45-7 AFC championship game rout over the Indianapolis Colts. New England won Super Bowl XLIX two weeks later.
As a result of Ted Wells' investigation, Brady was suspended without pay for the first four games of this upcoming season by the NFL, the Patriots were fined $1 million and the team will lose a first-round draft pick in 2016 and its fourth-round draft pick in 2017. Patriots owner Robert Kraft said the team would not appeal the punishment.
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The report also said the Patriots and Brady were less than cooperative during the investigation, refusing to make personnel available for follow-up interviews. Brady did not make his phone records available for review to see if he communicated with the two staff members.
The Patriots open their title defense against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 10.
- Scooby Axson
