Donald Trump: NFL treatment of Tom Brady ‘ridiculous’

Donald Trump called the NFL's treatment of Tom Brady “ridiculous.”

Donald Trump is a man with many opinions.

So it comes as no surprise he has a strong one about the Deflategate scandal. 

Trump, a 2016 presidential hopeful currently vying to become the Republican nominee, was asked about Tom Brady's four-game Deflategate suspension on FOX business channel on Thursday. He did not hold back when it came to the NFL and Roger Goodell's handling of the situation. 

Trump, who says he passed on buying the Patriots in 1988, stuck up for his friend Brady. 

“I think it’s ridiculous the way they’ve treated [Brady],” Trump said. “He’s a friend of mine, he’s a great friend of mine, he’s a great guy, and I think it’s ridiculous the way they’ve treated him. To spend $10 million in legal fees, and now it’s probably higher than that, it’s crazy. He’s a great star. They ought to go back to playing football. This country has bigger problems.”

Brady's suspension will eventually be decided in federal court, where the NFL has asked for the punishment to be upheld. 

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Brady and Goodell appear to be far apart in settlement talks. Judge Richard Berman is expected to hand down a ruling on Sept. 4, before the start of the NFL regular season, if no settlement is reached by then.