Roger Goodell and Tom Brady were in New York City on Wednesday for a hearing regarding Brady's suspension for his alleged role in "DeflateGate" and this comes as Judge Richard Berman was looking for the two sides to reach a settlement ahead of the start of the NFL season.
According to various media reports from Pro Football Talk, ESPN and NFL.com, the hearing on Wednesday had Berman "grilling" both sides about issues in the case. Goodell is confident in his role as the disciplinarian in the NFL, while Albert Breer of NFL Media reports that things were hung up on "Brady's refusal to admit guilt" in the situation. Brady has contended that he did nothing wrong regarding the inflation of footballs and he was suspended for four games by Goodell.
Brady appealed that decision and that was upheld and now the sides are in court trying to work things out. ESPN's Chris Mortensen later reported that Brady would need to "accept" the Ted Wells report to get a settlement done. The sides had talks before the Wednesday hearing and Berman is expected to make the sides continue to talk. Ken Belson at the NY Times reported that Berman asked the most questions about the Wells report and things related to that investigation. Berman also asked about "direct evidence" by the NFL in the "link" with Brady and the alleged "deflators," per Belson.
Sports Business Journal reports that the judge "hammered" the NFL about the Well's report and about whether the "report was independent and whether there is direct evidence on Brady." NFLPA counsel Jeffery Kessler is defending Brady and Ben Volin reported that Kessler "argued IF McNally and Jastremski deflated the balls, they were freelancing and not doing so under Brady's orders." McNally and Jastremski are the two men accused of messing with the inflation of the fotoballs.
"I don't know what to make of that finding Tom Brady was at least generally aware of the activities of [Jim McNally and John Jastremski]," Berman said, per Pro Football Talk.
Check here for more on the hearing between Brady and Goodell about the DeflateGate issue.
