Menu
Franchises

Patriots File Brief Backing Tom Brady, Putting Them In Opposition To NFL, Goodell

The Patriots yesterday filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the NFLPA and QB Tom Brady, calling the NFL Deflategate process "less a search for the truth than pursuit of a pre-determined result." The NFLPA on Monday appealed an appeals court decision that reinstated Brady's four-game suspension for allegedly tampering with balls before the '15 AFC Championship game. A lower court in September '15 had overturned the suspension. But a three-judge panel ruled in April the NFL commissioner had the right under labor law to suspend Brady. The Patriots wrote of the appeals decision, "It endorsed the outcome of a highly manipulated and fundamentally unfair process designed and used by the Commissioner to reach and justify a predetermined outcome in violation of the CBA and this Court's precedents." The Patriots now are legally opposing the league, a stance one of the NFL's teams have not taken since the Raiders and Cowboys fought the NFL in the '80s and '90s over relocation and sponsorship, respectively (Daniel Kaplan, Staff Writer). In N.Y., Christian Red cites a source as saying that this marks the first time in league history an NFL team "has sided with" the NFLPA on a player disciplinary matter (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/26). On Long Island, Bob Glauber notes the the document "submitted to the court doesn't constitute a lawsuit." However, the brief is a "clear shot across the bow" at NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league's punishment of Brady (NEWSDAY, 5/26).

WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?  In Boston, Ben Volin writes under the header, "Kraft Has Clearly Taken Sides -- Against Goodell." Patriots Owner Robert Kraft "didn't quite go full Al Davis," who is the only NFL owner to sue the league. However, Kraft "entered the same ZIP code, via his attorney." Volin: "Now we have an NFL owner slamming his own commissioner, arguing that a player’s rights were violated, and pleading with the court to side with the NFL Players Association. As if Deflategate weren’t crazy enough" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/26). Also in Boston, Daniel Mahoney writes under the header, "Time To End The B-Grade Drama Of Deflategate" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/26).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2016/05/26/Franchises/Patriots.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2016/05/26/Franchises/Patriots.aspx

CLOSE