Judge Orders Goodell, Brady To Appear In Court Twice This Month

U.S. District Judge Richard Berman asked that Patriots QB Tom Brady and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell appear in court twice in mid-August. Berman has scheduled conferences Aug. 12 and 19 and told both the league and the NFLPA they should be attended by "your principles (including, without limitation, Mr. Goodell and Mr. Brady)." He also requested the parties "engage in comprehensive, good-faith settlement discussions prior to the conference on August 12" (AP, 8/1).

Meanwhile, the Patriots shared a February e-mail exchange with NFL Exec VP & General Counsel Jeff Pash on the Wellsreportcontext.com website Friday, "highlighting their frustration with the league over what the team characterized as failing to correct certain Deflategate media reports and investigate where the information originated from" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 8/1). ESPN BOSTON's Mike Reiss: "It's seems obvious that Patriots owner Robert Kraft feels betrayed by commissioner Roger Goodell for siding" with Pash (ESPNBOSTON.com, 8/2).