U.S. District Judge Richard Berman yesterday said that he "would rule" on the Deflategate case by Friday, and possibly as early as today, according to Ken Belson of the N.Y. TIMES. Berman said that Giants President & CEO John Mara and former NFLer Jay Feely, a friend of Patriots QB Tom Brady’s who is on the NFLPA's Exec Committee, had in recent days "tried to mediate a solution to the standoff" between Brady and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (N.Y. TIMES, 9/1). In N.Y., Michael O'Keeffe cites a source as saying that the NFL during negotiations yesterday morning "floated the idea to Brady’s camp of a reduced three-game suspension if he admitted guilt." But Brady "refused to sign any document admitting he did anything wrong" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/1). Also in N.Y., Gary Myers reports the NFL "denies this was its offer, but would not elaborate on what was put on the table." Myers: "In any event, no deal." Each side is "taking a big risk by not settling because Berman will either vacate Brady’s suspension or keep it intact." There is "no middle ground." The loser is "expected to appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals as this case grinds it way through the judicial system." The NFL has "taken what at most was a misdemeanor and literally turned it into a federal case against the face of the league." It makes "no sense" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/1). In Boston, Ben Volin in a front-page piece reports the NFLPA also had Managing Dir & COO Ira Fishman "on hand" at yesterday's negotiations (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/1).
COVER STORY: In N.Y., Mike Lupica writes the NFL and underinflated footballs are "just the cover story here, and Brady's 'destroyed' cell phone was just a prop." Lupica: "You better believe this is about bosses and unions, and has been from the jump. Goodell has lost already, because Deflategate has dragged on this long. But his owners don’t care" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/1). In Providence, Bill Reynolds writes, "Here we are with a tarnished Tom Brady and a tarnished Roger Goodell, and a minor incident -- regardless of the specifics -- that has come to define the NFL for roughly nine months now. It almost defies belief" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 9/1). YAHOO SPORTS Dan Wetzel wrote Goodell and Brady yesterday, the two men, "rich and famous and atop their chosen professions, refused to even look at each other." The "distrust and disgust were clear: Two men known for their ability to smoothly glide through life, with fashion and fabulous hair, looked strangely uncomfortable." Brady and Goodell were "like a couple of rivals on opposite sides of the schoolyard, unwilling to even acknowledge the other's presence in front of onlookers." The NFL "not only never backed down, it just kept doubling down, believing the full force of the league's power -- both in the CBA and in its ability to manipulate national reporters -- would overwhelm Brady." The league "may be correct and on the verge of a show-of-force victory," but it also "may be wrong and headed for a comeuppance" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/31).
