New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Monday filed an appeal against his four-game suspension in a last-ditch bid to overturn his punishment for his role in the “Deflategate” scandal.
The Patriots superstar has applied for a full hearing by the Second US Circuit Court of Appeals after a three-judge panel found in favor of the National Football League on April 25 and reinstated Brady’s suspension.
Brady had until Monday to decide whether or not to challenge the court ruling, and has now requested a hearing en banc, before the full panel of judges on the appeals court.
Photo: AP
For the hearing to proceed, seven out of 13 judges must first agree that the hearing is necessary.
NFL Players Association attorney Theodore Olson, the famed lawyer who has appeared in several high-profile cases, told Good Morning America on Monday that the appeal was a certainty.
“The facts here are so drastic and so apparent that the court should rehear it,” Olson said.
If the court refuses to hear the case, the only option left to Brady would be to seek a case before the US Supreme Court, something which could take several months or years.
Olson, who served as US solicitor general under former US president George W. Bush, told ABC News that the case would target the role of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
“Our two primary arguments are that the commissioner in the first place conducted an investigation and then the commissioner imposed discipline. Then the commissioner appointed himself as an appellate judge or an arbitrator and then decided something new in the appellate process, abandoning the grounds that were the original basis for the supposed discipline,” Olson told ABC News.
If the suspension stands, it would mean Brady misses the Patriots’ games against the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills.
Brady, one of the highest-profile athletes in the US and a record-equaling four-time winner of the Super Bowl, had been plunged into controversy following the Patriots’ blowout AFC Championship game victory over the Indianapolis Colts last year.
The Patriots were accused of deliberately manipulating the air pressure of balls used in the first half of that game, in order to make them easier to grip, grab and throw.
An inquiry by the NFL ruled that Brady was probably “generally aware” that Patriots staff had tampered with the balls and found him uncooperative when questioned by investigators.
However, Goodell’s initial decision to impose a four-game ban was sharply criticized by a lower court judge, who ruled in Brady’s favor in September last year, clearing him to play throughout the 2015-2016 campaign.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and