While not yet official, the NFL seems likely to deny the NFL Players Association's request for Commissioner Roger Goodell to recuse himself as arbitrator of Tom Brady's suspension appeal. Initially, it was reported that it was already done, by Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, but the league claimed that was not yet the case, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. La Canfora followed up by saying that Goodell "did not himself reject" the motion, but that NFL lawyers filed the papers affirming Goodell as the arbitrator.
Roger Goodell likely won’t recuse himself from Tom Brady’s appeal
Roger Goodell will likely decline the NFLPA’s request to step aside as arbitrator in Tom Brady’s appeal of a four-game suspension.
On Tuesday, the NFLPA put in a formal request asking Goodell to step aside. They cited the fact that Goodell will be called upon as a witness as the primary reason why he has a conflict of interest. The NFLPA claimed that Goodell and the NFL should embrace their request for an independent review “if the NFL believes the Ted Wells report has credibility.”
The Wells report found that the New England Patriots intentionally deflated footballs in the AFC Championship against the Indianapolis Colts. The Patriots were fined $1 million, docked a first-round draft pick in 2016 and a fourth-round draft pick in 2017. New England is not planning on appealing its own punishment, though owner Robert Kraft is unhappy. Brady, who the report found had some knowledge of the illegal deflation, was suspended for the first four games of next season.
By all accounts, Goodell seems ready to listen to any information Brady has to give the league to potentially exonerate himself. Goodell has said that his main focus is allowing any information that Brady has to be given to the league. It’s worth noting that the Wells report concluded that Brady and the Patriots were not fully cooperative in handing over requested data, including cell phone records. It’s unclear if that’s the kind of thing that would help Brady’s case, but Goodell may actually be his best chance at a reduced suspension.
This decision, if and when it becomes official, likely gives Brady and the NFLPA further ammunition to potentially pursue a lawsuit if Brady’s appeal is rejected.
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