It’s more probable than not that Deflategate will drag into the summer months. Reports indicate that Tom Brady’s appeal of his four-game suspension will be heard at some point in June. For reference, the Ray Rice appeal took over two months. When the appeal takes place, there is a question of whether or not NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will serve as arbitrator or a witness. The NFLPA said that it intends to call Goodell as a witness in the appeal hearing. “This letter will serve as a formal demand that the Commissioner follow the [Ray] Rice precedent and appoint an independent person to serve as arbitrator over Mr. Brady’s appeal,” the NFLPA stated in a letter sent to the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, Troy Vincent. “If the Commissioner does not appoint such a neutral arbitrator, the NFLPA and Mr. Brady will seek recusal and pursue all available relief to obtain an arbitrator who is not evidently partial.” ESPN reported that it is “very unlikely” that Goodell will recuse himself from the appeal.
Tom Brady, Patriots drama likely to drag into June, beyond
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