Brady, NFL Bring Their DeflateGate Fight To Federal Court
BOSTON (CBS) -- It's actually happening. The DeflateGate mess has somehow made it all the way to Federal court.
On Wednesday, Tom Brady and the NFL Player's Association took their fight against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the four-game DeflateGate suspension he handed off to the Patriots quarterback to Federal court, the first of two potential conferences with U.S. district judge Richard Berman over the next week.
Yes, DeflateGate is now wasting the time of a U.S. district judge.
Tom Brady arriving at the court house at 10:04 this morning. #WBZ pic.twitter.com/rPM5iiAT90
— STEVE BURTON (@STEVEBURTONWBZ) August 12, 2015
Security will start to allow the media in the court house at 9:30am here in NYC. #WBZ pic.twitter.com/PrumGAtJaz
— STEVE BURTON (@STEVEBURTONWBZ) August 12, 2015
Brady arrived at court a few minutes after 10am, and was met with a few cheers and one fan yelling, "Don't settle, Tom!" Goodell arrived just ahead of Brady and was met with boos. One fan announced, "The liar has arrived!"
Early Tuesday, Judge Berman encouraged both sides to continue settlement talks ahead of Wednesday's day in court. Those talks reportedly went nowhere, with the NFL wanting Brady to"accept" the Wells Report. Brady's camp will not do that, and will only accept a fine.
According to a source, settlement talks yesterday b/w the NFL and NFLPA on Brady went nowhere. Admission-of-guilt remains a stumbling block.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 12, 2015
NFL position Tuesday during "settlement" talks with Tom Brady was he would have to "accept Wells Report." Unacceptable for Brady & NFLPA
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) August 12, 2015
Union and Brady position remains same: A fine, no games suspended and no admission of guilt.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) August 12, 2015
Brady and Goodell met with Berman ahead of Wednesday's hearing in attempt to reach a settlement, and will reportedly do so again Wednesday afternoon.
Brady and Goodell will participate in another settlement talk overseen by Berman after the hearing, Berman says.
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 12, 2015
Another meeting with Berman is currently scheduled for next Wednesday, Aug. 19, if the two sides fail to reach an agreement on their own before that date.
Brady and the NFLPA are fighting the four-game suspension issued to the quarterback for his alleged role in the Patriots' playing with slightly underinflated footballs in the first half of the AFC Championship Game in January.
Stick with WBZ-TV for full coverage of Wednesday's court session in New York. Live reports from Steve Burton and Jim Armstrong begin at noon!