Brady, NFL Reiterate Stances In Latest Federal Court Filings
BOSTON (CBS) – Attorneys for Tom Brady and the National Football League reiterated their cases in the ongoing DeflateGate saga as they filed paperwork in New York federal court late Friday night.
Read: Complete Transcript From Tom Brady's Appeal Hearing Released
The briefings came several hours before a filing deadline imposed by Judge Richard Berman.
Brady and the NFL Players Association provided several examples of why they believe the NFL's 4-game punishment for the quarterback was unfair.
Michael Hurley: Sure Seems Like Brady Is Going To Beat Goodell In Court
In the filing, the NFLPA cited courts overturning Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson's suspensions as proof that Commissioner Roger Goodell does not have all-encompassing power to punish for conduct detrimental to the league.
Attorneys for the NFLPA also argued that Ted Wells' independent investigation was not independent at all.
The NFL countered in its filing by saying that Goodell has ultimate power to punish players based on the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
In Friday's document, the NFL also says the CBA does not require Wells' investigation to be independent.
NFL argues that it doesn't matter if Ted Wells' investigation wasn't "independent" pic.twitter.com/nvc3JZO0cg
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) August 8, 2015
The filings on Friday were the next step in the process as the NFL asks Judge Berman to confirm its punishment of Brady while the NFLPA asks Berman to overturn the suspension.
Both sides, including Brady and Goodell, are scheduled to appear in the Manhattan courthouse on Wednesday for the first of two settlement conferences.
WBZ-TV's Jim Armstrong and Steve Burton will be in New York on Wednesday providing the latest on the Tom Brady hearing.