Jason LaCanfora On Zo & Bertrand: Could Brady, NFL Work Out A Closed Door Settlement?
BOSTON (CBS) -- It's Friday, and we're still waiting on Roger Goodell.
It's been three weeks since Tom Brady appealed his four-game suspension, and we've heard very little from the NFL commissioner on the front. He said maybe a decision was coming this week, but that's looking less and less likely.
CBS NFL Insider Jason LaCanfora joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Zolak and Bertrand on Friday, and thinks the longer this thing drags out, the more likely the two sides are working out a closed door agreement to make this whole matter go away.
"The longer it goes the more I wonder if there's a settlement going on. Clearly, the league would want to have this addressed and on the back burner by the time training camps roll around," said LaCanfora, noting that some camps begin as early as next week. "That is creeping upon us, and that hearing was several weeks ago. There are only so many people you can talk to about deflated footballs. The longer it goes, the more I wonder if anything is going on behind closed doors."
He's convinced Brady's four-game ban will be reduced, but wonders if the NFL will work something out with Brady's camp so the case doesn't end up in federal court.
"One [game] would be interesting. Two or more, I know from enough people from [Brady's] camp to know that's not even a decision. If it's one [game] it's Tom's call... he may not be able to stomach one [game]."
With all the court cases the league has been involved in over the last few years, from BountyGate to Ray Rice, LaConfora said it would be in the NFL's best interest to keep this matter out of court.
"Does the NFL really want to go to federal court against arguably the greatest player in the history of the league? Is that a good look for anybody? Over this crap? That's why at some point, I wonder if they're able to negotiate a settlement on their own, where they know he'll take it," he said. "Maybe they can find a middle ground where they can announce it and it's over."