Goodell: Patriots Will Not Get 'Deflategate' Draft Picks Back
BOCA RATON, Fla. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Roger Goodell will not be returning the draft picks stripped from the New England Patriots for the use of deflated footballs in the 2014 AFC championship game.
The NFL commissioner said Wednesday at the owners' meetings that he responded to a letter from Patriots owner Robert Kraft seeking reinstatement of the first-round selection in next month's draft and a fourth-rounder in 2017. Goodell told Kraft he "considered his views and didn't think there was any reason in there to alter the discipline. There will be no changes."
New England also was fined $1 million and quarterback Tom Brady was suspended for four games for his role in what has been dubbed "Deflategate." That suspension was overturned in court and the NFL has appealed.
Goodell says of reports of a pending settlement with Brady, "I am not aware of that." (TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)