Hurley On T&R: Might DeflateGate Come To An End Today?
BOSTON (CBS) -- Roger Goodell and Tom Brady are due back in court on Monday, and with neither side appearing to be open to reaching a settlement, and with Judge Richard Berman having had plenty of time to think about the case, might DeflateGate actually come to an end today?
CBSBostonSports.com's Michael Hurley thinks there's a chance.
"I'm excited because it's ending. It's ending," Hurley said. "It might even -- I don't think it will -- but there's a chance that it ends today. Because the way I see it is that Judge Berman has had a long time to think about this. They didn't have any meetings last week, and I think it's pretty clear that it's not going to settle. Neither side is really interested in settling at all. There's been no indication from either side. So I think the judge realizes he's going to have to rule on it. I do think it wouldn't look great to hear the arguments from both sides and then say, 'OK, I'm ready to rule,' without pondering it for a little while. But, it's not like anything is going to come out today that's going to really blow anyone's mind. So there's a small chance today could be the day. But either way, we're there. I see the finish line."
Fred Toucher asked Hurley to put a percentage on the chances of the case ending today.
"I'm wildly optimistic, but I know it's a little off the rails," Hurley said. "Five [percent]. That's good enough for me. That's more than we've had for the past five months."
Even if Berman does reach a decision on Monday or at any time this week, wouldn't the NFL appeal the decision?
"I'm not sure [the NFL appeals] because it's unlike other decisions," Hurley said. "You've heard some owners anonymously say this isn't exactly what they want to be doing. The season's about to start, and I think this is not an appeal that the NFL needs to win -- other than Goodell. He still works for these owners, and if he appeals this against the owners' wishes, I think he seals his fate as commissioner. You work for them, this is clearly a personal thing for you and you didn't do a very good job. If you lose in court, you might have to accept it, because you didn't do your job properly."
Jon Wallach pointed out that the powers of the commissioner, as granted by the CBA, are at stake, and so the NFL is likely to fight a decision with an appeal.
Hurley said the owners still won't support that fight because, "I think to a certain extent, taking a star player, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, to the next level of court because of perhaps-slightly-underinflated-balls and perhaps-general-awareness" would not look good for the league.
Listen to the full discussion, with Dan Roche filling in for Rich Shertenlieb, below:
