Surprise, surprise - Tom Brady and the New England Patriots have enemies. And Roger Goodell has a big problem.
Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com reported late Wednesday night that the NFL Commissioner is being pressured by a handful of "influential owners to hold firm on the four-game suspension" that the league levied against Brady for his role in Deflategate, getting the information from an anonymous source.
Roger Goodell stalling on Tom Brady decision to try to reach a settlement?
Brady drew the suspension as a result of the Wells report that investigated events leading up to the Jan. 18 AFC Championship Game between the Patriots and Indianapolis Colts, in which 11 of 12 football supplied by the Patriots were found underinflated at halftime.
Brady had protested his innocence and appealed his suspension on June 23 in a meeting with Goodell. After days of silence, Goodell announced that he expected to make an announcement at the end of July but later changed his stance and said that he had no timetable in making a decision.
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The source confirmed to Pro Football Talk that settlement discussions have taken place but a deal at this point would be unexpected.
While NFL owners apparently are pressuring Goodell to hold firm, the NFL Players Association reiterated that it intends to seek legal action on Brady's behalf if any of his suspension is upheld.
"Attorney Gregg Levy, who was one of the finalists for the job Goodell received in 2006, participated in the Brady appeal hearing as a legal consultant to the Commissioner," Pro Football Talk reported. "It's believed that Levy has been warning Goodell that it will be difficult to make a suspension stick in court, even under the heightened standard that applies to challenging the outcome of a private arbitration agreement."
Pro Football Talk suggested, however, that Goodell let the case go to court and have someone else overturn the suspension so he can save face. CBS Sports, however, speculated that the best way out for Goodell is to come up with a settlement with the disgruntled quarterback.
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