Settlement talks between Roger Goodell and Tom Brady fail
Monday 31 August 2015 17:02, UK
Last-minute settlement talks between lawyers for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady have failed, leaving a judge to decide the fate of "Deflategate."
Federal Judge Richard Berman announced at a conference in Manhattan on Monday that both sides tried hard to reach a deal during the morning but failed.
Berman confirmed he will likely decide whether to uphold or vacate the suspension either Tuesday or Wednesday but no later than Friday.
The dispute centres on the legality of the NFL's four-game suspension of Brady after Goodell concluded he was "generally aware" New England Patriots footballs were deflated at January's AFC championship game victory.
Goodell upheld the suspension in July, saying Brady colluded with two Patriots ball handlers to deflate balls before New England routed the Indianapolis Colts.
The NFL wants confirmation it handled the case appropriately while the NFL Players Association wants the suspension nullified.
Berman has continued to push for a settlement in the dispute, saying it would be "rational and logical," but he also cited weaknesses in the way the NFL handled the controversy.
The judge has also suggested that the league's finding that Brady was generally aware that game balls were being deflated was too vague.
At a court hearing this month, Berman told the NFL there was precedent for judges to toss out penalties issued by arbitrators.
