Reiss On Sports Final: DeflateGate Settlement Unlikely As Both Sides Dig In
BOSTON (CBS) -- As we get closer to Wednesday's scheduled hearing in federal court between the NFL and NFLPA regarding Tom Brady's four-game DeflateGate suspension, it's pretty clear that no settlement will be reached between the two sides.
More documents were released on Friday, and both sides are just further digging in with their stance. Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com joined Steve Burton on WBZ-TV's Sports Final on Sunday night to take a closer look at the situation, with the NFL taking things up to another level.
"The judge is imploring them to reach a settlement, but to me the NFL is putting their foot down on the pedal even more," said Reiss. "Roger Goodell, in this 15-page brief, is taking it one step further and saying Brady knew about, approved of, consented to and provided inducements in support of a scheme to tamper with game balls. That is different from 'general awareness,' so the NFL is taking it one step further. Tom Brady is dug in on his side, so they're going in opposite directions."
Reiss does believe that Brady and the NFLPA have a strong case against the league, but he's not convinced it will lead to a judge throwing his suspension out completely.
"The league is saying, 'we can suspend you for conduct detrimental to the integrity of or public confidence of the game of football.' But the league can suspend a lot of players for that, and there are a bunch of rules that are collectively bargained as to what the league can suspend players, how severe they can suspend them for, and this isn't one of them. That's Brady's case," explained Reiss. "He's saying, 'look, this is like a uniform violation that you fine a player $8,000 or $15,000 for. This is way out of bounds and an abuse of power,' is essentially what his side is arguing. I think he has a strong case.
"The only reason I'm hesitant to say he'll win it and it's a slam dunk is because it's an arbitration. Judges in general, as we know from legal experts, judges are loath to overturn legal rulings," Reiss added.
While this had turned into one big mess off the field, Reiss said Brady looks like his old self on the field. Check out the video above for Reiss's takeaways from camp, and how much he thinks No. 12 will play Thursday night in New England's preseason opener.
