Page 34 - MIN JUS - MAY 18,2015
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SPORTSSaturday 16 May 2015
Brady, union threaten Goodell with lawsuit in ‘Deflategate’
JIMMY GOLEN ter said, then adding in a Brady was “at least gener-
footnote a reference to the ally aware” of plans by two
AP Sports Writer Adrian Peterson case: “We team employees to pre-
also note that one arbitra- pare balls to his liking, be-
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) tor has previously found low the league-mandated
that you, in particular, are minimum. The NFL requires
— Tom Brady’s lawyers de- unfamiliar with proper NFL a range of 12.5-13.5 pounds
discipline procedures and per square inch; Brady has
manded that NFL Commis- have no role in imposing expressed a preference for
discipline.” footballs with less pressure,
sioner Roger Goodell re- Brady appealed the sus- which can be easier to grip
pension Thursday. Late and catch and some quar-
cuse himself from the Super Thursday night, Goodell terbacks prefer those with
announced he would hear less air.
Bowl MVP’s “Deflategate” the appeal personally. Al- The union’s letter comes a
though the collective bar- day after the Patriots issued
appeal and threatened to gaining agreement gives a point-by-point rebuttal of
him the right to do that, the league investigation.
go to court unless the four- the appeal letter claimed Patriots attorney Daniel
Goodell cannot remain Goldberg, who represent-
game suspension is over- impartial because he will ed the team during the
called as a witness. investigation, wrote in the
turned. Writing to Vincent, the 20,000-word document
union said it intends “to call that those conclusions are
Laying out the grounds for both you and Commission- “at best, incomplete, in-
er Goodell as essential wit- correct and lack context.”
dismissing the penalty and nesses in the proceeding.” The response presented
And it told Vincent “your its own science to explain
setting the stage for a po- personal involvement in the loss of pressure in a
the game-day events sur- more innocuous way. And
tential federal court battle, In this Thursday, April 30, 2015 file photo, NFL commissioner rounding this matter render it claimed that a ballboy’s
you inherently biased in reference to himself as
the NFL Players Association Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2015 NFL any disciplinary determina- “The Deflator” was just a
tion.” reference to losing weight.
said in a letter released Football Draft in Chicago. Associated Press The team has not said if it It also says increased
will appeal its penalties, communication between
Friday that Goodell can’t Wells found that the Super similar violations. which include losing a first- Brady and the ballboys af-
Bowl champions used il- “Indeed,” the union wrote, round draft pick next year ter the scandal broke were
hear the appeal because legally inflated footballs in “no player in the history of and a fourth-rounder in just normal expressions
the AFC title game. the NFL has ever received 2017. The deadline to ap- of concern, rather than
he will be called as a wit- The team has denied do- anything approaching this peal is May 21. evidence of the quarter-
ing anything wrong and level of discipline for similar Wells concluded that back’s guilt.q
ness. published a 20,000-word behavior — a change in
rebuttal online. Neither the sanctions squarely forbid-
“The NFLPA believes that Patriots nor Donald Yee, den by the CBA and the
the agent for their three- law of the shop.”
neither Commissioner time Super Bowl MVP quar- — Under the league’s col-
terback, responded to lective bargaining agree-
Goodell nor anyone with requests for comment on ment, only Goodell can
Friday. punish a player for con-
close ties to the NFL can In their letter, Brady’s law- duct detrimental to the
yers give three arguments league. The “Deflategate”
serve as arbitrator in Mr. for dropping the suspen- penalties were meted out
sion: by NFL executive vice pres-
Brady’s appeal,” the letter — The evidence collected ident Troy Vincent.
in the Wells report doesn’t “You have no authority to
said. “If the Commissioner prove Brady violated any impose discipline on Mr.
NFL rules. Brady under the CBA, and
does not appoint such — The punishment is more such discipline must there-
harsh than for previous, fore be set aside,” the let-
a neutral arbitrator, the
NFLPA and Mr. Brady will
seek recusal and pursue all
available relief to obtain
an arbitrator who is not evi-
dently partial.”
Brady was suspended for
four games and the New
England Patriots were fined
$1 million and docked a
pair of draft picks after
league investigator Ted
Griner, Johnson suspended
record 7 games each by WNBA
This combo of booking photos released by the Maricopa handing down a suspen- season begins June 5. assault after they fought
sion that represents more “I have already learned a in a home they recently
County Sheriff’s Office, show WNBA players Brittney Griner, than one-fifth of the 34- tremendous amount from bought. Griner pled guilty
game regular season. this experience and am to misdemeanor disorder-
left, and Glory Johnson following their arrest on April 22, “Brittney and Glory’s con- committed to improving ly conduct and entered
duct is detrimental to the myself and my marriage a diversion program. The
2015. Associated Press best interests of the WNBA going forward,” Griner said assault charge was dis-
and violates applicable in a statement. “I realize missed. She must attend
DOUG FEINBERG their domestic violence law,” Richie said in a state- I let down a lot of people 26 weeks of domestic
AP Basketball Writer arrest last month — the ment. “We also under- who have been champi- violence counseling. All
NEW YORK (AP) — WNBA league’s longest ban in its stand that people make ons for me and I will support charges will be dismissed if
stars and newly-married 19-year history. mistakes, and that edu- my teammates and our or- she completes counseling.
same-sex couple Brittney WNBA President Laurel cation and training are as ganization every day until I Johnson’s case was trans-
Griner and Glory Johnson Richie said the league important as imposing dis- am back on the court.” ferred to county court and
were suspended seven “takes all acts of violence cipline.” The WNBA said the two All- is still pending. The WNBA
games each Friday for extremely seriously” in Griner plays for the de- Stars must undergo individ- said Johnson pushed Gri-
fending champion Phoenix ual counseling. If either fails ner in the shoulder and she
Mercury and Johnson for to comply with that condi- responded by pushing her
the Tulsa Shock. The play- tion or those by the court, in the back of the neck.
ers got married last week the league says it can re- The confrontation esca-
in Phoenix. The teams’ visit the case. lated to include wrestling,
preseason training camps The players were arrested punches, and the throwing
start Sunday. The league April 22 on suspicion of and swinging of objects.q
