NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wouldn’t comply with the demands of the NFL Players Association and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
The union’s full letter to NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent regarding Brady’s Deflategate suspension, dated Thursday, was released Friday and states: “Accordingly, this letter will serve as a formal demand that the Commissioner follow the Rice precedent and appoint an independent person to serve as arbitrator over Mr. Brady’s appeal. If the Commissioner does not appoint such a neutral arbitrator, the NFLPA and Mr. Brady will seek recusal and pursue all available relief to obtain an arbitrator who is not evidently partial.”
Goodell disregarded the union’s demand, however, and chose to hear Brady’s appeal himself, making it more likely this case will go to court. Vincent imposed the discipline, but Goodell authorized Brady’s four-game suspension.
The NFLPA says it intends to call Vincent and Goodell to the stand as witnesses in the appeal. That seems unlikely now that Goodell is presiding over the appeal.
The union notes the league violated the collective bargaining agreement by having Vincent, not Goodell, hand down punishment. The NFLPA calls out Vincent in a footnote for his role in the Adrian Peterson suspension, saying, “We also note that one arbitrator has previously found that you, in particular, are unfamiliar with proper NFL discipline procedures and have no role in imposing discipline.”
The union calls Brady’s punishment “grossly inconsistent with the League’s prior disciplinary treatment of similar alleged conduct.” It also denies Brady failed to cooperate with the investigation. Furthermore, the NFLPA challenges the Wells Report for having “insufficient evidence,” writing it “is a legally inadequate basis upon which to impose this unprecedented discipline.”
Check out the NFLPA’s full letter to Vincent below.
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Thumbnail photo via Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports Images
