Tom Brady and the NFL Players Association apparently remain at an impasse with the NFL.
U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman will hope to change that Wednesday when he meets with the opposing sides in New York. Berman urged Brady’s side and league commissioner Roger Goodell’s camp to find a middle ground Tuesday over the New England Patriots quarterback’s four-game suspension, but according to NFL Media’s Albert Breer, things didn’t go so well.
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Brady and the NFLPA recently filed a petition against the league to appeal the QB’s suspension, and it’s been reported that the sides have remained far apart in negotiations.
Brady’s camp reportedly wants his suspension completely eradicated and the NFL to clear him of wrongdoing in the actual Deflategate case, even if the league finds he didn’t cooperate with the “independent” investigation. Goodell and the league, meanwhile, reportedly want at least part of Brady’s suspension upheld and to have the quarterback admit guilt.
Berman will try to bridge this gap when he meets with Brady, the NFLPA and the NFL in a settlement conference Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. ET. If they can’t reach an agreement — which appears to be the most likely outcome — the parties will file opposition briefs and meet back in court Aug. 19.
UPDATE (9:30 a.m. ET): ESPN’s Chris Mortensen offered more insight into where Tuesday’s talks broke down.
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Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
