U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman warned the NFL and NFL Players Association that he might not make a ruling on Tom Brady’s four-game suspension appeal before Week 1 of the NFL season.
Berman, in a settlement conference in the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse in New York, said Wednesday he hopes to make a ruling on the Deflategate suspension by Sept. 4, but that it would be a “quick turnaround” and “you can’t hold me to it.” Both parties requested Berman make a ruling by that date, which is six days before Brady’s New England Patriots kick off the NFL season against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Brady’s suspension will begin Saturday Sept. 5 if Berman hasn’t ruled and there isn’t a settlement, an NFL source told ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio. ProFootballTalk tweeted to “look for (Berman) to issue an injunction allowing Brady to play until a decision is made” if the judge hasn’t ruled by Sept. 4, however.
There are no settlement talks planned between the NFL and NFLPA until Aug. 31, their next court appearance in front of Berman, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Berman said Brady and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell are required to attend that hearing as the judge pushes for a settlement.
Thumbnail photo via Jake Roth/USA TODAY Sports Images
