NFL Calls Deflategate Suspension Of Tom Brady 'Eminently Reasonable'

Did you think the Deflategate saga was over? Not by a long shot.

The NFL filed a 38-page brief Monday with the 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ahead of the March 3, 2016, Deflategate appeal hearing. The league’s brief comes weeks after the NFL Players Association filed a 73-page brief for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, whose four-game suspension for his alleged role in Deflategate was overturned back in September by U.S. District Court Judge Richard M. Berman.

Within the 38 pages, the NFL claims commissioner Roger Goodell’s decision to suspend Brady was “eminently reasonable,” among other things.

NFL files 38-page brief to appeals court for Brady v. NFL. NFL claims Goodell's decision was "eminently reasonable": pic.twitter.com/wRTed941h0

— Michael McCann (@McCannSportsLaw) December 21, 2015

Here is the NFL's argument for why the courts should overturn Judge Berman's decision pic.twitter.com/cWhyCe1idN

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) December 21, 2015

And, as McCann and Volin point out, the brief contains some harsh language directed at Brady and Berman.

In new court filing, NFL portrays Tom Brady as engaging "unique & aggregate misconduct." Seems like NFL portrays Brady worse in every brief.

— Michael McCann (@McCannSportsLaw) December 21, 2015

Judge Berman's ruling "is an impermissible collateral attack on the Commissioner’s factual findings and contractual interpretations."

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) December 21, 2015

It has been almost a year since the NFL claimed the footballs used by Brady and the Patriots in the 2014 AFC Championship Game were underinflated. And it appears this story still is far from over.