Roger Goodell wants to be the judge, jury and executioner in Tom Brady’s suspension appeal.
According to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, the NFL rejected the NFL Players Association’s request that Goodell recuse himself as arbitrator in Brady’s appeal. However, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Friday that no decision has been made on whether Goodell will recuse himself from the appeal.
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport further explained the situation via Twitter:
[tweet https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/601856892474789888 align=”center”]
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said Friday on ESPN that the union would “increase the volume” of their request if Goodell didn’t respond by the end of next week.
It’s unclear what steps the NFLPA will take if the league officially rejects its motion. A rejected motion likely would increase the chances that Brady’s appeal winds up in court, where anything could happen.
Goodell said at the NFL Spring Meeting earlier this week that he wants to get the discipline “right” if the Patriots quarterback can bring any new information that wasn’t included in the Wells Report. That likely means he wants to see the texts and emails Brady wouldn’t forfeit to Ted Wells.
Thumbnail photo via Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports Images
