FOXBORO, Mass. — Deflategate should be out of the headlines by the start of the regular season.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady won’t file a motion for a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction, which would have allowed him to play as he was appealing NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s upheld four-game suspension, according to documents posted on Twitter by The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin.
The NFL and NFL Players Association “agreed that a final resolution of this matter prior to the commencement of the 2015 NFL regular season would be in everyone’s best interest” on Friday. The NFLPA and NFL want a resolution by Sept. 4 — six days before the Patriots’ season opener.
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The NFLPA and NFL have proposed to state their case Aug. 7 and respond to their respective arguments Aug. 14. The Patriots will start preparing for their Week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers after Sept. 4.
UPDATE (5:25 p.m. ET): Judge Richard M. Berman of the U.S. District Court in New York granted the expedited schedule to the NFLPA and NFL, and scheduled oral arguments for Aug. 19, according to Tulane sports law program director Gabe Feldman.
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Bob McGovern of The Boston Herald posted a full copy of the order.
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The dates are interesting because of what they mean for Brady’s on-field preparation: Aug. 12 is the day before the Patriots’ preseason opener, and on Aug. 19, the team will be in West Virginia for joint practices with the New Orleans Saints.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
