Deflategate is in Roger Goodell’s rear-view mirror.
The NFL commissioner isn’t too worried about the league’s appeal of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s overturned suspension. Goodell told Bob Papa and Shannon Sharpe on Sirius XM NFL Radio on Friday that he has other people who worry about that for him.
“I am not focused on (Deflategate) at all,” Goodell said, per WEEI.com “The lawyers are handling it. This is about a very simple issue, which is our rights under the collective bargaining agreement. That’s what this is.
“We had negotiated for this in 2011. We’ve had this for decades, with respect to the authority of the commissioner and the authority of the membership to be able to deal with discipline. We have also engaged with the Players Association on a willingness to make modifications to that, and we have in certain cases as it particularly relates to our drug program.”
Goodell said he believes this should be a situation where the NFL can rule without an independent arbitrator.
“We are opposed to third-party arbitration in certain matters, and what we are seeking with the appeal is to make sure that the courts look at the fact that we believe in the initial decision by the federal court here that they had it wrong,” Goodell said. “That’s the issue. That’s what the lawyers are focused on. That process will play out. We’ll make sure we are protecting the integrity of the game at every level and making sure that we have the rights that we need to do that under the collective bargaining agreement.”
Brady’s lawyers responded to the NFL’s appeal last Monday in a court-filed document. The league’s appeal is scheduled to be heard in court March 3.
Thumbnail photo via Brace Hemmelgarn/USA TODAY Sports Images
