Brady to suit up after 'Deflategate' win; NFL appeals
Within hours of the ruling, the NFL appealed the order vacating Brady's four-game suspension.
REUTERS - Star quarterback Tom Brady will play in the New England Patriots season opener next week after a federal judge threw out his "Deflategate" suspension on Thursday - but the National Football League has not conceded defeat just yet.
Within hours of the ruling, the NFL appealed the order vacating Brady s four-game suspension.
U.S. District Judge Richard Berman s decision in New York was a major setback for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who had suspended Brady for his alleged role in a scheme to deflate footballs used in the Patriots January playoff victory.
The league s appeal, which will likely take months to resolve, ensures the litigation will continue to loom over the 2015 season.
"While the legal phase of this process continues, we look forward to focusing on football and the opening of the regular season," Goodell said in a statement.
Brady, 38, had been banned until an Oct. 18 clash with the Indianapolis Colts, which would have cost him nearly $2 million in salary. He is expected to start the Patriots first game on Sept. 10 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Shortly after the decision, the Patriots posted a picture on Twitter of Brady pumping his fist in the air during a game.
"Tom Brady is a classy person of the highest integrity," Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement. "He represents everything that is great about this game and this league."
Brady did not comment on the ruling, but his lawyer, Andrew Tulumello, said, "We are gratified by the court’s decision and look forward to Mr. Brady’s return to the playing field."
Patriots fans, Brady s teammates and Massachusetts politicians reacted with glee to the news. New England running back LeGarrette Blount said on Twitter, "Let s goooo TB12!!! This is gonna be a fun season!!! 1st win of the year for #PatsNation."
Berman said Goodell s ruling was plagued by "several significant legal deficiencies," including a failure to notify Brady beforehand that his alleged conduct could be punished by suspension.
"The court finds that Brady had no notice that he could receive a four-game suspension for general awareness of ball deflation by others or participation in any scheme to deflate footballs," Berman wrote.
The judge did not evaluate the underlying allegations, including whether Brady knew of the scheme, saying it was not his role as judge to review Goodell s factual findings. The ruling can be found at bit.ly/1KtOh6L.
For seven months, the controversy has dominated sports radio, made national headlines and inspired nicknames like "Deflategate" and "Ballghazi."
Brady was suspended over the footballs used in the Patriots 45-7 postseason victory against the Colts that sent them to the Super Bowl, where they defeated the Seattle Seahawks 28-24.
