NFLPA Files Appeal On Tom Brady’s Behalf To Reduce 4-Game Ban

The NFL Players Association announced Wednesday that they’ve officially filed an appeal today on behalf of Tom Brady in U.S. District Court of Minnesota in an attempt to vacate his four-game suspension.

Here’s a list of bullet points presented by the NFLPA regarding Roger Goodell’s recent decision:

• There was no direct evidence in the Wells Report so the discipline was based on a made up “general awareness” standard to justify such absurd and unprecedented punishment.
• Roger Goodell delegated his disciplinary authority to Troy Vincent, violating our Collective Bargaining Agreement, and then as the “arbitrator,” he ruled on his own improper delegation, botching basic arbitration law and fundamental fairness.
• A collectively bargained policy already exists regarding tampering with equipment that provides only for fines, not suspensions. Troy Vincent ignored this policy when he issued his initial discipline. The policy that Vincent did apply to Brady only covers teams and team executives, not players. The NFL once again violated players’ right to advance notice of discipline to try to justify unprecedented punishment.
• No player in NFL history has served a suspension for “non-cooperation” or “obstruction.”  And, in this case, the evidence is paper-thin.
• The appeals hearing held on June 23, 2015 defied any concept of fundamental fairness and violated the principles of our CBA.

The Union maintains that the NFL has violated the rules under the collective bargaining agreement for conducting disciplinary hearings.

“By pursuing this petition, our union is protecting the rights of Tom Brady and of every NFL player past, present and future,” reads the NFLPA’s statement on the matter.

If you want to look through the 54-page petition from the union regarding the matter, here’s the link.

We’ll have more regarding Brady and his suspension as the news is available.