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 After weeks of conjecture that the league and the NFL Players
Association were working on a settlement following the June 23
appeal hearing, Goodell issued a strong statement Tuesday in
upholding the suspension for Brady's role in using underinflated
footballs during the AFC championship Game last season.
The NFL filed suit Tuesday in Manhattan to confirm Brady's
suspension. The prompt action is considered an attempt to keep the
case out of the hands of a federal arbiter.
The league's statement Tuesday referenced "new information"
disclosed by Brady and his representatives that includes Brady
directing that his cell phone used for the four months leading up to
his meeting with independent investigator Ted Wells' team on March 6
be destroyed.
Brady's agent, Don Yee, criticized the NFL's decision, as did the
NFL Players Association.
"The fact that the NFL would resort to basing a suspension on a
smoke screen of irrelevant text messages instead of admitting that
they have all of the phone records they asked for is a new low, even
for them, but it does nothing to correct their errors," the NFLPA
said in a statement.
"The NFLPA will appeal this outrageous decision on behalf of Tom
Brady."
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Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay denied reports claiming he and
Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti were "pressuring"
commissioner Roger Goodell to hold firm on a four-game suspension
for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
"That's not true at all," Irsay told the Indianapolis Star. "I
haven't talked to Roger Goodell about Deflategate since late
January."
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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell had his three-game
suspension reduced to two games after a settlement agreement between
the NFL Players Union and NFL.
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Bell, who will return in Week 3 against the St. Louis Rams, was
suspended three games for a DUI arrest during which he admitted to
smoking marijuana.
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If Ray Rice gets a second chance in the NFL this season, it will not
be with the Dallas Cowboys.
According to Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Rice
is not being considered by the Cowboys to fill the roster spot and
depth chart void created Tuesday when Ryan Williams was released
after yet another knee procedure.
- - -
The Pro Football Hall of Fame told the daughter of Junior Seau that
she would be allowed to speak at his posthumous induction in Canton,
Ohio, according to the family attorney.
A policy established in 2010 by the Hall of Fame limits the ceremony
for deceased inductees to a video tribute. All living inductees are
introduced by a friend, family member, teammate or associate.
Seau took his own life in 2012. (Editing by Andrew Both)
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