Tom Brady and his team expect a decision regarding his suspension appeal to be made this week, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Commissioner Roger Goodell has had post-hearing briefs from both the league and the union for more than two weeks, writes Florio, and with training camp right around the corner, anticipation is building for a ruling.
Per Florio’s source, the decision is expected to be a “sham” — such wording not only indicates that Brady’s four-game suspension is either not expected to be reduced or not reduced enough (in the eyes of Brady), but that Florio’s source is likely someone on the Brady team. Once the ruling is handed down, Brady and the NFLPA are expected to file suit, and as Florio adds, the question then becomes whether Brady will seek a temporary injunction, which would allow him to play against the Steelers opening night, even if he ends up serving a suspension at some point.
In a separate post, Florio outlines what a Brady lawsuit would look like, explaining that challenges to arbitration are made on narrow bases, so the entire process should play out pretty quickly. In fact, the goal of such a suit would be that a final decision is reached before Week 1.
I hope this doesn’t ruin Brady’s image. I know he did nothing wrong. How could he? He’s a Michigan man… But I don’t mind an OSU man either 😉