On Tuesday, July 28, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell upheld the four-game suspension imposed on New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady on May 11. The NFL announced that Goodell’s decision to uphold the suspension was based on the Wells Report and evidence that came to light during the ten-hour appeal hearing last month.
Specifically, Goodell noted that Brady’s destruction of his cell phone was a factor in upholding the suspension. He explained how Brady had exchanged nearly 10,000 text messages during the four months that the phone was in use, but that none of them could be received due to the destruction of the cell phone. Additionally, that destruction was not disclosed to investigators until June 18, almost four months after the investigators had first sought electronic information from Brady.
Though the NFL and NFL Players Association had exchanged offers for a potential settlement for Brady’s suspension, nothing came to fruition – Brady has remained unwilling to accept any offer that includes him sitting out games. Brady will continue to examine his legal options, and sources had previously stated that he and the NFLPA will file a lawsuit in federal court if the suspension was upheld.