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Judge Nullifies NFL's 4-Game Suspension of Tom Brady

We just might be free from hearing about Deflategate ever again. Maybe.

pic.twitter.com/KEpFUMr5bi
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 3, 2015

After spending the better part of a year reluctantly learning the NFL's arcane rules regarding the correct PSI inflation of a football and the nature of game ball inspectors, a grateful nation can now begin to forget that Deflategate ever existed. Hopefully.

On Thursday morning, the Roger Goodell-mandated four-game suspension of Tom Brady—which was later upheld on appeal, also by Roger Goodell—was nullified by Judge Richard M. Berman of Federal District Court in Manhattan. While the ruling did not address whether or not Brady tampered with game balls prior to the Patriots' win over the Colts in the AFC Championships, Judge Berman's decision effectively shut down Goodell's authority to carry out the suspension.

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Brady's attorneys argued that Brady received no prior warning that he'd be subject to suspension in the event that he did not cooperate with the investigation; non-cooperation, they argued, usually results in a fine. Judge Berman criticized the NFL for a lack of clarity in explaining to Brady the rules under which he was being punished. Brady's lawyers also argued that the NFL withheld evidence, and the opportunity to interview key witnesses, from Brady's legal team. The judge agreed with them on that, too.

The NFL could still call for a federal appeals courts to issue an injunction, but this was not a good day for the Goodell monarchy. If you're keeping track, this is now the fourth straight time that a Goodell disciplinary decision has been overturned by an arbitrator.

UPDATE:

RT @SNFonNBC: A sign at a @DunkinDonuts in Maine… (via @NHLChantel) pic.twitter.com/eRXfp357Ph
— Michael Rathburn (@FantasyRath) September 3, 2015

SECOND UPDATE:

It seems that the NFL will appeal.