‘Deflategate’ judge leans on NFL in court
A federal judge put the NFL on the defensive over its fourgame suspension of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Wednesday, demanding to know what evidence directly links Brady to deflating footballs and belittling the drama of the controversy.
“What is the direct evidence that implicates Mr. Brady?” Judge Richard M. Berman repeatedly asked NFL lawyer Daniel L. Nash at the first hearing in the civil case in Manhattan federal court with Brady and Commissioner Roger Goodell in the room.
Nash responded there was “considerable evidence Mr. Brady clearly knew about this,” including records of text messages and phone calls between the quarterback and one of two team employees implicated in the scandal known as “Deflategate.”
Nash also said there was no “smoking gun” showing that Brady had direct knowledge that the balls were underinflated for the first half of the Patriots’ 45-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 18.
Brady and Goodell didn’t speak during the hearing, except to introduce themselves to Berman. Brady, his head lowered, looked dour as lawyers spoke for about 1 hour, 20 minutes. Immediately afterward, Brady smiled slightly as he signed sketches for two court artists. Berman then met individually with each side for more settlement discussions in private.
The talks continued more than four hours until about 5 p.m. Afterward, a smiling Brady left the courthouse. Several people shouted, “Cheater, cheater!”
Berman could be seen briefly speaking with Goodell inside the courthouse before the commissioner left to a waiting sports-utility vehicle about 10 minutes after Brady. Goodell smiled as dozens of photo and video journalists did their work. Neither of them spoke and there was no immediate word on the status of talks. Bills pick up Enemkpali: Buffalo reportedly claimed Ikemefuna Enemkpali off waivers from the Jets after the linebacker was released for breaking quarterback Geno Smith’s jaw with a punch in the team’s locker room.
Enemkpali and Smith got into a dispute Tuesday before the team’s morning walkthrough and the linebacker slugged the quarterback. Smith probably needs surgery and is sidelined for 6-10 weeks. Enemkpali was released by the team shortly after the incident.
Buffalo’s waiver claim reunites Enemkpali with head coach Rex Ryan and defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman. Enemkpali could face discipline from the NFL under its personal-conduct policy. Briefly: Carson Palmer will take a snap in an NFL game for the first time since tearing his ACL, but it will be a brief appearance. Arizona head coach Bruce Arians says the quarterback will play one series in Saturday night’s game against Kansas City, whether it’s “one play, three plays or 10 plays.” ... Gwinnett County (Georgia) district attorney Danny Porter says former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Prince Shembo has agreed to a misdemeanor plea of cruelty to an animal. Shembo was arrested May 29 for killing his girlfriend’s dog. The Falcons released Shembo the same day he turned himself in.