‘ Deflategate’ judge pressures NFL, union, Brady to settle
NEW YORK — A federal judge took a peacemaker’s role Tuesday, urging New England quarterback Tom Brady and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to find common ground to settle differences before he lowers the gavel on a controversy over deflated footballs.
U. S. District Judge Richard M. Berman asked Brady and Goodell to “engage in further good faith settlement efforts” a day before they meet in Manhattan federal court for the first time.
Brady was not at Patriots training camp on Tuesday.
Two weeks ago, the NFL sued its players union, asking Berman to declare that Goodell followed the league’s collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association when he suspended Brady for four games after concluding the quarterback had to know balls were purposefully deflated. The union countersued to block the suspension, saying a June arbitration hearing Goodell presided over was a sham and Brady was punished severely for something he was never warned about and for which there was no precedent.
Berman directed lawyers, including Brady and Goodell, to update him in private Wednesday about settlement negotiations a half hour before they appear in court.
Brady has maintained since the Patriots defeated the Indianapolis Colts 45- 7 in January’s AFC championship game that he never directed anyone to deflate footballs below levels set by the league, and he did not know any ball handlers had done so.
Goodell, in a July 28 decision upholding the four- game suspension, found Brady engaged in “conduct detrimental to the integrity of, and public confidence in, the game of professional football.”
NBA coach Saunders treated for lymphoma
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Timberwolves president and coach Flip Saunders said he’s being treated for Hodgkins lymphoma, and his doctors consider it “very treatable and curable.”
Saunders was diagnosed with a cancer of the immune system two months ago and has been undergoing chemotherapy. He plans to remain as the Timberwolves head coach and top executive while being treated.
“I am taking it step by step and day by day to understand how to best manage this process,” Saunders said Tuesday in a statement.
The 60- year- old Saunders returned to the Timberwolves as team president in 2013. Last year, he replaced the retired Rick Adelman on the Wolves bench and the team finished 16- 66.
Even while undergoing treatment, Saunders remained active with the team, overseeing draft workouts, selecting Karl- Anthony Towns at No. 1 overall and trading for Tyus Jones on draft night in June. He signed players including Euroleague MVP Nemanja Bjelica and veteran point guard Andre Miller to supplement a roster teeming with young talent.
The rebuilding of the last- place Milwaukee Brewers will be overseen by a new general manager.
Struggling Brewers lose longtime GM
The rebuilidng of the last- place Milwaukee Brewers will be overseen by a new general manager.
Doug Melvin is leaving his job after 13 years in Milwaukee. The team and Melvin said Tuesday he will continue to lead the baseball operations department before “transitioning into an advisory role.”
Owner Mark Attanasio has hired an executive search firm to help find a new general manager. Attanasio plans to begin asking for permission to interview candidates this week during the owners meeting in team said.
The Brewers, 48- 65 and with the second- worst record in the NL, are in Chicago to start a three- game series with the Cubs.
The roster makeover has already begun under Melvin when he dealt veterans including Carlos Gomez, Aramis Ramirez and Gerardo Parra before the July 31 trade deadline. The Brewers received promising minor league outfielder Brett Phillips among four prospects from Houston for trading Gomez and starting pitcher Mike Fiers to the Astros.
Melvin fired manager Ron Roenicke in May and replaced him with Craig Counsell. But the Brewers never recovered after going 5- 17 in April. The problems were compounded by injuries to Gomez and catcher Jonathan Lucroy. Milwaukee is hoping that emerging young starters Jimmy Nelson, Wily Peralta and rookie Taylor Jungmann can provide the pitching base for the rebuilding process.
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