The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Judge will decide Brady’s fate
NFL, Patriots QB fail to reach settlement, set stage for ruling.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady attended last-minute settlement talks between the NFL and its players union Monday before a judge announced he would decide the dispute over deflated footballs with a ruling in a day or two.
Everyone involved “tried quite hard” to reach a deal in the controversy that has hung over professional football since New England easily won the AFC title game in January, U.S. District Judge Richard Berman said in federal court in Manhattan.
However, Berman said: “We did not reach a settlement. ... In some cases, it doesn’t happen and this is one of those cases.”
Absent a compromise, Berman will have to either affirm or throw out Goodell’s decision in July to uphold a four-game suspension of Brady.
Redskins: Washington made a change at quarterback: Kirk Cousins will be the starter this season, not Robert Griffin III.
“We feel like at this time, Kirk Cousins gives us the best chance to win,” coach Jay Gruden said, unseating Griffin, the 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year. “It’s Kirk’s team.”
Griffin was slated to start Saturday’s preseason game at Baltimore before being scratched the previous day in the wake of a concussion suffered Aug. 20 against Detroit.
Bills: Tyrod Taylor won the starting job after a three-way quarterback competition during the offseason, coach Rex Ryan said. Taylor won the job over former Bills starter and 2013 first-round draft pick EJ Manuel, and Matt Cassel, a 10-year journeyman.
■ Buffalo also released veteran running back Fred Jackson.
Jaguars: Tight end Julius Thomas might need surgery on his injured right hand and could miss multiple games to start the regular season.
General manager Dave Caldwell said Thomas will get a second opinion, and if he needs surgery, he would be sidelined another four weeks.
■ Longtime kicker Josh Scobee was traded to the Steelers for a sixth-round draft pick in 2016.
Steelers: Wide receiver Martavis Bryant’s appeal of a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy was denied by the NFL.
Browns: Linebacker Barkevious Mingo returned to practice for the first time since right knee surgery on Aug. 6.
Chargers: Quarterback Philip Rivers was a limited participant in practice two days after heading into the locker room early after hitting his throwing hand on a defender late in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Seahawks.
Lions: Running back Joique Bell was activated off the physically unable to perform list and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata off the active/non-football injury list.
Meanwhile, wide receiver Ryan Broyles, a 2012 second-round pick, was cut.
Jets: Suspended defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson will be back in court in Missouri on Oct. 5 after pleading not guilty to resisting arrest and traffic charges stemming from his arrest in July.
■ Rookie defensive lineman Leonard Williams, dealing with a strained muscle in his right knee, says he “definitely” plans to play in the regular-season opener.
Giants: Safety Stevie Brown was re-signed in a move to shore up a position that has been decimated by injuries.
Colts: Defensive lineman Art Jones is getting a second opinion on his injured left ankle.
Panthers: Carolina acquired wide receiver Kevin Norwood in a trade with the Seahawks for an undisclosed 2017 draft choice.
Broncos: Offensive tackle Chris Clark was traded to the Texans for a 2016 seventh-round draft pick.
Buccaneers: Rookie kicker Kyle Brindza was acquired from the Lions for tight end Tim Wright.