In a ruling surprising to both everyone and no one, Judge Richard Berman ruled in Tom Brady’s favor in arbitration over whether or not Brady was culpable in the long-overblown “DeflateGate” drama. Brady’s four-game suspension has been overturned, and barring unforeseen circumstances, he will line up under center for the NFL’s opening game one week from tonight.
Judge Berman ruled that the New England Patriots star quarterback could not be suspended for “general awareness” of others’ conduct, as an NFL investigative report determined.
“The court finds that Brady had no notice that he could receive a four-game suspension for general awareness of ball deflation by others or participation in any scheme to deflate footballs, and noncooperation with the ensuing investigation,’’ Berman wrote.