BOSTON, June 14 (Reuters) - A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the National Football League by a group of New England Patriots fans angry about the league's handling of the "Deflategate" scandal, saying they lacked legal standing to sue.
The suit challenged the NFL's decision to strip the team of a first-round draft pick in 2016 after allegations that the Patriots deliberately used underinflated footballs to meet the preferences of star quarterback Tom Brady in a 2015 playoffs game against the Indianapolis Colts.
The Patriots won that game, putting them on the path to Brady's fourth Super Bowl championship.