First, the NFL picked the court. Yeah, the league thought. Got him. Home-court advantage.
Second, the league put forth the notion that Tom Brady destroyed his cellphone. Yeah, the league thought. Got him. Broke your phone, broke the rules.
Then, the league talked about the process. The process, the process, the process. Yeah, the league thought. Our league, our CBA, our rules. Got him.
But something strange happened along the way to total victory. That favorable court? The judge began to intensely question the league and its motives.