(Reuters) - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Thursday formally appealed a four-game suspension for his role in "Deflategate" after his team, one of America's most high-profile sports franchises, delivered a blistering rebuttal of an NFL investigation into the matter.
The NFL players union, which filed the appeal on behalf of Brady, called for an independent arbitrator to hear the case involving one of the NFL's marquee players.
"Given the NFL's history of inconsistency and arbitrary decisions in disciplinary matters, it is only fair that a neutral arbitrator hear this appeal," the union said in a statement announcing Brady's move.