A federal appeals court panel indicated Thursday that it was not sympathetic to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s defense in what is known as the Deflategate case, perhaps signaling that it will overturn the district court’s ruling against the N.F.L.
The hearing was ostensibly about whether N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell overstepped his bounds as arbitrator in Brady’s appeal of his four-game suspension. Judge Richard M. Berman of Federal District Court in Manhattan ruled in September that Brady had not been treated fairly and should not be suspended for deflating footballs because he had not been aware that such misconduct could lead to the kind of punishment he had received.