We haven't heard from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell since he upheld Tom Brady's four-game suspension, which jumpstarted a hastening legal process.
On Friday, he spoke to the Canton Repository's Todd Parker from the Hall of Fame. Goodell was asked if he thought the scandal would tarnish Brady's legacy.
"The integrity of the game is the most important thing," Goodell said. "The integrity of the game is something we will always protect. The rules apply to everybody. That is my job in particular, to make sure everyone from our players to our coach, to our fans and our partners, that they all recognize we're going to play by these sets of rules, and that's part of our values and standards."
As for Brady's appeal, Goodell declined to comment other than to say he would let the legal process play out.
"Listen, he's a great player and he's a great young man," Goodell said. "We issued the decision just last week. We're in the midst of litigation to ... ensure that that's enforced the way we ruled on that, after a long process that is established in our collective bargaining agreement. That's something we'll play through."
New York Judge Richard Berman scheduled settlement discussions for Aug. 12, requesting both Goodell and Brady attend.
