Tom Brady has taken the next step in his battle against the NFL.
The NFLPA and Brady officially filed suit against the NFL in Minnesota on Wednesday. The suit asks Minnesota federal court for penalties against Brady to be vacated. The NFLPA announced Tuesday that they would be filing their appeal.
The suit alleges that Brady's punishment was not fair and consistent. It also claims that the appeal hearing "defied any concept of fundamental fairness" and that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was partial in his decision to uphold the suspension.
The news comes on a day when the entire New England Patriots organization went on the offensive. Owner Robert Kraft called the NFL's decision "unfathomable" and said he regrets having faith in the NFL. Brady said he did nothing wrong, breaking down his decision to switch from a Samsung to an iPhone. Bill Belichick said Belichick things.
Goodell upheld Brady's four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on integrity of the game on Tuesday, not backing off Brady's original suspension. The four-time Super Bowl winner is eligible to play Week 6 in Indianapolis against the Colts. Jimmy Garoppolo, who played sparingly as Brady's backup last year, is expected to start the team's first four games of the season. Brady remains eligible for training camp and the preseason.
Then again, Brady could be eligible to play Week 1 if he gets his way. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport laid out Brady's legal options following this suit. Brady can look to first seek an injunction to allow Brady to remain on the field while the legal case plays out. If the injunction is received, Brady's team could either fast track the case in federal court or hope that the case isn't heard until after the 2015 season.
The NFL filed a complaint in federal court in Manhattan to confirm the Brady suspension. The NFLPA filed in Minnesota, and on Thursday a U.S. District Judge ordered the union's suit to be transferred to the Manhattan court where the league filed. And if you feel like you need a law degree to follow this story, join the club.
It felt like Goodell's appeal answer was going to be an end point to a summerlong drama, but really it's just the start. The next phase of this Brady suspension saga will play out in court in the coming months.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast discusses Tom Brady's four-game suspension and Eric Berry's comeback.
