Tom Brady had his four-game suspension reinstated. Monday, the U.S. Appeals court rules 2-1 in favor of reinstating Brady’s punishment, following the March 3rd NFL appeal. The Court stated that they hold that the Commissioner properly exercised his broad discretion under the collective bargaining agreement and that his procedural rulings were properly grounded in that agreement and did not deprive Brady of fundamental fairness. And accordingly they reverse the judgement of the district court and remand with instructions to confirm the award.
Brady’s legal team argued that there was never any factual evidence that he ever tampered with footballs, and even had dozens of scientists aiding in the QB’s defence. The Court ruled that those facts never mattered. “We are therefore not authorized to review the arbitrator’s decision on the merits despite allegations that the decision rests on factual errors or misinterprets the parties’ agreement, but inquire only as to whether the arbitrator acted within the scope of his authority as defined by the collective bargaining agreement.”
During the March 3rd hearing, the judge stated that Brady not turning over his cellphone to the NFL during the investigation could be defined as conduct detrimental.
