Brady v. NFL Court Hearing Thread (8/31) - Live Update and Tweets

I know court session starts at 11am, but is there a conference with the judge beforehand?

XLIX said:

Wasn't he the Jets kicker when the Jets equipment manager tampered with balls?

Is this Kessler's equivalent of bringing in Airman O'Malley and Airman Rodriguez??

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Signed in just to say...you are the man...well done sir!

If TB speaks today, I hope he says..."I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

aluminum seats said:

A settlement where Brady accepts any suspension means this will be hanging over him his whole damn life.

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It will be hanging over his head regardless of the outcome.

raduray said:

Why is Berman so reluctant to rule that he drags in someone who has no interest in being there?

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I think Berman may be a judge who believes it is always better to force a settlement. It may just be his MO.

obgod3 said:

I just dont get Mara being requested for this, it doesnt make sense....not thrilled about it.

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Bringing an influential owner in for a public hearing where he has to answer Berman's question is a good thing. It's about time that specific owners will be forced to take some heat and accountability.

karguy85 said:

Interesting...

NYDN Sports I-Team ‏@NYDNSportsITeam 28m28 minutes agoManhattan, NY
Tom Brady arrived at the courthouse about 15 minutes ago. He was accompanied by Michigan teammate Jay Feely, the former Jets kicker.

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He's our smoking gun. How ironic, an ex-rat ratting on the rats.

crafty213 said:

It will be hanging over his head regardless of the outcome.

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No. If he refuses a suspension he will always be able to walk with head held high. It's about honor.

Galeb said:

Bringing an influential owner in for a public hearing where he has to answer Berman's question is a good thing. It's about time that specific owners will be forced to take some heat and accountability.

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I'd be surprised if Mara is questioned in public. It will be lawyers only, with the principals watching.

crafty213 said:

It will be hanging over his head regardless of the outcome.

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Agree partially. Never admitting guilt and settling with admission of some guilt are two different things.

If Brady takes a settlement which includes a game loss but just for non cooperation I would understand. The UK papers are reporting marital discord in the Brady home and I can only imagine the type of pressure having a multi billion dollar unaccountable business going after you personally must have on him. The guy has a wife and kids and I know if it were me it would take a huge toll. That is one of the things which is so maddening. This is nothing for Roger or the other NFL pigs. All over 2/10 of a PSI.

raduray said:

I'd be surprised if Mara is questioned in public. It will be lawyers only, with the principals watching.

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Why would that surprise you? Given Berman's tone and desire for a settlement, I don't see why you'd think he wouldn't use that leverage.

raduray said:

I'd be surprised if Mara is questioned in public. It will be lawyers only, with the principals watching.

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I hope he has to answer a few painful questions. Pipe dream? Maybe.

Galeb said:

Why would that surprise you? Given Berman's tone and desire for a settlement, I don't see why you'd think he wouldn't use that leverage.

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Maybe in private conference, but not in the courtroom.

obgod3 said:

I just dont get Mara being requested for this, it doesnt make sense....not thrilled about it.

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He is the party to the lawsuit, not Goodell.

The National Football League Management Council ( he heads it)
vs.
NFLPA and Brady

raduray said:

Maybe in private conference, but not in the courtroom.

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I'm not sure what question you're answering, but the question I asked is why do you think that Berman wouldn't ask him questions in the public hearing? Is that practice not common? Are public hearings reserved for just lawyers?

I don't know about everyone else here but I'm incredibly interested in Mara and Feely being there. Mara simply because I can't wait to hear whether he and Berman talk openly in court, I'd love to hear whether Berman will question whether Mara is happy with the way this case was handled and how involved his committee is in overseeing Goodell's 'process' of investigating, ruling and handling appeals.

And Feely because he feels like a wild card, a last-second 'GOTCHA' like Mona Lisa Vito. For the life of me I can't think of what he'd add to the NFLPA's case but I'm fascinated to see if he's involved in any way today, or just there to support Brady.

Dr Pain said:

If Brady takes a settlement which includes a game loss but just for non cooperation I would understand. The UK papers are reporting marital discord in the Brady home and I can only imagine the type of pressure having a multi billion dollar unaccountable business going after you personally must have on him. The guy has a wife and kids and I know if it were me it would take a huge toll. That is one of the things which is so maddening. This is nothing for Roger or the other NFL pigs. All over 2/10 of a PSI.

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100% agree. It also saddens me a bit that some of our own Pats fans have talked about their outrage and anger at Brady if he took a game, even for non cooperation.

While some may say "admission of guilt!", I don't see it that way at all. It's surely been a major stress on Tom and his family. I totally understand him wanting to get past it.

Of course I'd prefer beating the NFL and a vacation of the suspension but I hold no grudge against him if he settles.

I think Mara is there along with the others early for the Judge to ask someone besides Goodell what the NFL's end of a settlement has consisted of......I think the judge will vacate if he is convinced the NFL offered nothing in settlement and that precedence as well as process (failure to follow) will be the basis of vacating. There is plenty that is defined and the NFL did not follow (failure to notify, equipment as a team-only punishment, etc) that would be difficult to overturn

Angelpats said:

He's our smoking gun. How ironic, an ex-rat ratting on the rats.

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I remember in Kessler's briefing he discussed the Jets being caught for the same behavior and getting little to no punishment. Do you think that's what is going on here? Bolstering the argument that Brady did not have notice of the punishment, and Brady's punishment is not consistent with previous punishments for the same actions?

Kdo5 said:

100% agree. It also saddens me a bit that some of our own Pats fans have talked about their outrage and anger at Brady if he took a game, even for non cooperation.

While some may say "admission of guilt!", I don't see it that way at all. It's surely been a major stress on Tom and his family. I totally understand him wanting to get past it.

Of course I'd prefer beating the NFL and a vacation of the suspension but I hold no grudge against him if he settles.

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at this point, I don't care about what the national perception of brady is moving forward...the world is full of idiots anyway, and brady's spot in my soul is already etched and will never waver