maybe lawyers can chime in, or have already done so, but the language used up until the court appearances has probably been sufficiently vague as to avoid defamation, and I think you are shielded from that when you're actually in court.
so, the nfl can pretty much say what they want to in court docs, at this point, knowing everything gets broadcast to the public, but wouldn't be on the hook for defamation cuz it's coming from court docs.
which is, no doubt, why we've seen the rhetoric get ratcheted up a couple notches.
The NFL is really counting on the idea that none of the federal judges have paid any attention to this matter as it has wound it's way to them, and nothing would funnier than having them called on the evolution of their lies from Wells tepid "Brady may have known about something that might have happened" all the way to "Tom Brady masterminded a plot to destroy the integrity of the game." The NFL has taken their cue from politicians and the media that you can say anything you want no matter how dishonest and those who want to believe it will support you 100%.