Don't forget, "we don't even have to follow the CBA, the very document we rely upon," since that dictates a $25,000 team fine for an equipment violation.
Wasn't that essentially the point that mattered? Berman didn't rule on whether balls were intentionally deflated; he ruled on the punishment, in this case for a single player, and not the team fine for equipment violation.
If we wanna talk lack of integrity, what I found *most* egregious was Goodell changing the Reason for Brady's punishment *after the fact* and in response to the impending arguments by Brady's lawyers. Maybe I'm wrong, but the original punishment was due to (following the Wells Report) Brady being, more likely than not, aware.
Yet for the court appeal, when part Brady's lawyers' strategy was that players have no knowledge that "being aware" of wrongdoing is a punishable offense, what did Goodell do? Stopped saying Brady was likely aware, and started saying he Directly Participated.
1. Brady is punished for being likely aware
2. -- There's nothing informing players they can be punished for being aware.
3. Oh yeah? Well then, I say he Directly Participated. Take that!
Goodell keeps proving Berman right, and he's too dense to understand.