Roger Goodell Upholds Tom Brady’s 4 Game Suspension For Deflategate
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's appeal of a 4 game suspension as a result of the deflategate findings has been denied, according to multiple reports.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced today his decision to uphold the 4 game ban, releasing the following league statement about Brady's destruction of potential evidence in the case.
"On or shortly before March 6, the day that Tom Brady met with independent investigator Ted Wells and his colleagues, Brady directed that the cell phone he had used for the prior four months be destroyed. He did so even though he was aware that the investigators had requested access to text messages and other electronic information that had been stored on that phone. During the four months that the cell phone was in use, Brady had exchanged nearly 10,000 text messages, none of which can now be retrieved from that device. The destruction of the cell phone was not disclosed until June 18, almost four months after the investigators had first sought electronic information from Brady."
The NFL also released a 20 page breakdown on why Brady's appeal was denied, which you can view here.
Brady has communicated a desire to take the league's decision to federal court if any of his suspension was upheld.
Four game checks for Brady in 2015 will result in a loss of approximately $2 million.