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Tom Brady Praised For His Persuasiveness, Genuineness During Marathon Appeal Hearing
Tom Brady yesterday during an 11-hour hearing with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reportedly had an "explanation for many of the facts and much of the evidence that was introduced" in the Wells Report, which formed the basis for Brady's four-game Deflategate suspension, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Brady during his testimony "was earnest, he was genuine, he looked the commissioner in the eye." Schefter: "The people who saw and listened to Tom Brady came out of that meeting and said on a scale of 1-10, in their words, Tom Brady came in as a 10 -- an A+. Tom Brady ... is one of the most genuine athletes you could want to speak to, and the people that listened to him today in that room offer his explanations felt that his genuineness shined through with NFL officials." It is now up to Goodell "to consider" what Brady said for any possible reduction in punishment ( "SportsCenter," ESPN, 6/24 ). Schefter cited a source as saying that Brady testified "under oath." Sources said that Patriots Owner Robert Kraft "wrote an affidavit to be introduced" into yesterday's appeal, "supporting Brady's character" ( <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13134154/tom-brady-new-england-patriots-begins-appeal-roger-goodell-nfl-hq" target="_blank">ESPN.com, 6/23</a> ). A source said that Brady's "greatest ally [yesterday] was Tom Brady." Schefter noted Brady's side claimed that the evidence collected in the report "doesn't prove Brady violated any NFL rules," and that the punishment "is harsher than for similar violations." Brady's attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, said, "We put in a very compelling case." Kessler added that "no timetable on a decision by Goodell had been given." The principles "headed out" of the "lengthy meeting" just past 8:30pm ET ( <a href="http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/13137796/appeal-hearing-new-england-patriots-qb-tom-brady-ends-10-hours-testimony" target="_blank">ESPN.com, 6/23</a> ). ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio said he expects Goodell "to act pretty quickly here," as he "realizes time is of the essence." Paolantonio: "They don't want this to linger through the summer and into the fall, but they want to get a quick conclusion to this. The problem is the commissioner's in the corner here. It's going to be difficult for him to figure out a way out and mollify all the parties concerned without this going to court" ( “Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 6/24 ).
