‘Deflategate’ judge leans on NFL in court
A federal judge put the NFL on the defensive over its four-game suspension of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Wednesday, demanding to know what evidence directly links Brady to deflating footballs and belittling the drama of the controversy.
“What is the direct evidence that implicates Mr. Brady?” Judge Richard M. Berman repeatedly asked NFL lawyer Daniel L. Nash at the first hearing in the civil case in Manhattan federal court with Brady and Commissioner Roger Goodell in the room.
Nash responded there was “considerable evidence Mr. Brady clearly knew about this,” including records of text messages and phone calls between the quarterback and one of two team employees implicated in the scandal known as “Deflategate.”
Buffalo reportedly claimed Ikemefuna Enemkpali off waivers from the Jets after the linebacker was released for breaking quarterback Geno Smith’s jaw with a punch in the team’s locker room.
Carson Palmer will take a snap in an NFL game for the first time since tearing his ACL, but it will be a brief appearance.
Arizona head coach Bruce Arians says the quarterback will play one series in Saturday night’s game against Kansas City, whether it’s “one play, three plays or 10 plays.”
Gwinnett County (Georgia) district attorney Danny Porter says former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Prince Shembo has agreed to a misdemeanor plea of cruelty to an animal.