U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman lifted the NFL’s four-game suspension on New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady today for his role in the Deflategate controversy, allowing the Under Armour and Ugg-endorsed player to play-out the 2015 season.
Although Brady’s suspension has been lifted, the NFL plans on appealing the ruling.
“We are grateful to Judge Berman for hearing this matter, but respectfully disagree with today’s decision,” NFL Comissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “We will appeal today’s ruling in order to uphold the collectively bargained responsibility to protect the integrity of the game. The commissioner’s responsibility to secure the competitive fairness of our game is a paramount principle, and the league and our 32 clubs will continue to pursue a path to that end. While the legal phase of this process continues, we look forward to focusing on football and the opening of the regular season.”
Throughout the Deflategate saga, Ugg has publicly supported its Super Bowl-winning pitchman.
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“Tom Brady is an incredible athlete and brand ambassador,” said Angel Martinez, Ugg chairman and CEO in an August email to Footwear News. “Our support remains unchanged.”
Goodell and the NFL handed the four-game suspension without pay to Brady on May 11 for conduct detrimental to the integrity of the game, according to a statement by the league. Brady was suspended after the league received a 243-page report from investigator Ted Wells chronicling the quarterback and his team’s role in the under-inflated footballs used in the Jan. 19 AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts. Wells’ report stated that Brady “was at least generally aware” of the violations that occurred during the game.
