NEW YORK — A US judge's decision to strike down New England Patriots Tom Brady's four-game “Deflategate” suspension means the superstar quarterback can play in the National Football League's season opener next Thursday. The ruling by US District Judge Richard Berman not only paves the way for Brady to take the field against the Pittsburgh Steelers but it is also a public relations embarrassment for commissioner Roger Goodell and calls into question his role as the league's ultimate authority. “Brady's four-game suspension is vacated, effective immediately,” Berman ruled after failing in his effort to induce the warring sides to reach a settlement. The decision, however, is not a definitive end to a saga that has shadowed the NFL since January, when accusations surfaced that the Patriots used balls inflated below the league minimum in the first half of the American Conference championship victory over Indianapolis. Goodell said the league would appeal “in order to uphold the collectively bargained responsibility to protect the integrity of the game.” The NFL later appealed its overturned suspension of Brady to the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals. The NFL notified Berman of its decision. A clerk for the judge then forwarded the electronic case file to the appeals court, which also sits in Manhattan. Berman concluded that Goodell overstepped his bounds in the punishment meted out to Brady, which the judge said was based on “several significant legal deficiencies.” Berman questioned the independence of investigators who found Brady was probably “generally aware” that Patriots employees had purposely deflated the balls — making them easier to grip, grab and throw — and found him uncooperative over questions about the controversial game. It was another slap in the face for Goodell, who has seen a string of disciplinary decisions overturned in courts or arbitration. Among them, all player suspensions in the 2012 pay-for-injury “Bounty-gate” scandal involving the New Orleans Saints were vacated and former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice's year-long suspension for domestic violence was overturned. While the league will appeal, it will apparently not seek to keep Brady — one of the biggest names in the NFL — off the field. “While the legal phase of this process continues, we look forward to focusing on football and the opening of the regular season,” Goodell said. The defending Super Bowl champion Patriots played their final preseason game Thursday night against the New York Giants but Brady was not with his team on the field. Chris Boswell kicked four field goals as the Giants finished off the Patriots 12-9. Billionaire Patriots owner Robert Kraft this week dismissed the saga as the “most overblown story in recent NFL history” and Thursday lauded Berman's decision. Goodell not to attend Patriots season opener For the first time since he became commissioner in 2006, Goodell will not attend the NFL's Thursday season opener involving Brady's New England Patriots, Fox Sports reported. The NFL season kicks off with the Pittsburgh Steelers facing the Patriots, who will be celebrating their Super Bowl title. Goodell had been expected to attend the game, but after Thursday's court decision Fox Sports reported that an NFL spokesperson said he would not attend. Goodell is expected to attend an NFL game during the opening weekend but it is not known which one. — Agencies
