Tom Brady, NFLPA appeal four game suspension

Citing perceived inconsistencies in previous disciplinary rulings by the league, the NFL Players Association has filed an appeal on behalf of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. The move was certainly expected.

Brady was handed a four-game suspension for his alleged role in the Deflategate scandal. The Wells Report based on an investigation ordered by the league claimed it was \"more probable than not\" that he had knowledge of footballs being deflated for his benefit before the AFC title game against Indianapolis.

The NFLPA has called for a neutral arbitrator to hear the appeal. It further stated that if the evidence that went into the Wells Report is \"direct\" and \"inculpatory\" then the NFL should have no qualms about presenting its case before an independent judge.

Here is the rest of the statement released by the NFLPA:

\"Given the NFL's history of inconsistency and arbitrary decisions in disciplinary matters, it is only fair that a neutral arbitrator hear this appeal,\" said a statement released by the NFLPA.

\"If Ted Wells and the NFL believe, as their public comments stated, that the evidence in their report is \"direct\" and \"inculpatory,\" then they should be confident enough to present their case before someone who is truly independent.\"

The Patriots launched a website titled \"The Wells Report In Context\" on Thursday, which issued a lengthy response, debunking the scientific evidence and the conclusions drawn by Ted Wells in his investigative report.

\"The conclusions of the Wells Report are, at best, incomplete, incorrect and lack context. The Report dismisses the scientific explanation for the natural loss of psi of the Patriots footballs by inexplicably rejecting the Referee's recollection of what gauge he used in his pregame inspection,\" the Patriots wrote in a statement. \"Texts acknowledged to be attempts at humor and exaggeration are nevertheless interpreted as a plot to improperly deflate footballs, even though none of them refer to any such plot. There is no evidence that Tom Brady preferred footballs that were lower than 12.5 psi and no evidence anyone even thought that he did. All the extensive evidence which contradicts how the texts are interpreted by the investigators is simply dismissed as “not plausible.” Inconsistencies in logic and evidence are ignored.\"