Round 1 of Tom Brady and the NFL’s settlement conference goes to the New England Patriots quarterback.
After U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman grilled NFL lawyer Daniel Nash, poking holes in the league’s suspension and investigation of Brady, he turned his attention to Jeffrey Kessler. The NFL Players Association lawyer might have strategically conceded Brady wasn’t fully cooperative in Ted Wells’ investigation as the judge pushes for a settlement between the sides.
Kessler admitted Brady could have handled himself better with Wells. Kessler also said Brady wouldn’t be appealing if the NFL had handed out a fine for lack of cooperation, according to FOX Sports’ Mike Garafolo.
Check out tweets from the courtroom, via the New York Daily News’ Stephen Brown:
Berman to Kessler: It looks like they…deflated the game balls? Why would either one of them do that without Mr. Brady’s consent?"
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 12, 2015
Kessler: "It is conceivable Mr. McNally thought it would be something that would be good for his QB. That makes a certain logical sense."
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 12, 2015
Kessler: After all this money, all this investigation, he couldn’t get beyond…at least he was generally aware something may have happened."
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 12, 2015
Kessler is fired up.
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 12, 2015
Berman tells him to stay focused on his questions. "What are you saying?" Courtroom cracks up.
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 12, 2015
Kessler: "Even the NFL…does not try to contend any player can be disciplined for being aware of someone else’s conduct."
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 12, 2015
Berman: Why did Mr. Brady not cooperate with the Wells investigation, with respect to providing texts?
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 12, 2015
Kessler says Wells didn't communicate directly with Brady, establish expectation of punishment is he didn't cooperate.
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 12, 2015
Kessler says Brady didn't communicate with Wells on advice from his agent, Don Yee, who is also a lawyer.
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 12, 2015
Kessler says Brady didn't cooperate out of privacy concerns.
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 12, 2015
Kessler: "We’ve now put into the public record Mr. Brady’s personal issues about a pool cover that appeared on national television!"
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 12, 2015
But Kessler concedes Brady should have conducted himself differently with Wells.
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 12, 2015
Kessler has moment of clarity: Calls this "the most overblown issue" he's ever dealt with in his career.
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 12, 2015
Kessler: "He gets phones all the time! Whenever he gets one, he gives (the old one) to his assistant and says get rid of the phone!"
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 12, 2015
Best Kessler quote: "Maybe if my grandmother had wheels she’d be a trolleycar!"
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 12, 2015
Kessler says he plans to file one more opposition brief around Friday.
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 12, 2015
Court is adjourned. Not clear if there is going to be anything more on the record.
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 12, 2015
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
