Patriots owner Robert Kraft is the latest NFL figure to issue a statement in response to Judge Richard Berman’s decision to overturn Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s suspension.
It comes as no surprise that Kraft is happy with Berman’s ruling.
“As I have said during this process and throughout his Patriots career, Tom Brady is a classy person of the highest integrity,” Kraft said. “He represents everything that is great about this game and this league. Yet, with absolutely no evidence of any actions of wrongdoing by Tom in the Wells report, the lawyers at the league still insisted on imposing and defending unwarranted and unprecedented discipline. Judge Richard Berman understood this and we are greatly appreciative of his thoughtful decision that was delivered today. Now, we can return our focus to the game on the field.”
The lawyers at the league include chief counsel Jeff Pash. Judge Berman cited the inability to cross-examine Pash, who had a hand in editing the Wells investigation that the league called independent, as one of the reasons for vacating the suspension.
There will still be a few eyes on the courtroom with the NFL appealing the decision, although that’s not likely to have an impact on the field for the Patriots in 2015 since the league won’t be looking for a stay of the ruling. Berman’s ruling only pertains to Brady, so the Patriots will still have to fork over $1 million, their 2016 first-round pick and their 2016 fourth-round pick after Kraft opted to accept those penalties rather than fight the league earlier this year.