<header style="width: 640px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: proxima-nova, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Report: NFL believes Tom Brady will accept a shorter suspension
By John Breech | CBSSports.com
<time class="storyDate" pubdate="" datetime="2015-07-24T18:26:29Z" style="display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 10px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-stretch: normal !important; line-height: 16px !important; font-family: proxima-nova, Arial, helvetica, sans-serif !important;">July 24, 2015 2:26 pm ET</time>
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According to Bleacher Report's Jason Cole, the league believes Brady will eventually accept a deal that would involve Brady's four-game suspension being reduced. Although the potential deal would cut down Brady's suspension, it wouldn't reduce it to zero and Brady would still miss games.
The NFL's belief, according to Cole, is that Brady will want to get a deal done before training camp so that he can focus exclusively on football. Under that timeline, a deal between Brady and the NFL would have to be done by July 29, when the Patriots veterans are scheduled to report to camp.
One of the sticking points in the settlement talks so far is that league doesn't want to agree to a deal unless there's an "admission of guilt by Brady on some level," according to NFL.com.
How do you solve that problem? According to Cole, Brady would likely sign off on a deal that suspends him for not cooperating with the league during the Ted Wells investigation, but in the potential deal, Brady wouldn't admit to any wrongdoing as Deflategate.
Basically, Brady would say, "I didn't cooperate with the league investigation, I understand why I'm being punished," but he wouldn't admit to guilt as far as deflating footballs.
ESPN.com had previously reported that Brady would be open to a deal that involved him paying a fine, instead of facing any suspension. However, when the NFLPA made that suggestion to the NFL recently, the offer was met with 'Silence,' according to ESPN.
A possible settlement doesn't seem out of the question either.
When ProFootballTalk originally reported on Wednesday that settlement talks had occurred, PFT noted that although a settlement would be "unexpected," it wouldn't be completely shocking to see one get "worked out."
The only thing slowing things down at this point could be the group of anonymous 'influential' owners who want to see Brady's suspension stick at four games.
As for Brady, he seems pretty relaxed as he waits for the final ruling on his appeal.
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<figcaption style="display: table-caption; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.4em;">It's been a relaxing week for Tom Brady. (Facebook/TomBrady)</figcaption></figure>
By John Breech | CBSSports.com
<time class="storyDate" pubdate="" datetime="2015-07-24T18:26:29Z" style="display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 10px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-stretch: normal !important; line-height: 16px !important; font-family: proxima-nova, Arial, helvetica, sans-serif !important;">July 24, 2015 2:26 pm ET</time>
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Settlement talks between Tom Brady and the NFL have gone nowhere so far, but that could change soon.According to Bleacher Report's Jason Cole, the league believes Brady will eventually accept a deal that would involve Brady's four-game suspension being reduced. Although the potential deal would cut down Brady's suspension, it wouldn't reduce it to zero and Brady would still miss games.
The NFL's belief, according to Cole, is that Brady will want to get a deal done before training camp so that he can focus exclusively on football. Under that timeline, a deal between Brady and the NFL would have to be done by July 29, when the Patriots veterans are scheduled to report to camp.
One of the sticking points in the settlement talks so far is that league doesn't want to agree to a deal unless there's an "admission of guilt by Brady on some level," according to NFL.com.
How do you solve that problem? According to Cole, Brady would likely sign off on a deal that suspends him for not cooperating with the league during the Ted Wells investigation, but in the potential deal, Brady wouldn't admit to any wrongdoing as Deflategate.
Basically, Brady would say, "I didn't cooperate with the league investigation, I understand why I'm being punished," but he wouldn't admit to guilt as far as deflating footballs.
ESPN.com had previously reported that Brady would be open to a deal that involved him paying a fine, instead of facing any suspension. However, when the NFLPA made that suggestion to the NFL recently, the offer was met with 'Silence,' according to ESPN.
A possible settlement doesn't seem out of the question either.
When ProFootballTalk originally reported on Wednesday that settlement talks had occurred, PFT noted that although a settlement would be "unexpected," it wouldn't be completely shocking to see one get "worked out."
The only thing slowing things down at this point could be the group of anonymous 'influential' owners who want to see Brady's suspension stick at four games.
As for Brady, he seems pretty relaxed as he waits for the final ruling on his appeal.
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