Tom Brady reportedly comes across as 'genuine, earnest' at 10-hour appeal hearing
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's appeal of a four-game suspension concluded after 10 hours Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
No further hearings are scheduled and a decision on the appeal was not announced.
During his testimony, Brady came off as "very genuine, earnest, and persuasive, addressing every issue raised in the league-sanctioned Wells report," a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Another source told Schefter that Brady delivered "an A+ performance."
Brady was suspended after the Wells Report found him to be uncooperative with the league's investigation into underinflated footballs during the AFC Championship Game, and that it was "more probable than not" that Brady was "at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities."
It was originally reported that Brady and his lawyers were expected to present their case within a four-hour span, but the meeting went well over the designated limit.
"I don't know what the timetable is (for a ruling), but we feel like we made a very compelling case in there," Brady's attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, said, according to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post. Kessler is famous for working on a number of sports arbitration cases, and represented Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson in their suspension appeals against the league over the past year.
Brady exited NFL headquarters through the parking garage, ostensibly to avoid a number of reporters covering the appeal, according to Tom E. Curran of Comcast Sportsnet New England.
The league offered no timeline regarding its decision. For perspective, Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy underwent an appeal for his 10-game suspension on May 28, but the league still has not made a decision. Kessler is also representing Hardy in his appeal.
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