Judge nullifies Tom Brady's 4-game suspension in 'Deflategate' case

The "Deflategate" ruling is out and Tom Brady is victorious again.

U.S. District Judge Richard Berman nullified the New England Patriots quarterback's four-game suspension Thursday after more than a month of failed settlement talks between the league and the NFLPA.

In his 40-page ruling, Berman said that he found no NFL policy or precedent that notifies players that they could be disciplined for having general awareness of the activity of others:

With respect to "general awareness" of others' misconduct – which is the principal finding in both the Wells Report and the Vincent Letter – Brady had no notice that such conduct was prohibited, or any reasonable certainty of potential discipline stemming from such conduct. The Court concludes that, as a matter of law, no NFL policy or precedent notifies players that they may be disciplined (much less suspended) for general awareness of misconduct by others. And, it does not appear that the NFL has ever, prior to this case, sought to punish players for such an alleged violation.

Berman also took issue with the NFL's barring of Brady and his team of lawyers from cross-examining the league's general counsel, Jeff Pash, and the denial of equal access to investigative files.

Related: The football world reacts to Tom Brady's suspension being overruled

Also of note is that Berman places quotes around the word "independent" in describing the Wells investigation into whether the Patriots deflated footballs in last season's AFC Championship Game.

The NFL has appealed the ruling, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that it's unlikely the league will seek an injunction to keep Brady off the field during the appeals process.

- With files from the Associated Press