Roger Goodell to Hear Tom Brady's Deflategate Appeal: Latest Details, Reaction

For months, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has been putting an infrastructure in place to lessen the role he plays in player discipline. On Thursday, Goodell made a surprising move against that recent stance, appointing himself as the arbitrator for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's appeal of his four-game suspension.

"Commissioner Goodell will hear the appeal of Tom Brady's suspension in accordance with the process agreed upon with the NFL Players Association in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement," the league said in a statement to Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman.

The NFLPA filed a formal appeal of Brady's suspension earlier Thursday. In a statement, it cited the NFL's "history of inconsistency and arbitrary decisions in disciplinary matters" and asked for a neutral arbitrator.

"If Ted Wells and the NFL believe, as their public comments stated, that the evidence in their report is 'direct' and 'inculpatory,' then they should be confident enough to present their case before someone who is truly independent," the statement read.

Albert Breer of NFL Network reported the players association was hoping to call Goodell as a witness, which would force the commissioner to recuse himself from serving as arbitrator. However, ESPN's Ed Werder reported that Goodell was unlikely to step down.

ESPN's Andrew Brandt weighed in on the situation:

Under the terms of the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, Goodell has the right to appoint the arbitrator for appeals of league-mandated discipline. He has appointed independent arbitrators in recent high-profile cases, most notably Barbara S. Jones and Harold Henderson, who presided over appeals from Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson, respectively.  

Goodell's decision to appoint himself will undoubtedly stoke even more ire in what's already become a contentious battle.

The league suspended Brady four games, stripped the Patriots of two draft picks and fined the organization $1 million on Monday based on the findings of Ted Wells' Deflategate report. The 243-page report (which contains profanity) was released last week and found it was "more likely than not" that Brady was aware that Patriots game balls were being deflated below league standards. Wells' report centered on conversations between Jim McNally and John Jastremski, Patriots employees who handled the day-to-day operations.

While Brady has been silent, his agent, Don Yee, offered strong criticism of the NFL's punishment earlier this week.

"The discipline is ridiculous and has no legitimate basis," Yee said in a statement, per Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports. "In my opinion, this outcome was pre-determined; there was no fairness in the Wells investigation whatsoever. There is no evidence that Tom directed footballs be set at pressures below the allowable limits."

Under terms of the CBA, Brady's suspension can be upheld, reduced or wiped out altogether. If upheld, Brady would not be eligible to return until New England's Week 6 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts. 

Brady's potential absence would give 2014 second-round pick Jimmy Garoppolo his first chance at an NFL start. Garoppolo threw for 182 yards and a touchdown last season, filling in during garbage time of six games.

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