Tom Brady, NFL Seek Deflategate Lawsuit Resolution Before 2015 NFL Season

The NFL and NFLPA collaborated on a motion Friday that aims to end the Deflategate controversy and decide the status of Tom Brady's four-game suspension before the beginning of the 2015 season.

According to documents CBS Sports' Will Brinson obtained, Brady is dropping his plan to gain an injunction on his suspension, which likely would have carried the process out well into the regular season.

"The NFLPA and Mr. Brady had intended to file a motion for a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction," the parties wrote, per Brinson. "However, the parties met and conferred and have agreed that a final resolution of this matter prior to the commencement of the 2015 NFL regular season would be in everyone's best interest."

On Monday, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reported Brady will appear at the court-mandated settlement hearing on August 12. 

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network also reported the NFLPA has filed a motion attempting to seal parts of the hearing from the public. This would likely be done to avoid more damage in the court of public opinion, as Brady has taken criticism for destroying a cellphone he used during the 2014 season.

Friday's filing is a best-of-both-worlds solution for the two sides. Brady and the Patriots would prefer any decision is made before the beginning of the regular season so that he's not missing high-priority games if the suspension is upheld. It was theoretically possible his four-game ban could carry over into the postseason if the case was protracted enough.

The NFL, which has spent more than six months now investigating the case, would prefer it not be embroiled in litigation with one of its biggest stars come September. Deflategate has already become a far-too-long scandal for most common fans, so getting the whole thing out of the way before Week 1 is a smart move.

The motion comes a day after Judge Richard M. Berman, the U.S. District Court judge assigned to the Brady case, encouraged the two sides to pursue a resolution on their own.

"If they have not already done so, the parties and counsel are directed forthwith actively to begin to pursue a mutually acceptable resolution of the case," Berman wrote, per ESPN.com. "The earth is already sufficiently scorched, the Court's view."

Berman responded to the newest piece of news as well with an order on how to proceed, per Bob McGovern of the Boston Herald:

ESPN's Trey Wingo thinks getting things settled before the start of the season is the right move for everyone:

On the schedule the two sides presented, they would file their initial motions Aug. 7 before counterarguing a week later. The expedited proceedings would allow for courtroom arguments and a judge's decision to come before New England's opener Sept. 10. Judge Berman must sign off on the motions before the case moves forward. 

According to Rapoport, Berman has asked both parties to engage in good faith talks before an Aug. 12 conference.

Second-year quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will start in Brady's place if his suspension is upheld.  

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