NFL Files Final Appeal of Decision to Overturn Tom Brady's Deflategate Case

On Monday, the Deflategate scandal came one step closer to its conclusion.

According to ESPN.com, the NFL filed its final brief in response to U.S. District Court Judge Richard M. Berman's decision on Sept. 3 to void New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's four-game suspension. The league handed down the ban after finding the quarterback was "at least generally aware" footballs were being illegally deflated in the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts, per ESPN.com's Mike Reiss.

The league filed the 38-page brief as a response to a 73-page brief filed Dec. 7 by the NFL Players Association on behalf of Brady after he was originally suspended following Deflategate.

The brief is the last step before any appeal is heard.

After receiving the suspension, Brady appealed, and Judge Berman overturned the NFL’s decision. The league responded by appealing Berman's ruling in October.

According to ESPN.com, Monday’s brief “says that the NFLPA's defense invoking the NFL's uniform policy and its specified fines for first-time offenders ‘suffers multiple flaws.’ The brief goes on to say that the NFLPA itself told NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that the policy was inapplicable since footballs are not part of uniform or equipment.”

The brief also argued the two sides concurred in the collective bargaining agreement that Commissioner Goodell “has authority to impose discipline for conduct detrimental and may, in ‘his discretion,’ preside over conduct detrimental appeals,” per ESPN.com.

The NFL’s appeal of the decision to overturn Brady’s four-game suspension will be heard March 3, 2016.