New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady signed a new member to his team on Friday as the legal fight over his four-game suspension by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in the “Deflategate” scandal escalates.
The Patriots star on Friday filed a court notice that he had added heavy-hitter Theodore B. Olson, former U.S. solicitor general under George W. Bush, to his legal team, according to multiple reports. Olson argued in front of the Supreme Court more than 60 times, winning 75 percent of his cases. He also represented the NFL Players Association against the league during the 2011 lockout.
On Monday, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Goodell’s suspension of Brady for the use of underinflated footballs at the 2015 AFC championship game against the Indianapolis Colts, which the Patriots won 45-7.
Brady’s team on Friday also asked for a two-week extension to decide if they will file a request that the entire Second Circuit Court of Appeals hear the case. Some experts believe the labor-vs.-management case could make its way to the Supreme Court.
In filing the request for the extension, Olson said Monday’s 2-1 decision against Brady “raises significant labor law issues that could have far-reaching consequences for all employees subject to collective-bargaining agreements.”
