Tom Brady's suspension upheld by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

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Tom Brady's four-game suspension has been upheld by Commissioner Roger Goodell, which will cost him $1.88million
Brady was punished for his role in allegedly using underinflated footballs during the AFC championship game last season
The 19-page report released on Tuesday also revealed that Brady destroyed his cell phone while the Deflategate investigation was underway
Brady said it was common practice for him to destroy his old phones when he got a new one so people could not get his information
This now means that backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will likely start the first four games of the season
Brady will now challenge the decision in federal court and seek an injunction that will allow him to play

By Associated Press and Chris Spargo For Dailymail.com

Published: 13:40 EST, 28 July 2015 | Updated: 17:32 EST, 28 July 2015

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Tom Brady's four-game suspension for his role in using underinflated footballs during the AFC championship game last season has been upheld by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The league announced the decision Tuesday.

Goodell also revealed that Brady destroyed his cell phone as the NFL investigation into the matter was underway.

This will now go to federal court where Brady will seek an injunction that would allow him to play at the start of the season while the case is under review.

The suspension will cost Brady Brady $1.88million.

Brady's agent Don Yee said after the decision; 'The appeal process was a sham.'

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Down and out: Tom Brady's four-game suspension has been upheld by Commissioner Roger Goodell

Happier times: Brady poses with NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell during a news conference where he was presented the Super Bowl MVP in February

Patriots owner Robert Kraft and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell spotted in deep conversation on July 9 with Bob Iger of Disney

'On or shortly before March 6, the day that Tom Brady met with independent investigator Ted Wells and his colleagues, Brady directed that the cell phone he had used for the prior four months be destroyed,' wrote Goodell.

'He did so even though he was aware that the investigators had requested access to text messages and other electronic information that had been stored on that phone.'

Brady's agent had previously said it was common practice for the quarterback to destroy his old phones when he got a new one so people could not reset it and get his information.

Brady and his lawyers delivered a 10-hour appeal to Goodell on June 23 as to why his suspension should be overturned.

This now means that backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will likely start the first four games of the season.

NFL STATEMENT

'In the opinion informing Brady that his appeal had been denied, Commissioner Goodell emphasized important new information disclosed by Brady and his representatives in connection with the hearing.

'He did so even though he was aware that the investigators had requested access to text messages and other electronic information that had been stored on that phone.

'‎During the four months that the cell phone was in use, Brady had exchanged nearly 10,000 text messages, none of which can now be retrieved from that device. The destruction of the cell phone was not disclosed until June 18, almost four months after the investigators had first sought electronic information from Brady.

'Based on the Wells Report and the evidence presented at the hearing, Commissioner Goodell concluded in his decision that Brady was aware of, and took steps to support‎, the actions of other team employees to deflate game footballs below the levels called for by the NFL's Official Playing Rules.

'The commissioner found that Brady’s deliberate destruction of potentially relevant evidence went beyond a mere failure to cooperate in the investigation and supported a finding that he had sought to hide evidence of his own participation in the underlying scheme to alter the footballs.'

Brady, 37, arrived at training camp on Monday, two days early, and the team veterans are all expected to show up Wednesday to Gillette Stadium.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick is expected to address the media at that time.

Brady meanwhile is still eligible to train with the team and play in preseason games.

The New England Patriots' star quarterback was suspended by NFL executive Troy Vincent in May following a league-sanctioned investigation by Ted Wells.

The Patriots were fined $1 million and docked a pair of draft picks. The team didn't appeal its penalty, but Brady and his lawyers made their case during a 10-hour appeal hearing on June 23.

The NFL Players Association has previously said it would challenge the decision in court if Brady's suspension wasn't erased.

Brady and the Patriots have denied knowingly using deflated footballs in the AFC title game win over Indianapolis. The Patriots went on to beat Seattle in the Super Bowl and Brady was the MVP.

Knowing that he will likely file in federal court, the NFL filed a preemptive complaint in Southern District of New York to confirm their decision.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced at a press conference in May that the team would not appeal the $1million fine handed down to them by the NFL for their involvement in the scandal.

'I don't want to continue the rhetoric that's gone on for the last four months,' said Kraft, as he agreed to 'reluctantly' accept the league's punishment.

'At no time should the agenda of one team outweigh the collective good of the whole 32,' explained Kraft.

He then said the decision was the 'best thing for our fans, our team and the NFL.'

The team will also lose their first round pick in the 2016 draft and the fourth round pick in the following year.

The NFL fined the club the record amount after determining individuals in the organization had purposely deflated footballs used in the team's 45-7 playoff victory over the Indianapolis Colts earlier this year.

The report also said there was a strong possibility Brady knew this was happening at the time.

Happy couple: Brady and his wife Gisele at the Patriots Super Bowl ring ceremony this year

New QB: This now means that backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (above) will likely start the first four games of the season

Tom Brady was suspended for four games over Deflategate

Kraft previously told Sports Illustrated he is convinced Brady is innocent of this charge.

STATEMENT FROM BRADY'S AGENT

'The Commissioner's decision is deeply disappointing, but not surprising because the appeal process was thoroughly lacking in procedural fairness.

Most importantly, neither Tom nor the Patriots did anything wrong. And the NFL has no evidence that anything inappropriate occurred.

'The appeal process was a sham, resulting in the Commissioner rubber-stamping his own decision. For example, the Wells investigative team was given over 100 days to conduct its investigation. Just days prior to the appeal hearing, we were notified that we would only have four hours to present a defense; therefore, we didn't have enough time to examine important witnesses.

'Likewise, it was represented to the public that the Wells team was 'independent'; however, when we requested documents from Wells, our request was rejected on the basis of privilege. We therefore had no idea as to what Wells found from other witnesses, nor did we know what those other witnesses said.

'These are just two examples of how the Commissioner failed to ensure a fair process.Additionally, the science in the Wells Report was junk. It has been thoroughly discredited by independent third parties.

'Finally, as to the issue of cooperation, we presented the Commissioner with an unprecedented amount of electronic data, all of which is incontrovertible. I do not think that any private citizen would have agreed to provide anyone with the amount of information that Tom was willing to reveal to the Commissioner. Tom was completely transparent. All of the electronic information was ignored; we don't know why. The extent to which Tom opened up his private life to the Commissioner will become clear in the coming days.

'The Commissioner's decision and discipline has no precedent in all of NFL history. His decision alters the competitive balance of the upcoming season. The decision is wrong and has no basis, and it diminishes the integrity of the game.'

'I’ve known Tommy 16 years, almost half his life. He’s a man, and he’s always been honest with me, and I trust him. I believed what he told me. He has never lied to me, and I have found no hard or conclusive evidence to the contrary,' said Kraft.

'I just get really worked up. To receive the harshest penalty in league history is just not fair. The anger and frustration with this process, to me, it wasn’t fair. If we’re giving all the power to the NFL and the office of the commissioner, this is something that can happen to all 32 teams.

'We need to have fair and balanced investigating and reporting. But in this report, every inference went against us … inferences from ambiguous, circumstantial evidence all went against us. That’s the thing that really bothers me.'

In the report, released on May 6, Wells found that two Patriots equipment personnel were involved in doctoring the footballs, citing text messages from the pair.

Brady was largely implicated due to the revelation that he declined to hand over details of his own emails, text messages and phone messages.

Brady himself has made little public comment on the matter, although he insisted shortly after the report came out that the Patriots' latest Super Bowl triumph was 'absolutely not' tainted by the scandal.

Prior to Deflategate, Kraft and Goodell had been remarkably close, frequently spending time with one another both during the regular and off-seasons.

After the league's Deflategate ruling however Bleacher Report said that one league owner noted that the relationship between Kraft and Goodell was 'pretty much dead.'

They were however spotted chatting at the annual Allen & Company conference in Sun Valley, Idaho earlier this month, though it remains to be seen if their rekindled friendship can withstand the upholding of Brady's suspension.

Also of note is that earlier this year Brady received a letter from Godell saying he was an 'elite player' who held a historic place in the game as it informed him he would be a part of multiple ceremonies over the course of next season to mark Super Bowl 50.

Godell wrote that Brady had left an 'enduring legacy of a great performance on the biggest stage in sports.'

Brady even shared a photo of the letter to his Facebook noting how proud he was of getting the honor from Godell.

Godell closed by saying; 'Thank you for all you have contributed to our great game.'