A federal judge vacated the NFL's four-game suspension of New England Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady on Thursday, giving him a win in the so-called "Deflategate" legal saga that has consumed the NFL for the past seven months.

The decision paves the way for the reigning Super Bowl winning quarterback to start the season with his team next week. Brady did not immediately comment, but the NFL said it will appeal the decision.

Brady was accused by the NFL of having a role in a scheme to deflate footballs during last year's AFC Championship game. A report by lawyer Ted Wells said Brady was "generally aware" of the scheme. Brady appealed the NFL's punishment, which was later upheld by commissioner Roger Goodell. After Goodell's July ruling, Brady took the case to federal court with a lawsuit.

Judge Richard Berman, in a New York court, seemed underwhelmed by the NFL's arguments. Berman repeatedly pointed out during settlement conferences that the NFL had little direct evidence tying Brady to the deflated footballs.

"Based upon the foregoing and applicable legal authorities, the Court hereby denies the Management Council's motion to confirm the Award and grants the Players Association's motion to vacate the Award, thereby vacating the four-game suspension of Tom Brady, effective immediately," Berman wrote in the decision.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Goodell said that the league respectfully disagreed with the nullification of the suspension. "We will appeal today's ruling in order to uphold the collectively bargained responsibility to protect the integrity of the game," said Goodell.

Berman wrote that Brady had a lack of advanced warning on the prohibited conduct and possible punishment. "Because there was no notice of a four-game suspension in the circumstances presented here, commissioner Goodell may be said to have 'dispense[d] his own brand of industrial justice."'

He also said the league acted unfairly when they didn't make NFL lawyer Jeff Pash available as a witness. In particular, Berman ruled that the NFL's denial of the NFLPA's motion to produce investigative files was "fundamentally unfair" and in violation of a legal code. "Brady was prejudiced as a result," Berman wrote.

Berman had urged the sides to settle, but once the sides were too far apart, he decided to hand down the decision Thursday.

"This decision should prove, once and for all, that our Collective Bargaining Agreement does not grant this Commissioner the authority to be unfair, arbitrary and misleading," NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said in a statement. "While the CBA grants the person who occupies the position of Commissioner the ability to judiciously and fairly exercise the designated power of that position, the union did not agree to attempts to unfairly, illegally exercise that power, contrary to what the NFL has repeatedly and wrongfully claimed."

Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who has defended Brady since the investigation began in January, said Thursday that Brady is "a classy person of the highest integrity. He represents everything that is great about this game and this league." Kraft stood down from appealing the penalties against the organization, which included a $1 million fine and the loss of two draft picks.

"Yet, with absolutely no evidence of any actions of wrongdoing by Tom in the Wells report, the layers at the league still insisted on imposing and defending unwarranted and unprecedented discipline," Kraft said Thursday. "Judge Richard Berman understood this and we are greatly appreciative of his thoughtful decision that was delivered today."

The NFL's loss is another legal setback for Goodell, who has now lost on handful of off-field incidents. In the 2012 "Bountygate" scandal, in which New Orleans Saints players stood accused of injuring opponents for cash rewards, all player suspensions were vacated after Goodell appointed former commissioner Paul Tagliabue as independent arbitrator. Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice's year-long suspension was overturned by independent arbitrator Barbara Jones on the grounds that it did not comply with the collective bargaining agreement, since Rice was initially suspended two games.

Write to Kevin Clark at kevin.clark@wsj.com

 

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 03, 2015 14:45 ET (18:45 GMT)

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