NFL files motion seeking expedited hearing on Tom Brady appeal

ByABC News
September 25, 2015, 5:52 PM

— -- The NFL on Friday filed a motion in federal appeals court asking for an expedited hearing on its appeal in the suspension of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

The NFL Players Association has agreed to go along with the league's request.

The move means the case likely won't be heard until early next year -- after the regular season -- but arguments in the case could come during the postseason.

Wild-card games begin Jan. 9, 2016; the AFC and NFC championship games are Jan. 24; and the Super Bowl is Feb. 7, 2016.

According to the motion, the NFL is proposing the following dates:

? Opening briefs due Oct. 26

? NFLPA's responses due Dec. 7

? NFL's reply to the responses due Dec. 21

? Oral arguments requested to be scheduled in January 2016 or soon afterward, as the court's schedule permits

"There is good cause to expedite the appeal and argument," NFL attorney Daniel Nash said in court documents. "This appeal presents important and recurring issues associated with administration of the parties' CBA. Prompt resolution of those issues will enable the parties to address and resolve future proceedings more effectively and more expeditiously, and also ensure that the parties have the opportunity, in advance of the 2016 regular season, to know Mr. Brady's status and to plan accordingly. In addition, as the publicity surrounding this case confirms, these are issues in which NFL fans, as well as the parties, have substantial interest."

Brady originally was suspended for the first four games of the regular season, and the Super Bowl champions were docked $1 million and two draft picks after a league investigation found the Patriots provided improperly inflated footballs for the AFC title game against the Indianapolis Colts in January 2015. Brady appealed his suspension in the Deflategate scandal, which was upheld July 28 by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Brady then appealed the suspension in federal court. U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman on Sept. 3 overturned the suspension.

The NFL appealed Berman's decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Brady has started the Patriots' first two games this season. The team is 2-0.