Deflategate Legal Filings

Thanks to the honorable Richard M. Berman’s decision to unseal the filings in the DeflateGate legal saga we have a wealth of information regarding the NFL’s policies and it’s relationship with the Player’s Association.  For sports law nerds the controversy has been like Christmas Morning wrapped in Opening Day and stuffed with Selection Sunday - a dream come true.  Below is a listing of the most significant documents and legal filings obtained so far.

• NFL-NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement, 2011-2020
• NFL Player Policies, August 2014
• Wells Report, May 6, 2015
• NFL Statement on Punishment , May 11, 2015
• Troy Vincent Discipline Letter, May 11, 2015
• Letter notifying NFL of Appeal, May 14, 2015
• NFLPA/Brady Motion to Compel Witnesses and Discovery, June 19, 2015
• Goodell Decision on Motion to Compel Witnesses and Discovery, June 22, 2015
• Transcript of Appeal Hearing, June 23, 2015
• Post-Hearing Brief of NFLPA and Tom Brady
• Roger Goodell Decision on Appeal, July 28, 2015

• NFL Management Council v. NFLPA, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • Application to Confirm Arbitration Award, July 28, 2015
  • Court Order Advising Parties to Settle, July 30, 2015
  • Letter to Court Outlining Proposed Expedited Hearing Schedule, July 31, 2015
  • Answer and Counterclaim, July 31, 2015
  • Amended Answer and Counterclaim, August 4, 2015
  • NFLPA Memorandum in Support of Motion to Vacate, August 7, 2015
    • Exhibit 192 Ted Snyder Testimony: Science
  • NFL Memorandum in Support of Motion to Confirm, August 7, 2015
  • Transcript of Settlement Conference/Hearing, August 12, 2015
  • NFLPA Memorandum in Opposition to Motion to Confirm, August 14, 2015
  • NFL Memorandum in Opposition to Motion to Vacate, August 14, 2015
  • Transcript of Oral Arguments, August 19, 2015
  • NFL Letter to Judge, August 24, 2015
  • NFLPA Letter to Judge, August 25, 2015
  • Order and Opinion (Vacating Suspension), September 3, 2015
  • Notice of Appeal, September 3, 2015

• NFLPA v. NFL, United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
  • Petition to Vacate Arbitration Award, July 29, 2015
  • Motion to Seal, July 29, 2015
  • Memorandum in Support of Motion to Seal, July 29, 2015
  • Order Transferring Case to Southern District of New York, July 30, 2015

• NFL Management Council v. NFLPA, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • Pre-Argument Statement September 17, 2015
  • Consent Motion for Expedited Proceedings, September 25, 2015
  • NFL Opening Brief, October 26, 2015
  • NFLPA Reply Brief, December 7, 2015
  • Amicus Brief in Support of NFLPA, December 14, 2015
  • NFL Reply Brief, December 21, 2015
  • Opinion, April 25, 2016
  • Dissent, April 25, 2016
  • Petition for Panel Rehearing and Rehearing En Banc, May 23, 20

For more documents related to NFL player discipline, including Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, and Greg Hardy, see our NFL Player Discipline Library