Sports Law Links

Each week The Sports Esquires keep track of the sports law headlines so you don’t have to.  This week’s edition features another Deflategate omnibus, the NHL broadcast settlement, and a host of NCAA issues.

Deflategate

• The Decision: Judge Richard Berman issued his Deflategate decision vacating Tom Brady’s suspension. The NFL filed its Notice of Appeal the same day.  The NFLPA’s statement.  Tom Brady’s statement.  Roger Goodell’s statement.  All the significant legal filings for the case can be found here.
• The Analysis: I explained Judge Berman’s decision, the likelihood of Brady winning the appeal, and what it means for Roger Goodell and the league. Video: Gabe Feldman says the ruling puts a dent in the commissioner’s powers.  Michael McCann’s analysis of the decision.  Ben Volin: it turns out the NFL didn’t follow the rules.
• The Fallout: The winners and losers. Adam Kilgore says the NFL has forever tarnished  Andrew Brandt: Roger Goodell’s inner circle is a bubble, insulating him from the dissatisfaction.  Brian Holland: Goodell’s mistakes were self-inflicted, and it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.  Sally Jenkins: Deflategate exposed Roger Goodell as unfit to serve his office.  Rachel Axon: this was a complete loss for the league.  The NFL’s legal losing streak continues.  Justin Fielkow: Deflategate’s not over yet – how it will affect Brady’s fantasy value.  How the legal players in Deflategate fared.  John Kryk: Roger Goodell and the NFL – not the smartest guys.  Bob McGovern: Goodell is a glutton for punishment.  Mike Florio: the league must find a way to restore credibility.

NFL

• The NFL announced its new football preparation rules before games.
• The Redskins lost a bid to participate in oral arguments in a case that may affect their trademark registrations.
• NFLPA files injury grievance on behalf of Taylor Thompson.
• Jack Bechta: what is an injury settlement?

NCAA

• Game-changing litigation looms over this season of college football.
• John Wolohan reviews the NLRB’s Northwestern decision.
• A look at how the legal process works when a college player is arrested.
• A grand jury indicted a former UNC football player for violating the state’s Uniform Athlete Agents Act.
• Oregon State faces Title IX lawsuit alleging a sexually violent culture.
• Pac-12 considers diversifying coaching searches.
• Punishingly profitable: how sport has superseded education as the primary focus of many universities.

MLB

• The Second Circuit affirmed a decision holding that the Fair Labor Standards Act does not apply to MLB’s annual FanFest.
• Judge denies A-Rod’s request for a protective order to block public disclosure of evidence in his case against the law firm that represented him in the Biogenesis case.
• Baseball unites over domestic violence policy.

NHL

• NHL settlement approved in broadcast antitrust case. Joseph Hanna on the effect on viewer options.
• More uncertainties surrounding the Kings and Slava Voynov’s immigration issues.

Best of the Rest

• How Germany bought the 2006 World Cup.
• North American Soccer League accuses MLS of violating antitrust laws.
• Al Haymon files motion to dismiss Top Rank Boxing’s antitrust suit.
• How courtsiders in tennis are affecting gambling.