The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN IN THE PROS tion, ESPN.com reported. "We hold that the commissioner properly exercised his broad discre- tion under the collective bargaining agreement and that his procedural rulings were properly grounded in that agreement and did not deprive Brady of fundamental fairness," the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a 2-1 decision. Judge Barrington D. Parker ex- panded upon the ruling in writing the majority opinion. "Our role is not to determine for ourselves whether Brady participated in a scheme to deflate footballs or whether the suspension imposed by the commissioner should have been for three games or five games or none at all," he wrote. "Nor is it our role to second-guess the arbitrator's procedural rulings. Our obligation is limited to determining whether the arbitration proceedings and award met the minimum legal standards es- tablished by the Labor Management Relations Act." The 2nd Circuit added that the con- tract between players and the NFL gave the commissioner authority that was "especially broad," and that's been one of the criticisms. The NFL Players' Association said it would re- view its options in light of the ruling. "We fought Roger Goodell's sus- pension of Tom Brady because we know he did not serve as a fair ar- bitrator and that player 's rights were violated under our collective bargaining agreement," the NFLPA responded. Brady could miss games against Arizona, Miami, Houston and Buf- falo to start the year, but he could also request hearing in front of the full 2nd Circuit Court or even the U.S. Supreme Court, ESPN.com added. Chief Judge Robert Katzmann, the dissenting voice in the 2-1 ruling, seemed to offer some hope for the former Michigan standout. "I am troubled by the commis- sioner 's decision to uphold the un- precedented four-game suspension," Katzmann said. "The commissioner failed to even consider a highly rel- evant alternative penalty." The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Ap- peals in Manhattan later gave Brady an appeal extension to May 23 to de- cide whether to ask for a rehearing in front of the same three-judge panel or a new hearing in front of the entire circuit. The NHL FORMER WOLVERINES IN THE NHL PLAYOFFS Through May 8 • Andrew Cogliano (Played at U‑M from 2006‑07), LW, Anaheim Ducks: Notched two goals and two assists, and finished minus-1 with six shots on goal in a 4-3 series loss to Nashville in the first round. • Luke Glendening (2009‑12), C, De‑ troit Red Wings: Notched one assist and went minus-1 with five shots on goals in a 4-1 series loss to Tampa Bay in the first round. • Carl Hagelin (2008‑11), LW, Pitts‑ burgh Penguins: Has notched three goals and two assists in 10 games,