NEW YORK — A federal judge has ruled in favor of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and the NFL Players Association in the Deflategate case, effectively vacating his four-game suspension.
Judge Richard M. Berman vacated the arbitration by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in his opinion filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The NFL now has the option to challenge Berman’s decision, through the 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
Brady is eligible to return to team activities immediately and to play in the season opening kickoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sept.