N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell upheld the four-game suspension of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, one of the league’s biggest stars, for his role in the deflation of footballs used in the A.F.C. Championship game in January.
The league said in a 20-page statement that its decision was partly based on Brady ordering the destruction of potential evidence, a cell phone that he had used during the week of the game and afterward. The destruction of the phone, which occurred shortly before Brady met with the league-appointed investigator, was only revealed at Brady’s appeal hearing in June.