It has been remarkably quiet in the month since Tom Brady slipped out of NFL headquarters through a garage following his lengthy Deflategate appeal hearing.
Now, as the New England Patriots quarterback and NFL Players Association await NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's ruling on whether to uphold, reduce or overturn Brady's four-game suspension, the threat of a lawsuit looms. It may be a ploy, just leverage for Brady and the union to get the punishment erased. Yet some maneuverings that could help prevent a suit may be taking place right now behind closed doors.
Jodi Balsam, who served as the league's counsel for operations and litigation from 1994 to 2002 and as counsel for football operations from 2002 through 2007, believes both sides have been in contact since the conclusion of the appeal June 23.