Steve Bisciotti Denies He Pressured Roger Goodell To Holdup Tom Brady Suspension

Image via Zimbio

On Friday ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio told a San Diego radio station that Baltimore Ravens Owner

and Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay would not be happy if Tom Brady’s four-game suspension was vacated.

Speaking up about this report, Bisciotti is denying that he pressured NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to uphold Brady’s suspension (h/t NFL.com):

“I have not and will not put any pressure on the Commissioner or anyone representing the NFL office to take action in what everyone is calling ‘Deflategate,’ ” Bisciotti said Sunday in a team-issued statement. “The story circulating that I have put pressure on Roger (Goodell) is 100 percent wrong.”

“The reports are unfair to (Patriots owner) Robert Kraft, who is an honorable person, and to his franchise. Let’s talk about football and the start of training camps. Fans and people like me want the issue resolved now.”

Brady’s four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s integrity policy was handed down on May 11. This came nearly a week after a report by investigator Ted Wells found that Brady more likely than not had probable knowledge that the team used footballs that had been tampered with prior to the AFC Championship game against the Colts.

Brady had an appeal hearing on June 23 that consisted of more than 10 hours of testimony heard at the NFL’s New York headquarters. Still waiting for the ruling on his hearing, Brady is scheduled to report to training camp with the Patriots on Wednesday.

The Patriots face off with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the season opener on September 10. At this point, we do not know if it will be Brady or his backup Jimmy Garoppolo under center.

As for the Ravens, the two teams won’t face off this season unless it’s in the playoffs.