Could Deflategate spell the end of Roger Goodell's commissionership?

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last updated 29 July 2015

One day after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell upheld New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's four-game suspension for his role in the "Deflategate” scandal, Patriots owner Robert Kraft and coach Bill Belichick gave a rather icy press conference during which Kraft made clear that he was displeased with Goodell's decision. It's no surprise Kraft would disagree with the league's suspension of his franchise player — but could the decision spell the end of Roger Goodell's commissionership?

Kraft's ire is likely drawn from the fact that he decided to accept the original punishment Goodell levied against the Patriots in May, which cost the team $1 million in fines and two future draft picks. (Brady's appeal of his own suspension was a separate effort initiated through the NFL Players Association.) Some thought Kraft's concession to the league would pave the way for a downgrade in Brady's post-appeal suspension — especially because Kraft and Goodell have long been friends — but that didn't turn out to be the case.

Now, Brady will likely file a federal suit against the NFL, which could spell disaster for Goodell by forcing him to air dirty laundry in court, The Daily Beast reports. Explaining his seemingly arbitrary punishments — two games for knocking a woman unconscious in an elevator, three games for driving a car under the influence and crashing into a pole, four games for maybe ordering up deflated footballs — could tie Goodell in knots in front of a judge. Under league policy, Kraft would have to convince 23 other team owners besides himself to vote Goodell guilty of actions "detrimental to the best interests of the league" in order to oust him — but with a federal lawsuit from Brady on the horizon, and with Kraft alienated as his biggest supporter, it's safe to say Deflategate will continue to haunt Goodell for months to come.