Tom Brady fights back against NFL ruling

This story could have gone away. The NFL could have done the right thing and reduced Tom Brady’s punishment from a four-game suspension for allegedly arranging for his team’s footballs to be deflated (the evidence is sketchy) to, say, a two-game suspension. Everyone would have stopped talking about it. Brady would have served his suspension and we’d all move on with our sporting lives.

Instead, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell upheld the suspension, based mainly on the fact that Brady destroyed potential evidence: his cellphone.

Now, the case will head to federal court. Federal court! The story will continue to make headlines.

If you think the punishment fits the crime, consider this: Greg Hardy, whom the Cowboys signed this season, was originally suspended 10 games after he was convicted in criminal court on domestic violence charges.

According to the charges, Hardy beat up his girlfriend and threw her on a bed covered in guns. Hardy was released on appeal after his victim refused to cooperate further, and his suspension was reduced to four games.