ESPN’s Whitlock: NFL Will Uphold Suspension of Brady Due to Pressure from Black Players

During Tuesday’s airing of “Pardon the Interruption” on ESPN, guest co-host Jason Whitlock responded to the question of whether or not he thought NFL commissioner Roger Goodell would reduce New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s four-game suspension after hearing his appeal today. Currently, Brady is set to serve a four-game suspension for being “generally aware” of deflated footballs being used by the Patriots during games.

Whitlock does not think Goodell will reduce Brady’s suspension because he wants to please the black players in the NFL who have served suspensions or been hit with fines for their missteps on the field and off the field.

“I think Goodell went into this looking to affirm the four-game suspension. He’s trying to please the rank and file players that think his discipline has been directed at too many black players; too many non-superstar players. They want to see him take on Tom Brady, the guy sitting at the top. Only person they would love better is if this was Peyton Manning. I think Goodell’s under a lot of pressure to please James Harrison and some other players.”

This echoes the exact sentiment Tony Kornheiser shared earlier this month on “PTI.”