Yes, as I noted in a later post, the only way they could increase the suspension is if Brady actually wins in court and the current punishment is vacated and the league comes back with something even stricter. Technically it's possible, but realistically there isn't a chance in hell that this current punishment gets vacated only to be turned into something worse. In fact, I'd love to see them try it.
However, that's not what the writer of this article is talking about here. The inquisitr.com article says:
"The assertion that Goodell has the authority to increase Brady’s penalty could be seen as a power-grab on the part of the NFL commissioner — an implied threat to Brady that if he doesn’t drop his legal action now, he risks a more harsh suspension, possibly five or six games, if he loses in federal court."
The writer does not know what he is talking about. If Brady loses in federal court, then the league cannot increase the suspension. That's not my "interpretation." That's settled law. Furthermore, the league isn't even arguing that they can increase the penalty all this point. All this is is some writer I've never heard of at some website I've never heard of misinterpreting footnote 4.
Sorry, but you can't announce a punishment, file a motion to confirm that punishment, win the court case (thereby getting the motion to confirm the punishment), and then change the punishment after the motion to confirm is granted. The very idea is absurd.
No, what they are saying is that he could have done that as a ruling following the arbitration hearing of June 23. They are not claiming that he can still do it now. Footnote 4 reads as follows (all emphasis mine):
"Notably, the Commissioner had the authority to increase the discipline based on the evidence presented at the hearing. The CBA provides that, in appeals of fines imposed for
unnecessary roughness or unsportsmanlike conduct on the playing field with respect to another player, the discipline “may only be affirmed, reduced, or vacated by the hearing officer, and may not be increased.” See CBA Art. 46, Sec. 2(d) (“Decision”). The CBA imposes no such limitation on the Commissioner’s decision in appeals such as this one involving discipline imposed under Article 46, Section 1(a) for conduct detrimental to the integrity of the game."
