Goodell makes it official: He will hear Brady's appeal

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made it official Tuesday: He will hear Tom Brady's appeal of his four-game suspension.

The league suspended the Patriots quarterback for his role in the use of deflated footballs by New England in its AFC championship game victory over Indianapolis in January. The players' union urged Goodell to recuse himself from hearing the appeal because he can't be impartial and could be called as a witness.

But Goodell cited his "responsibility" under the labor agreement to "serve as hearing officer in any appeal involving conduct detrimental to the integrity of the game."

Goodell wrote to Brady on Tuesday, saying "My mind is open."

The appeal will be heard June 23.