If he doesn’t issue a ruling before September 10, that doesn’t mean Brady automatically will miss the regular-season opener against the Steelers.

He also suggested that the league’s finding that Brady was generally aware that game balls were being deflated was too vague, noting that any reference to the January 18 game against the Colts was “conspicuously absent” in a report on an NFL investigation that the league used as a basis for the suspension. Both had participated in negotiations a day earlier.

The sides are scheduled to appear back in court August 31 at 11 a.m. if a settlement hasn’t been reached.

Like many others, Sherman feels that the four-game suspension Brady has been handed as a result of his alleged role in Deflategate is unfair.

Nash continued to defend the language in the collective bargaining agreement and supported Goodell’s decision to preside over Brady’s appeal.

Following another unsuccessful hearing between the NFL and Tom Brady’s lawyers yesterday, there’s no end in sight for Deflategate. PFT’s Mike Florio called the Schefter’s report “accurate” Wednesday and added that Brady would specifically accept a one-game suspension, according to his sources. Judge Richard Berman announced last week that the attendance of Brady, Goodeel and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith wouldn’t be mandatory.

As if the showdown between New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and the NFL could not get attracted any more national headlines, Brady has made it clear he will accept a suspension by the league under specific conditions. Both the NFL and the players’ union filed to have the suspension ruled on in federal court. Sherman told USA TODAY Sports, comparing the team discipline to the roughly $2 million in lost salary Brady now faces due to a four-game suspension.

When NFL lawyer Daniel Nash said both violations are an effort to gain a competitive advantage, the judge responded: “I still don’t see how the four games is comparable to a player using steroids”. Berman said that Goodell’s refusal to allow questioning of Pash raised questions about “some basic procedures for fairness” in the process of suspending Brady.

The judge also said he would meet with the lawyers privately on Wednesday to continue discussing a potential resolution.