Appeals court to hear oral arguments in 'Deflategate' case

NEW YORK (AP) NFL union lawyers who want New England quarterback Tom Brady to put ''Deflategate'' behind him for good are ready to make their pitch to a New York court.

NFL lawyers are asking the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan Thursday to reinstate the league's four-game suspension of Brady. They say a lower-court was wrong to rule that the league bungled a probe of deflated footballs at the AFC Championship game in January 2015.

If the league wins, Brady may have to sit out the start of the upcoming season. If the union wins, it is likely he will play. Either way, the case is likely to be cited in labor law for years to come.

Brady will not attend the hearing. A ruling is unlikely for weeks.