New England Patriots

Report: Tom Brady plans to attend voluntary court hearing

Published Aug. 18, 2015 11:35 a.m. ET

foxsports

Tom Brady’s absence from New England Patriots practice could be related to his four-game suspension appeal.

Brady plans to attend Wednesday’s federal court hearing in front of Judge Richard Berman, even though it’s voluntary, a source told USA Today’s Tom Pelissero. Brady was absent for the Patriots’ walk-through practice Tuesday. The Patriots travel to West Virginia Tuesday afternoon in preparation for Wednesday and Thursday’s joint practices with the New Orleans Saints.

The NFL is mum on whether Roger Goodell plans to attend Wednesday’s settlement conference.

Missing two consecutive practices could put Brady’s status for Saturday’s preseason game in question.

Brady took the majority of practice reps Monday, then he spent 15 minutes talking to head coach Bill Belichick after the training camp session ended. Jimmy Garoppolo took all practice reps Tuesday while Ryan Lindley looked on.

Berman is urging Brady and the NFL to settle, though based on their respective court filings Friday, it appears the two parties still are a ways apart. If Brady and the NFL can’t reach a settlement, then Berman will decide if the four-game suspension should be upheld by Sept. 4.

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