Tom Brady has four-game suspension vacated

Tom Brady’s four-game suspension has officially been vacated.

The Associated Press reports that U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman ruled in favor of Brady and the NFL Players Association on Thursday. Here’s the only line from Berman’s ruling that matters to New England Patriots fans:

Here's the line from Berman vacating the Tom Brady's #DeflateGate suspension. pic.twitter.com/EZpyPMEyRx

— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) September 3, 2015

Berman had blasted the NFL during just about every settlement hearing since the case was brought to federal court. Some wondered if that was simply his way of trying to pressure the NFL into settling, and it probably was. In hindsight, it seems obvious that Berman was warning the NFL that he was going to rule in Brady’s favor.