Statistics and Sports: “Deflategate”
On September 3, 2015, US District Court Judge Richard M. Berman granted the motion of Analysis Group’s client, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), to vacate the four-game suspension of New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady in the so-called “Deflategate” case.
The widely watched court case focused on the arbitration process that culminated in Mr. Brady's suspension following the use of allegedly under-inflated footballs during the 2015 AFC Championship Game between the Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts. In his decision, which was largely premised on legal deficiencies in the NFL's case, Judge Berman referenced the findings of Analysis Group academic affiliate Edward A. Snyder, Dean of the Yale School of Management.
Dean Snyder had analyzed the statistical evidence put forward by experts for the NFL and had presented his findings at an earlier appeal hearing before NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Supporting Dean Snyder in that analysis were Senior Lecturer Michael J. Moore of Northwestern University and an Analysis Group team led by Principal Jimmy Royer, as well as President Pierre Cremieux and Managing Principal Paul Greenberg.