DeflateGate: Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Hires Jeffrey Kessler; League In Trouble

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has hired Jeffrey Kessler as his lawyer for this DeflateGate mess. The league is likely in a lot of trouble.

Who is Kessler? Why should the league be concerned? Here are snippets from Kessler's war chest:

• McNeil, et al. v. NFL, et al. - Won jury verdict for NFL players striking down free agency restrictions under the antitrust laws. This victory led to the Reggie White class action, in which the free agency/salary cap system in the NFL was negotiated.
• Brady v. NFL - Successfully represented a class of NFL players in an antitrust action which led to the end of the 2011 NFL lockout.
• Players Inc. v. Gridiron and Athletes First - Successfully prosecuted two frontier IP litigations challenging the group use of NFL player images on websites.
• City of Oakland and Alameda County, et al. v. Oakland Raiders - Obtained summary judgment on behalf of City of Oakland and Alameda County requiring Raiders to honor the team's stadium lease and remain in Oakland.
• NBA and NFL arbitrations - Represented the players associations in numerous arbitrations involving player free agency rights, circumvention claims, collusion claims, and salary caps.
• North American Soccer League, et al. v. NFL- Successfully represented North American Soccer League in antitrust case striking down NFL ownership rules.
• Guidry, et al. v. AFL, et al. - Successfully represented class of AFL players in antitrust case which established free agency in the AFL.
• Belichick v. NFL, et al. - Represented NFL Head Coach in litigation over changing teams.
• NFLPA v. NFL - Successfully represented NFLPA in challenge to provisions of NFL TV Contracts used to fund the NFL 2011 Lockout.

These are just a few of the cases where he's helped represent against the NFL. He's a big reason why the NFL has free agency in the first place. He helped end the 2011 lockout. He represented Adrian Peterson and forced the league to reinstate the running back.

Time and time again, Kessler has come through in cases against the league. Tom Brady is in good hands.