News Archive

Dean Emeritus Gary Roberts has been a sought-after expert for analysis in the wake of a federal judge’s decision regarding the four-game suspension of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Brady was accused of using underinflated footballs in the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts in January. Judge Richard Berman made the ruling September 3, clearing the way for Brady to begin the season with his team.

Roberts spoke to WISH television in Indianapolis for a story that appeared September 3, saying that the collective bargaining agreement needs to be strengthened.

“The appropriate remedy is to get the collective bargaining agreement changed, not to have judges re-write it,” Roberts said in the interview. “District judges tend to overreach. No district judge wants to say they don’t have authority to do something and they also have a tendency to say I’m going to do what I think is fair and worry if the law supports me later.”

He also was interviewed for a story that was published in the International Business Times September 4. 

“I think that’s what’s really at stake here: whether or not the historic authority of the commissioner to decide these matters and not have courts intervene in them is being eroded,” Roberts told the newspaper. “In the short term, I don’t know how significant that will be. Long term, when the next collective bargaining agreement comes up, the two sides are going to negotiate this.”

A renowned sports law expert, Roberts is dean emeritus and the Gerald L. Bepko Professor of Law at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He also is of counsel at the Indianapolis law firm Bose McKinney & Evans.