NFL notes: Roger Goodell expects to hear Tom Brady’s appeal

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday it’s his responsibility to hear directly from New England quarterback Tom Brady in his appeal of his four-game suspension in the deflated footballs case.

Goodell said he has not had time to study a request from the players’ union that he recuse himself from the appeal because he has been focused on the spring owners meetings.

He said he would study the request when he returned to New York but added that unless there is a factor that he is unaware of he will likely hear the case.

“It’s my job here to make sure we’re doing everything to protect the integrity of the game, protect our policies, protect our procedures,” Goodell said. “We have a process that has been negotiated with the union that has been in place for decades.”

The CBA reached in 2011 to end the lockout gave Goodell the right to hear the appeal. Only the commissioner can punish players for conduct detrimental to the league. But the NFL Players Association claims if he delegates his authority to discipline players, it’s invalid, and if he handles it himself, he is no longer impartial.

Around the league

A future regular-season NFL game in Mexico or Germany was discussed by NFL owners. Goodell said both countries have reached out about hosting games, and there is “renewed interest” among the owners. … Giants starting LT Will Beatty is going to be sidelined up to six months after tearing a pectoral muscle while lifting weights. … Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said that quarterback Geno Smith is the team’s starter “right now,” and the Jets expect it to be that way heading into the season opener. … The timetable for approving a franchise’s relocation to Los Angeles could be moved up to the end of 2015. The Rams, Raiders and Chargers are involved in stadium projects. There have been discussions on moving one or two teams if no acceptable stadium projects come together.