'NFL keeping open mind on Tom Brady appeal'

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has stood behind the Wells Report on the Deflategate scandal but says the league is keeping an open mind about Tom Brady's appeal.

Speaking at the conclusion of the NFL's spring owners' meetings on Wednesday, Goodell touched on a variety of issues, but the penalties against the New England Patriots and their quarterback dominated the discussion.

"What you're trying to do is get it right," Goodell said of the 243-page report authored by independent investigator Ted Wells.

"I thought his report was very clear, it was comprehensive, but we are always open if there's new information that can get us to a better place."

Goodell made it clear that he expects any such information to come from Brady himself, but sidestepped multiple questions on whether he would agree to the NFLPA's demand that he recuse himself from hearing Brady's appeal.

"I'm not going to get into hypotheticals," Goodell said when asked if full co-operation might lead to a reduction in Brady's four-game suspension.

"We have a process here, it's long-established. I look forward to hearing directly from Tom if there's new information or there's information that can be helpful to us in getting this right. I want to hear directly from Tom on that."

Goodell dismissed talk that Patriots owner Robert Kraft's decision not to appeal the docking of a 2016 first-round draft pick and a 2017 fourth-round pick and a $1million fine would have an impact on Brady's plea.

In addition, he rejected the notion that he could not be an objective appeals officer, given that it was the NFL and people under Goodell's auspices that hired Wells and subsequently handed down discipline to Brady and the team.

"Two things: It was an independent investigation, it was done by Ted Wells. He drew a conclusion about whether there was a violation or not," Goodell said.

"I got a chance to read the report just shortly before you did, so we've been very transparent on that side of it.

"The second part of it is, once we had the Wells Report, our staff, led by Troy Vincent, who handles these matters on a regular basis and has all spring, immediately began meetings.

"I participated in some of those meetings, so I understood the discussion that they were having. Troy made a recommendation [on the penalties], I authorised him to go ahead and issue that, as I do in every other case."

Asked about potential changes to the game-day ball security procedure, Goodell said: "I do anticipate changes will take place before the 2015 season, but we did not discuss that."