Why did Judge Berman rule in Tom Brady's favor?

U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman ruled that Tom Brady's four-game suspension should be overruled. The biggest reason? Legally speaking, Berman felt that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell extended his power and reach too far in the deflate-gate discipline and that Brady was not allowed the proper means to defend himself.

In the 40-page decision, Berman dissected the NFL's argument and found a number of flaws in its case against Brady. The ruling accurately reflected Berman's line of questioning during the hearings and is summed up in his hammer-blow line against Goodell, who is charged with issuing "his own brand of industrial justice."

So what did Berman fall back on? Here was his justification:

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One of the catch phrases of the Wells report was Brady being "generally aware" of the New England Patriots' goings-on as they related to ball deflation. But the judge said Brady couldn't be suspended for that general awareness of other peoples’ conduct.

Berman said that Brady wasn't even made aware that he could be suspended for that or for not cooperating fully with Wells' investigation.

"Brady also had no notice that his discipline would be the equivalent of the discipline imposed upon a player who used performance enhancing drugs," Berman wrote.

More from Berman:

“[T]here is no evidence of a record of past suspensions based purely on obstructing a league investigation.”

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And, Berman added: "The deference due an arbitrator does not extend ... [to] an award obtained without the requisites of fairness or due process."

Brady and his defense team also was not allowed to properly defend its case, Berman wrote, because they were denied sufficient access to the league's investigative files and to cross-examine NFL executive vice president Jeff Pash, who was not made available during the hearings — which seemed to irk Berman.

Berman pushed both sides to agree to settle. He gave the NFL every opportunity to reduce the suspension and still come out looking like winners. The league balked at a settlement, as did Brady, and it's the NFLPA, the quarterback and the Patriots who were the big winners on Thursday.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm