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Appeal of Tom Brady's suspension to be held June 23

NFL, New England Patriots

The appeal hearing for Tom Brady's four-game suspension will be held June 23, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

If necessary, the hearing would continue June 25, the source said.

The NFL Players Association has asked commissioner Roger Goodell to recuse himself from hearing the appeal because it said he lacked impartiality and would be called as a witness.

Goodell has indicated he will not recuse himself, though he has not officially answered the union's request.

Brady was suspended for the first four games of the 2015 season after an NFL investigation found that he was "at least generally aware" of a scheme to use of underinflated footballs in the AFC Championship Game.

The New England Patriots also were fined $1 million and stripped of two picks -- a first-rounder in the 2016 draft and a fourth-rounder in the 2017 draft.

The three-time Super Bowl MVP has hired attorney Jeffrey Kessler, who has taken on the league in a variety of other cases through the years, and could take his case to court should his punishment not be reduced after appeal.

Earlier Friday at the team's OTA, Patriots coach Bill Belichick said he isn't looking back when asked about the penalties, adding, "We're on to next year."

Brady spent the workout lofting passes, handing the ball off and waiting his turn while other quarterbacks got theirs.

At a charity touch football game Friday night, Brady was relaxed and smiling. He played quarterback for both teams, raising his arms after a touchdown pass, exchanging high fives and clutching his head with both hands when a pass was dropped.

The event benefited Best Buddies International, which helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Brady is honorary co-chair of the organization.

After the game, Brady told the crowd at Harvard Stadium, "Thanks guys. What a great night we had."

But he departed from his usual practice of speaking with reporters at the event.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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