The NFL Players Association has added high-profile attorney Theodore B. Olson to its legal team defending New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, a move that reflects Brady's persistence in exploring all options for continuing his legal fight against the NFL.
In addition, attorneys for the NFLPA and Brady asked Friday for another two weeks to decide whether they'll request that the entire 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals hear the case. A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 to restore Brady's four-game suspension, and he and the union are now considering whether to ask for an en banc rehearing.
If the extra time is granted, a decision would be due by May 23.
"The Court's opinion will affect the rights of every player in the NFL," the court filing said. "Accordingly, the NFLPA and its members would benefit from additional time to analyze the implications of the decision for labor-management relations between the NFL and the NFLPA."
In 2010, Olson was selected by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He has argued 62 cases in the Supreme Court, including the two Bush v. Gore cases arising out of the 2000 presidential election. He has prevailed in more than 75 percent of those arguments.
He was solicitor general of the United States from 2001-2004 under President George W. Bush. Olson's successor in that role, Paul Clement, argued successfully on behalf of the NFL in the case against the NFLPA and Brady.
Olson is a partner in Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher's Washington office. One of his partners, Andrew Tulumello, has been a member of the NFLPA's legal team defending Brady against the NFL.
Olson represented the NFL Players Association during the 2011 labor negotiations.