The Facts: Brady and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell weren't required to attend Wednesday's hearing in Manhattan with Judge Richard Berman, but their presence will be mandatory if there's no settlement of their dispute over Brady's four-game suspension by August 31.

Diehards Line: Berman said Wednesday that he wants both sides to continue working toward a settlement over the next two weeks and ordered both Brady and Goodell to appear in court for another court date in the case. Brady is reportedly willing to accept a one-game suspension for not cooperating with the Deflategate investigation, but won’t admit to guilt regarding deflating footballs. The NFL, meanwhile, is said to be looking for that admission as well as other concessions that would back up the Ted Wells report and Goodell’s authority before they will discuss a reduction in the suspension. Berman also said Wednesday that he intends to issue a ruling in the case before September 4, a date requested by both the NFL and NFLPA, in the event that no settlement is reached. But nothing is certain at this point.