Jim Irsay: 'I did not try to influence Roger Goodell over Tom Brady appeal'

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has dismissed reports that he tried to influence NFL commissioner Roger Goodell over Tom Brady's appeal for his suspension for the deflategate scandal.

A report from ESPN suggested that Irsay had attempted to pressure Goodell to uphold Brady's four-game suspension after he was found to be generally aware that members of the New England Patriots' equipment staff had deflated footballs in their AFC championship win over the Colts.

However, Irsay has insisted that he has not spoken to the commissioner about the deflategate scandal since the end of January.

"That's not true at all," Irsay told The Indianapolis Star. "I haven't talked to Roger Goodell about deflategate since late January. Not true.

"That's not the way things work involving someone else's business and someone else's team. It's not something I've ever seen, and I've been around ownership [in the NFL] for half a century."

Brady is still awaiting the outcome of his appeal against his suspension following his hearing in June.