The NFL has denied the NFLPA's request to have commissioner Roger Goodell recuse himself from hearing the appeal of Tom Brady's suspension.

The New England Patriots quarterback received a four-game suspension for his involvement in the Deflategate scandal, which was handed down by NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent.

An investigation by attorney Ted Wells found that Brady was "generally aware" he was using footballs with air removed and found the Patriots culpable.

Brady has maintained his innocence and NFLPA president DeMaurice Smith told ESPN's Outside the Lines on Friday that the Wells report was not credible.

"You can't really have credibility just because you slap the word 'independent' on a piece of paper," Smith said.

"I think that the Wells Report delivered exactly what the client wanted."

The Patriots were also fined $1million and stripped of two picks over the next two drafts for using underinflated footballs during January's AFC Championship Game, but owner Robert Kraft will not appeal that punishment. 

The NFLPA wanted to call Goodell as a witness during Brady's appeal hearing, but the current collective bargaining agreement means Goodell holds the power to serve as an arbitrator in all disciplinary appeals.

Earlier this month, Goodell passed off his right to hear the appeal of Greg Hardy's 10-game suspension. 

Despite multiple reports saying that Goodell denied the NFLPA's request, league spokesman Greg Aiello told NFL Network's Ian Rapaport, who was among those reporting the league denial of the NFLPA request, "that no final decision has been made on Roger Goodell’s decision whether to recuse himself".

The case could eventually find its way into a courtroom.