Goodell: Brady ruling could come next week

A final chapter in the seven-month Deflategate saga could be coming as early as next week.

Commissioner Roger Goodell told CNBC on Thursday from a tech conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, where Patriots owner Robert Kraft was also present, a decision "is coming soon" and possibly next week.

Brady appealed a four-game suspension on June 23 at NFL headquarters in New York.

Goodell said before the meeting with Brady that it would be important to hear directly from Brady explanations for multiple curious aspects of the investigation into whether the team instructed employees -- John Jastremski and James McNally -- to take air out of game balls.

The investigation began following the AFC Championship game when 11 of 12 game balls tested at halftime of the Patriots' win over the Indianapolis Colts were found to be below PSI minimums.

Investigator Ted Wells found that it was "more probable than not" that Brady was aware of the

Kraft, who chose not to fight team penalties - a $1 million fine and two draft picks docked, sent Goodell a signed affidavit supporting Brady for the June appeal.