A federal appeals court has ruled that
New England Patriots quarterback
Tom Brady must serve a four-game Deflategate suspension imposed by the NFL, overturning a lower judge and siding with the league in a battle with the NFL Players Association.
"We hold that the Commissioner properly exercised his broad discretion under the collective bargaining agreement and that his procedural rulings were properly grounded in that agreement and did not deprive Brady of fundamental fairness," the
2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday in a 2-1 decision in New York.
The decision by a three-judge panel may end the legal debate over the scandal that led to months of football fans arguing over air pressure and the reputation of one of the league's top teams. It is also likely to fuel a fresh round of debate over what role, if any, the quarterback and top NFL star played in using underinflated footballs in the AFC Championship Game in January 2015. The Patriots won the contest over the
Indianapolis Colts and then won the Super Bowl.
The appeals ruling follows a September decision by U.S. District Judge Richard Berman that went against the league, letting Brady skip the suspension.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell insisted that the suspension was deserved.
The NFLPA and Brady can petition for a re-hearing in front of the same panel then the entire 2nd Circuit Court or take their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. They would have to request a stay of Brady's suspension during the appeal.
The NFL has the option to implement the full suspension or attempt to reach a settlement and avoid further appeals.
Brady could miss games against the
Arizona Cardinals,
Miami Dolphins,
Houston Texans and
Buffalo Bills. He would be eligible to make his regular-season debut in Week 5 against the
Cleveland Browns.
The quarterback signed a two-year contract extension during the offseason that dropped his 2016 salary from $9 million to $1 million. Doing so could save Brady about $1.6 million in lost salary during a four-game suspension.
Court reinstates Brady's four-game suspension
