After playing in the entire 2015 NFL season, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady must now serve his four game suspension for his role in the Deflategate scandal that took place during the 2014 AFC Championship Game.
During the ruling the court released a statement reading, "After playing in the entire 2015 NFL season, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady must now serve his four game suspension for his role in Deflategate."
During his time as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has emphasized how important it is to follow the rules of the game and abstain from cheating.
How it all went down
Deflategfate began after members of the Indianapolis Colts accused Tom Brady of lowering the pressure of balls in the AFC Championship Game. It was initially ruled that Brady would serve a four-game suspension but during the summer, Brady’s suspension was overturned in federal court last September and he was allowed to play the entire regular season.
In October, the NFL appealed the court’s decision, saying commissioner Roger Goodell was correct in his punishment to suspend Brady based on the 2011 CBA between the players and owners.
After a long appeal process the judges finally ruled that Brady must serve the four-game suspension handed down by the NFL.
Last season Brady was clearly on a revenge mission as he completed 64.4% of his passes for 4,770 yards with 36 touchdowns and just seven interceptions He led an injury-plagued Patriots team to a 12–4 season and had them ultimately losing to the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game.
What it means now
Brady will now miss the first four games of the 2016 NFL season. It seems likely that third-year pro Jimmy Garoppolo will begin the season as the Pats' starting QB. The Patriots, likely led by Garoppolo, will open the season in Arizona on Sunday Night Football where they face the Arizona Cardinals. New England comes home for three straight home games. The games are against the Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, and the Buffalo Bills. Brady will be able to return in Week 5 against the lowly Cleveland Browns.
