Federal court rejects Patriots QB’s petition to avoid serving ‘Deflategate’ suspension

The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals has denied New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s petition for a re-hearing or a hearing en banc, upholding the previous decision of a panel hearing to re-instate the NFL’s four game suspension of Brady.

The US court system had some bad news for Tom Brady today.

It may be not a guaranteed suspension for Brady just yet though.

In a statement, the players’ union said that the Goodell made “clear violations of our collective bargaining agreement”. The Bills defensive tackle would rather Brady played and beat him than pick up a victory over the Patriots without the superstar quarterback.

He still can appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a decision that could mark the end of his legal fight, the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in NY decided against reconsidering the ban which was reinstated on April 25. Sports law attorney Daniel Wallach, who spoke with 98.5 The Sports Hub, painted a rosier picture but also expressed some doubt that Brady’s case would actually be heard by the Supreme Court. Even in their unwavering support of Brady, many Patriots fans consider this to be a benefit for the team. A season later, Brady’s status is not quite certain but is not looking good. The Patriots’ next two home games against Houston and Buffalo each were adjusted from minus-7 to minus-3 three months ago and remain the same. Undrafted backup Matt Cassel was forced to take over Brady’s duties without any prior notice, and led the Patriots to an 11-5 record.

What began as an accusation of cheating in the 2015 AFC championship game has grown into a multimillion-dollar legal battle over three National Football League seasons, involving not just an MVP quarterback but also some of the nation’s elite lawyers and scientists. But Dareus wants Brady.

Belichick is a master at using every transgression against his team, real or perceived, to his players’ psychological advantage. Only a memorably compelling Super Bowl upset at the hands of the New York Giants kept those Patriots from securing the first 19-0 season in league history.

“I mean, we win, all right, we win”, Dareus told NFL Network. Or the victims of jealous opponents looking for any way to secure an off-field triumph in place of an on-field win?

He added: “You don’t have to do what Tom Brady does, you do what Jimmy Garoppolo does well”.

Brady and his legal representatives put this off as long as they could. The league appealed to the 2nd Circuit, and the court reinstated the original penalty. The challenge Brady and the NFLPA face is to show the 2nd Circuit ruling is in conflict with similar cases that have set a prior precedent.

Although he seems unwilling to bargain, a meeting with Roger Goodell could be in Brady’s best interest. The power of the commissioner was not of huge concern especially to the players that felt as though discipline would never come their way.

“If they ever want to try and bargain away that power in the context of the CBA they need to know exactly how much power is there and knock it down”.