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Tom Brady Needs to Accept the Discipline

By Carl Cockerham

Jun 7, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws during mini camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 7, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws during mini camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has been fighting his four-game susupension for the 2016 season for “Deflategate.” And Wednesday, he lost a big round and possibley the fight as the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals denied the petition to rehear his suspension case.

Brady’s last hope to dissolve the NFL-issued discipline would have to come in a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. He has 90 days to file an appeal with the Supreme Court. The expectation is that Brady’s legal team will indeed appeal to the country’s highest court.

But Brady needs to ride his suspension, based on NFL attorney Ted Wells concluding it was “more probable than not” that he was “generally aware” of Patriots ball boys  deflating footballs prior to the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts on Jan. 18, 2015.

Brady destroying his cell phone, which contained evidence, would do nothing but stack the deck against him and his Patriots as well. Gabe Feldman, director of the Tulane Sports Law Program, said the chances of the Supreme Court deciding to even hear the case would be very slim anyway.

He said Wednesday on NFL HQ, “At this point, Tom Brady is down to his very last shot, and it’s a longshot. Every success for Tom Brady at this point is unlikely.”

Every success means if they do hear the case, they likely won’t overturn it so it’s a waste of time and money. Sure, if Brady is granted a stay, he stands a good chance at playing in the first four games. But court could hear a case late in the season or in the playoffs.

And if Brady loses, he’s lost for the stretch run and-or the playoffs. The Patriots don’t need Brady out during that time he should just take the first month of the season off and get it over with. The Patriots should start out at least 2-2 after the first month without Brady anyway.

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