NFL News: Patriots’ Tom Brady Will Serve Four-Game Suspension
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The Deflategate scandal has officially come to an end. Four-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady has decided to end his battle with the NFL and accept the four-game suspension to be served at the beginning of the 2016 NFL season.
The New England Patriots quarterback seemed determined to get his four-game ban overturned on appeal. On Friday, the veteran gunslinger decided enough was enough and took to Facebook with the following announcement:
“I’m very grateful for the overwhelming support I’ve received from Mr. Kraft, the Kraft family, coach Belichick, my coaches and teammates, the NFLPA, my agents, my loving family and most of all, our fans. It has been a challenging 18 months and I have made the difficult decision to no longer proceed with the legal process. I’m going to work hard to be the best player I can be for the New England Patriots and I look forward to having the opportunity to return to the field this fall.”
With Brady finally deciding to adhere to the league’s suspension, the Patriots will turn to Jimmy Garoppolo for the first four games of the season. New England, being a perennial Super Bowl title contender, could suffer a severe blow to start the season without Brady under center.
Garoppolo is already being groomed to be Brady’s successor, whenever the superstar decides to call it a career, but it remains uncertain whether he can shoulder the load for the first four games.
The Patriots will have a tough challenge right out of the gate next season going up against arguably one of the best teams in the NFC with Bill Belichick and company going on the road to face the Arizona Cardinals. Along with facing the Cardinals, New England will take on two divisional opponents in the Miami Dolphins (Week 2) and Buffalo Bills (Week 4) as well as the Houston Texans in Week 3.
Despite Brady set to miss the first four games of the season, the Patriots remain the favorites to win it all. New England is sporting 29/4 odds to come out on top followed by the Green Bay Packers at 10/1, according to Sportsbook.ag.
