New England Patriots roster news 2016: Tom Brady not to appeal four-game suspension

Martin Martinez Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Tom Brady of the New England Patriots | Wikimedia Commons

After a long legal battle, the New England Patriots and Tom Brady have reportedly stopped pursuing legal action to overturn his suspension in the coming season of the National Football League.

The Patriots' starting quarterback was given a four-game suspension following his involvement in the AFC Championship Game back in the 2014-15 season.

Dubbed as "Deflategate," it was a big issue in the NFL playoffs after Brady and the Patriots were found playing with footballs with lower air pressure and used it to their advantage against the Indianapolis Colts.

The game eventually ended with a lopsided 45-7 win for the Patriots, and they would go on and win Super Bowl XLIX by beating the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 at the University of Phoenix Stadium.

It was a hotly-debated issue but the Patriots and Brady ultimately escaped without issues as Brady was allowed to play in the 2015-16 season. He appeared in Week 1 when the Patriots faced the Pittsburgh Steelers; winning 28-21.

Now, a full season after the incident, the league has finally brought in the punishment, forbidding Brady to play in the first four weeks of the coming season.

Real GM reported that Brady and the Patriots will not appeal the decision and will just sit out in the first four weeks.

This means that Brady will only make his way back on the field on Week 5 when they face the Cleveland Browns.

In a post on his Facebook page, Brady shared the news and thanked everyone who have helped him along the way.

He said: "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."

It is notable that Brady will lose $235,294 this season as compared to $2.12 million if he served his suspension last year.