Federal appeals court upholds Tom Brady's 4-game suspension for Deflategate

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The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit officially denied Tom Brady's Deflategate appeal on Wednesday.

In April, the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York reinstated Tom Brady's four-game suspension in connection to the Deflategate scandal. Brady immediately appealed. On Wednesday, the Second Circuit turned down that petition.

Brady must now either accept his four-game penalty, or appeal to the US Supreme Court. 

If Brady does appeal to the Supreme Court, the case would almost certainly not be acted upon prior to the season, which means this entire saga could still drag out for another year. 

In the meantime, backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is preparing to start the first four games of New England's season. The Patriots play Arizona, Miami, Houston, and Buffalo to begin the year.