Word leaked Wednesday that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was prepared to fight any suspension from the NFL, likely via a federal court battle, in the wake of Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy's own 10-game ban being reduced to a measly four game total, which now matches Brady's current sentence.
The thought for Brady and his reps seems to be something along the lines of - "if Hardy, who was accused of a domestic violence assault, had his suspension reduced by more than half, to a sum that matches what Brady received for allegedly conspiring to deflate footballs, then something is clearly amiss and Brady's suspension should be reduced significantly or altogether vacated."
Of course, fairness and gameplay are probably a big concern for the league here, so it's quite possible that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell could take a hardline with Brady - then again, he's also said to have a close, personal relationship with New England team-owner Robert Kraft, so any potential outcome is likely on the table.
While we don't yet know what the league's response will be to Brady's own appeal, it seems we may be getting a clearer picture of his options at this point.
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe surmises that Brady's suspension could be reduced or vacated, but that the future Hall of Famer could instead be fined game checks in place of actually missing time on the field. A similar situation unfolded with former Pats cornerback Brandon Browner last year.
It had been previously reported that Brady could possibly file an injunction, grinding the legal process to a halt and keeping Brady available for the beginning of the season while the matter is dealt with off-the-field. It was then reported on Wednesday that Brady and Co. would unequivocally fight the league in federal court if his suspension is not thrown out altogether, so a legal battle seems all but assured if Brady's suspension sticks in any way, shape or form.
Hardy is currently said to be mulling his own options and, even after having his suspension reduced from 10 games to four, may take the NFL to federal court in an attempt to have it reduced further. Combined with Adrian Peterson's successful court case against the league to get his suspension vacated after arbitrator Harold Henderson - the same man who reduced Hardy's appeal - denied his appeal, Brady's way could be paved pretty clearly for a quicker-than-expected return.
In the end, it's highly unlikely that Brady will be forced to miss the first four games of the 2015 NFL season. Through a variety of means, Brady should be able to find himself back on the field much sooner.
