The AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts which ultimately spawned the Deflategate scandal and led to the Ted Wells investigation and quarterback Tom Brady's four-game suspension, meted out by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, took place 190 days ago. Despite that substantive length of time, we have not yet received an answer as to what Brady's eventual punishment - if he winds up with a punishment at all - will be. As we await the final conclusion of the entire ordeal, it has been made clear at this point that Brady and the NFLPA have either engaged in or circled the idea of some form of settlement talks with Goodell and the league, likely aimed at clearing his name and seeing his suspension reduced. Both sides have engaged in media posturing - Brady alleging he'll fight any suspension whatsoever in federal court, the NFL refusing to back down and making it clear they believe Brady will accept a reduced ban - and recent reports have even suggested that some NFL owners are pushing Goodell to uphold the suspension in full.
What we know for certain at this point? Very little, other than that the league-wide standing of both Brady and Goodell hang in the balance to an extent. From the sounds of things, we could finally get our answer, potentially by Wednesday of this week, thanks to an impending deadline of sorts.
"That's the day Patriots players report to training camp," Fox Sports' Mike Garafolo writes. "It wouldn't be fair for New England to begin its preseason preparations without knowing whether Brady is cleared to play or more practice snaps must be given to his backups."
Those backups, of course, would be Jimmy Garoppolo and Matt Flynn. While Garoppolo is a former second-round pick and the presumed heir apparent to Brady, it's unlikely an Patriot fan would feel confident heading into the 2015 NFL season with him under center as opposed to Brady. Unfortunately, Garafolo also believes it is "inevitable" at this point that Brady will serve a suspension, though not for the four games he was originally slapped with.
The NFLPA reportedly offered for Brady to pay a suspension, equal to the loss of four game checks, in lieu of his missing any game time. As Garafolo notes, for the league that would likely be viewed as giving in too much to Brady and the Pats and look too much like an admission that the Wells Report and its findings lacked credibility, which could in turn push Pats owner Robert Kraft to appeal the $1 million fine and loss of draft picks that accompanied the Deflategate punishment and lead to all kinds of other potential issues where Goodell's credibility - or lackthereof - is concerned.
In the end, Garafolo suggests that a two-game suspension is likely, with the option then being up to Brady how much farther he wants to pursue the matter. An injunction could put Brady on the field for Week One and federal court could mean a complete vacating of the suspension. It could also mean a loss and Brady being forced to miss time at a critical juncture in the season.
