Tom Brady is expected to play in Patriots' first game no matter what the judge rules in Deflategate case
(Greg M. Cooper/USA Today Sports)
With all the chaos that still surrounds the NFL's Deflategate scandal, one thing seems to be clear at this point, no matter what happens, Tom Brady will be the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots in their opening night match-up against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It has widely been speculated that no matter who Judge Richard Berman rules in favor of — his ruling will be all or nothing with regards to Brady's 4-game suspension — the losing side will file an appeal that will drag the case on several more months. Jay Feely of the players' association confirmed this to "The Dan Patrick Show."
Feely, a former New York Jets kicker who is now an NFLPA committee member and has assisted with the Deflategate lawsuit, told Dan Patrick that no matter what happens, Brady is expected to be on the field and in uniform in Week 1.
"Even if Brady loses, the NFLPA and Tom are going to appeal it," Feely told Patrick. "They'll probably get a stay and he'll play opening night. So I think, either way, whether he wins or loses, he is going to play opening night."
Feely went on to speculate that one scenario he can see happening is the judge overturning the NFL's suspension and then sending the case back to a neutral arbitrator for a ruling, something the NFL did not use the first time around as commissioner Roger Goodell presided over Brady's appeal. Feely speculated that if the case is sent to a neutral arbitrator the case "would be back at square one" and Brady would not only play on opening night, but that he would likely play all season before a ruling was made.
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