The likelihood that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will miss the first four games of the regular season went up on Wednesday.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has denied Brady’s request for a rehearing of the appeal that reinstated the four-game suspension he received from the league. Brady’s suspension had originally been overturned by U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman last year, allowing Brady to play for the entire 2015 season.
The announcement from the Second Circuit notes that they have denied both Brady’s request to have the appeal reheard by a three-judge panel of judges and to have it heard by the full court. That leaves an appeal to the Supreme Court as the last legal lifeline left for Brady to get the suspension overturned and indications throughout the process from Brady and the NFLPA have been that they will exhaust every option available on that front.
Should Brady remain suspended, he will miss the season opener at Arizona and then three home games against the Dolphins, Texans and Bills. Jimmy Garoppolo would be the starter for those games in Brady’s absence.