Crusader

The Patriots will begin their Super Bowl title defense without the services of the franchise's greatest all-time player.

The NFL announced Monday that Tom Brady has been suspended without pay for four games for violating the NFL policy on the integrity of the game. This news comes less than a week after independent investigator Ted Wells found that it was "more probable than not" that Brady was "at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities" regarding the deflation of Patriots game balls used in the AFC Championship Game against the Colts.

The team will also be fined $1 million and will forfeit a 2016 first rounder and 2017 fourth-round selection in the NFL Draft.

Last year's second-round pick Jimmy Garoppolo is expected get the starting nod against the Pittsburgh Steelers when the season gets underway September 10. Brady will return when the Patriots take on the Colts in Week 6. These will be the first games that Brady has missed since he tore his ACL in Week 1 of the 2008 season.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft commented on the matter last week, saying his team "had done nothing inappropriate in this process or in violation of the NFL rules." He indicated, however, the team would accept any punishment the league hands down.

The story first became a national topic in the build up to the Super Bowl. Both Brady and Belichick vehemently denied doing anything wrong to the footballs before the game against the Colts.

"At no time was there any intent -- whatsoever -- to try and compromise the integrity of the game," Belichick said back in January. "I believe now, 100 percent, that I have personally and (the Patriots) have absolutely followed every rule to the letter," he added.

Patriots' Tom Brady suspended 4 games - NFL.com

W.T. Sherman is my favorite General. After all he did order Atlanta to be burned to the ground.