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.

MistaBigXXL

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/tom-br...QDBHNlYwNzcg--

hitta

I think it's kind of ridiculous that they could suspend them without real evidence... but they did the same thing to us... so meh.

dam1953

What are the odds that this gets negotiated down? My bet is one game suspension.

73Saint

prolly get it appealed to two. Belicheck should get a year just like Payton.

brees84

NFL cares only about the money. His first game after suspension: Sunday night football on NBC. Brady vs Colts

SmashMouth

BB not gone for a year like SP was.

Go ahead and sue like Vilma did...

hitta

I know it'll be reduced down probably.... and quite frankly I could give a damn about Tom Brady, but I mean has anyone read the report. Everything in it was incredibly circumstantial. The idea that they could suspend someone based on it is absurd.

K Major

The forfeiture of 2016 draft picks will sting a little but I was hoping for more.

RaginCajun83

Not only is it a slap on the wrist but the punishment is a crock of ****. If not for the Saints Id be done with the NFL as long as Chief Dumbf**k is the commissioner.