The 2nd Circuit Appeals Court has denied Tom Brady and the NFLPA’s appeal for an en banc hearing in the case of the quarterback’s ‘deflategate’ suspension.

The appeals court denied the motion to have a hearing of the case after it was ruled in favor of the NFL in a prior appeal.

The next step for Brady and his legal team is to either accept the four game suspension and punishment levied by the league office, or to appeal to the US Supreme Court for a hearing of the case.  If Brady’s team appeals, it would likely draw out the case into 2017.

New England will play against Arizona, Miami, Houston, and Buffalo during the first four games in which Brady is planned to miss due to suspension.  Jimmy Garoppolo would be the likely starter for those games and has played in 11 NFL games since being drafted in the second round of the 2014 draft.

More From