So, in an interesting twist, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a federal judge’s decision  where that judge ruled that the NFL improperly suspended Tom Brady for his part in Deflategate.  The 2nd Circuit’s decision to overturn that federal judge’s decision and support the NFL Commissioner’s decision to suspend Brady is huge and should end the legal wranglings surrounding Deflategate.  Even if the player’s union and Brady petition the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case, it is highly unlikely that the U.S. Supreme Court will actually hear the case.  The Supreme Court receives about 8000 petition for review a year and usually only takes about 80 cases for review.  If the Supreme Court denies review, the decision of the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals decision will stand as the final word on the matter.  The 2nd Circuit’s decision has likely put to rest this issue.  I am waiting to hear the outcry from the Patriot/Brady fans.  I wonder what type of spin they will put in it this time.

Also interesting is that the odds makers in Vegas had the Patriots as 6-1 favorites to win Superbowl 51.  With the news of the 2nd Circuit decision, the odds makers now have the Seahawks and Patriots as co-favorites to win the Superbowl.  Check out the ESPN article.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/15353950/tom-brady-new-england-patriots-four-game-suspension-deflategate-reinstated-appeals-court

Bob