Tom Brady has 'Deflategate' suspension upheld

To the surprise of no one, at least outside of the New England bubble, Tom Brady's four-game suspension was reinstated by a federal appeals court. Monday just became glorious for us all.

The decision was announced Monday morning and proves, emphatically, that the New England Patriots quarterback is, in fact, a cheater. Even if this ruling has nothing to do with deflated footballs and is about the "power of Commissioner Roger Goodell" and Brady not complying with the Wells Report.

But just like New England media and fans, facts won't get in the way of a good story.

That good story being Tom Brady is a cheater, who still can't win in Denver (he's 2-7 all-time in the Mile High City).

Man, it's been a rough two months for Brady. He became a permanent fixture in the Mile High Stadium turf in the AFC Championship Game, now this. Poor guy. Hey, at least Brady has time to have that surgery to remove Von Miller. Though, on second thought, he may as well wait until after the Week 15 matchup and any potential playoff games. No purpose in having the same procedure twice.

"We hold that the Commissioner properly exercised his broad discretion under the collective bargaining agreement and that his procedural rulings were properly grounded in that agreement and did not deprive Brady of fundamental fairness," the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a 2-1 decision in New York.

According to ESPN, the NFLPA and Brady can petition for a re-hearing in front of the same panel then the entire 2nd Circuit Court or take their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, though either move is unlikely. The report from ESPN adds it would be a "steep, costly and time-consuming climb." They would have to request a stay of Brady's suspension during an appeal.

As the ESPN story reported, the 2nd Circuit said the contract between players and the NFL gave the commissioner authority that was "especially broad."

"Even if an arbitrator makes mistakes of fact or law, we may not disturb an award so long as he acted within the bounds of his bargained-for authority," the court said.

The NFL also has the option to either implement the full four-game suspension or reach a settlement to avoid further appeals. At this point, that also would seem unlikely since it's gone this far.

As it stands, Brady will miss games against the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills. If all goes as planned, New England will start 0-4 when Brady returns for a Week 5 game against Robert Griffin III and the Cleveland Browns.

Of course, the national media has jumped on the "Brady is going to be pissed, so he and New England are the favorites to win the Super Bowl." That doesn't happen if the Patriots start 0-4, but, again, facts. And wasn't that the same mantra from these mental midgets last season after the four-game suspension was overturned in September?

At some point they'll come around to the truth that Brady is a cheater.

As former Broncos offensive lineman Tyler Polumbus tweeted out:

At least the court ruled with more than enough time for New England to get another quarterback on its roster in case Jimmy Garoppolo stumbles. Here's hoping Bill Belichick goes with Brian Hoyer so it removes any and all chance he comes to the Broncos. Hoyer was a backup in New England early in his career. That would make this news even better for Broncos Country.

In the mean time, we'll sit back and count the games Brady is suspended. One. Two. Three. Four.

Nothing brightens a Monday quite like Brady getting suspended and proven to be a cheater, once and for all.