The New England Patriots will officially be without their Superbowl winning quarterback to begin the 2015 regular season. Tom Brady will be suspended without pay for the first four games of the regular season for violating the NFL policy for integrity of the game. NFL.com’s Ian Rappoport broke the story.
NFL: #Patriots QB Tom Brady is suspended without pay for the first four games of 2015 for conduct detrimental to the integrity of the NFL
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 11, 2015
RT @NFL345: NFL Statement On Discipline Imposed On New England Patriots For Violating NFL Policy On Integrity Of Game https://t.co/WpKQn5SKEh
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 11, 2015
#Patriots were fined $1M and will forfeit the first-round selection in 2016 nd the club’s fourth-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. Wow.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 11, 2015
The punishment comes less than a week after the Ted Wells report that stated “more probable than not” that Brady was “at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities” during the AFC title game. NESN has reported that Brady plans to appeal the suspension
“But ultimately, after appeal and after negotiation with Tom Brady and the Patriots,” Cole continued, “expect that this will come in somewhere around two or three games for Tom Brady to sit out next season.”
2014 2nd round pick from Eastern Illinois Jimmy Garoppolo will start the first fours games of the regular season baring a reduction of Tom Brady’s suspension. Garoppolo reminds me of a young Tony Romo as the team should manage just fine without Brady for the first four games at least. Garoppolo will start the first four against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Dallas Cowboys. Week one of the 2015 season will be the first game Tom Brady has missed since 2008 when he missed the entire 2008 season with a torn ACL.
The most devastating part of the suspension is the loss of a 2016 first round pick. The team was also fined 1 million dollars as well as a fourth round pick in 2017. The Patriots have a history of cashing in on their first round picks such as Chandler Jones, Donta Hightower, and Jerod Mayo. The Patriots also forfeited a first round pick in 2007 due to the spygate scandal, a year in which the Patriots also selected Jerod Mayo with their other first round pick.
