National Football League

Will Tom Brady be suspended for opener against Steelers?

Published May. 7, 2015 10:59 a.m. ET

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Now that the Wells report has seemingly pointed the finger at Tom Brady for Deflategate, will the Patriots be without the services of their quarterback for the season opener against Pittsburgh, and perhaps longer?

Early signs point to yes. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reported an NFL source as saying "everything is being studied, everything is being considered," including a season-long suspension.

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio doesn't see how Brady escapes a suspension, considering how he didn't cooperate in the investigation. Tony Dungy also sees some extra free time in Brady's future.

Count Shannon Sharpe among those who believe Brady should receive a minimum ban of two games, while head coach Bill Belichick should get a season-long suspension among other penalties, since he apparently didn't learn a lesson from Spygate. 

For what it's worth, Brady's agent, Don Yee, released a scathing statement Thursday, characterizing the Wells report a "significant and terrible disappointment" for its "omission of key facts."

Keep in mind that all it would take for Brady to miss the Steelers game is a one-game suspension. Sportsbooks have halted any more action on the season opener between New England and Pittsburgh until an official announcement is made. The point spread will probably be just a tad different if Jimmy Garoppolo is the starting quarterback on Sept. 10 in Foxborough. 

James Harrison and Ryan Clark think Garoppolo should be behind center for the Patriots for at least the first month of the season, if not more -- all for the integrity of the game. 

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