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Deflategate rears its ugly head again: Immediate reactions

By Connor Fulton

Oct 11, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; General view of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady jersey prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; General view of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady jersey prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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After a long winter of hibernation, the Deflategate bear awoke and chaos has ensued once again. According to Adam Schefter, Tom Brady’s four-game suspension has been reinstated.

A few quick takeaways which will be elaborated on over the coming days and weeks here on Musket Fire:

  • This isn’t over. Brady’s camp will keep fighting, possibly even suing for defamation.
  • 15 months after the game that started all this madness, the Patriots are really feeling the effects of the NFL’s wrath. Three days before a Day 1 of the 2016 NFL Draft which will not include a Patriots first-round selection, the Patriots get news that their starting quarterback will miss the first four games of the season.
  • Clearly, the NFL is the most powerful entity in American sports and one of the most powerful organizations in the business world as well. If they teamed up with Bud Light the NFL could probably become its own sovereign nation.
  • The four-game suspension could actually be a blessing in disguise for a soon-to-be 39-year-old quarterback. Four games of rest and guaranteed health (Brady won’t get hurt sitting on the bench) will lengthen Brady’s career.
  • However, four games of sitting on the bench and steaming will only make Brady that much angrier and better when he returns in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns.
  • Watch out, Cleveland.
  • More than anything, it’s a shame that the NFL declared full-fledged war on the best quarterback in league history. Football fans, even haters of Brady, should relish these last Sundays of getting to watch TB12 play. His greatness honors the game.
  • Four games will be enough of a sample size to give us a better idea of what Jimmy Garoppolo brings to the table. Jimmy G could secure his status as the Patriots’ post-Brady quarterback by winning three of those first four games.
  • The opener against the Arizona Cardinals will be tough. Don’t despair if Garoppolo fails to get the job done in Week 1; winning in the desert is a tall order.

Stay tuned here on Musket Fire as we elaborate on these points.

Next: Revisiting and grading Patriots’ 2015 NFL Draft picks

What are your opinions in the wake of today’s Deflategate news? Comment below.

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