The Facts: Brady's case is no longer about deflated footballs or a four-game suspension -- it's about the fundamental rights of American workers and a dangerous threat to industrial peace in America. At least that's the case Brady and his new lawyer, Ted Olson, are not only trying to make but sell to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Diehards Line:
While the super-high end legal team is first appealing to the same 2nd Circuit Court that made the original judgement, reason tells us that Brady and the NFLPA did not hire Olson for this appeal. They hired him for the next step -- a petition to the Supreme Court. Olson has argued 62 cases in the high court, prevailing in 75 percent of them. Olson is to the legal profession what Brady is to pro football -- one of the all-time greats. He will be matched up against the NFL's Paul Clement, another talented and seasoned appellate advocate who led the league to victory over Brady in the 2nd Circuit. If Olson can persuade four of the eight justices now on the high court that they must consider and decide Brady's case, it would not be resolved until the spring of 2017. It is difficult to predict the time that judges in these courts will spend making these decisions, but if Brady, who will be 39 on Aug. 3, succeeds in the 2nd Circuit or in the Supreme Court, he is likely to be able to play the entire 2016 season. As the ABC News report summed up: "While it seems improbable that the nation's highest tribunal would spend its time on the deflation of footballs, if this endless saga has taught us anything, it's that nothing is impossible."