Brady not suspended for Eagles game; Cowboys could dodge him

The Eagles will not play the New England Patriots until Dec. 6, so their game will not be affected by the four-game suspension levied against star quarterback Tom Brady as a result of the Patriots' ball-deflation scandal.

There had been speculation before the schedule was announced that the Eagles could open the season against New England, but the NFL gave the Steelers that Thursday prime-time game instead. Had it been the Eagles, they could have faced the Patriots with Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback.

The Patriots will play all four NFC East teams this season. The Dallas Cowboys have the fortune of landing within New England's first four games when the Brady-less Patriots visit Oct. 11.

If Brady's suspension is reduced, he would be back by that point. Washington plays the Patriots on Nov. 8 and the Giants play New England on Nov. 15.

The Eagles will not play the Patriots in the preseason for the first time since 2011.

They practiced with New England during the two last two summers, but the Eagles are instead practicing with the Baltimore Ravens this year.

The Eagles and coach Chip Kelly were not available to comment on the suspension.

The NFL also fined the Patriots $1 million and took away two draft picks - next year's first-round choice and a fourth-rounder in 2017.

Brady has three days to appeal the suspension to commissioner Roger Goodell.

The quarterback's agent, Don Yee, said Brady would do so.

"The discipline is ridiculous and has no legitimate basis," Yee wrote in a statement to ESPN. "In my opinion, this outcome was predetermined; there was no fairness in the . . . investigation whatsoever.

"There is no evidence that Tom directed footballs be set at pressures below the allowable limits. In fact, the evidence shows Tom clearly emphasized that footballs be set at pressures within the rules. Tom also cooperated with the investigation and answered every question presented to him."

Two former Eagles defensive backs are with the Patriots: Patrick Chung and Bradley Fletcher. Chung, who spent 2013 in Philadelphia before returning to New England to win a Super Bowl last season, voiced his displeasure on Twitter on Monday evening. He called the NFL's punishment "[expletive] ridiculous."

Reaction throughout the league appeared mixed in the hours after the ruling. Arizona's star cornerback Patrick Peterson appeared to support the ruling when he wrote: "Well done @NFL."

Giants punter Steve Weatherford did not agree with the decision: "That's just ridiculous. They are comparing it to steroid use. Preposterous!"

Giants linebacker Jameel McClain, a George Washington High School alumnus, said he "did not see that one coming."

Former Eagles president Joe Banner wrote on Twitter that it was "Not exactly the apology the Pats had demanded." He also wrote that "Both seasons Pats got caught cheating they won the [Super Bowl]. Coincidence or connection[?] Makes for interesting discussion."