On the surface, it appears that Roger Goodell is really putting the screws to Tom Brady and the Patriots. Brady will not be allowed to have any contact with the team while he is serving his four game suspension.

Brady will be banished to his Brookline compound until week four. He can’t invite teammates or coaches over to his house to work with him. What ever work he does, he’ll have to do on his own. 

In fairness to the league (that statement pains me) this is the appropriate protocol when it comes to suspensions. I’m sure some Patriots fans feel like Goodell is trying to pork Brady but he’s not. Brady is no different than any other player in that regard.

So, how will this affect Brady? There is no question that he’ll be rusty. I know some Patriots fans think he’s superhuman but he’s not. Eating avocado ice cream is healthy but it can’t help Brady shake off the rust when he comes back.

The terms of Brady’s suspension will change the way Bill Belichick and staff handle the quarterback situation in camp. Brady will have to get more reps than anticipated. If he doesn’t, he’ll have a very difficult time getting back into the swing of things come week five.

I still maintain Brady did the right thing serving the suspension. It might affect him on the field for a period of time but it’s worth it when you about what have happened to this team if he appealed to the SCOTUS, got the stay and lost the appeal hearing later in the season. It would have been bad.