An appeals court has ruled that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady must serve a four-game suspension ordered last year.
Brady was suspended by NFL executive Troy Vincent in May 2015 following a league-sanctioned investigation by Ted Wells. The Patriots were fined $1 million and docked a pair of draft picks. The team didn't appeal its penalty, but Brady and his lawyers made their case during a 10-hour appeal hearing on June 23.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell upheld the suspension saying Brady had to know about the deflated footballs used at the AFC championship game and that Brady willfully obstructed the investigation by destroying his phone, according to ESPN.
The NFL players union and Brady said he did nothing wrong.
Brady wrote on Facebook in July, "I did nothing wrong, and no one in the Patriots organization did either."
Last September, a federal judge overturned the suspension. Brady played during the season, but the NFL appealed.
Monday, an appeals court reinstated Brady's suspension.
If the suspension stays in place, Brady would miss the Patriots first four games of the 2016-2017 season against the Cardinals, Dolphins, Texans and Bills.
The Patriots are scheduled to play the Broncos on December 18, 2016.
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