The Sports Xchange

The NFL filed a motion in federal appeals court requesting an expedited hearing on its appeal of the court’s ruling regarding the suspension of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

The NFL Players Association has agreed to that request.

The appeal is unlikely to be heard until early next year, after the regular season is over. Arguments in the case could possibly be heard before the NFL postseason is completed, however. The Super Bowl is scheduled for Feb. 7, 2016.

In its motion, the NFL suggested that opening briefs be due by Oct. 26, with NFLPA responses due by Dec. 7 and the NFL’s response to the NFLPA due Dec. 21.

The league requested that oral arguments to be scheduled in January 2016 or soon after.

The NFL originally suspended Brady for the first four games of the regular season for his alleged part in the presence of improperly inflated footballs during the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Brady appealed his suspension to the NFL, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell upheld the suspension in July.

However, Brady then appealed the suspension in federal court, and U.S. District Court Judge Richard M. Berman overturned the suspension on Sept. 3, allowing Brady to play immediately.

The NFL is now appealing Berman’s ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

“There is good cause to expedite the appeal and argument,” NFL attorney Daniel Nash said in court documents. “This appeal presents important and recurring issues associated with administration of the parties’ CBA. Prompt resolution of those issues will enable the parties to address and resolve future proceedings more effectively and more expeditiously, and also ensure that the parties have the opportunity, in advance of the 2016 regular season, to know Mr. Brady’s status and to plan accordingly. In addition, as the publicity surrounding this case confirms, these are issues in which NFL fans, as well as the parties, have substantial interest.”