The Sports Xchange

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman says quarterback Tom Brady is a “little ticked off” as he awaits the Deflategate ruling of his four-game suspension.

Edelman was asked how his close friend and teammate is handling the situation with the team approaching the opening of training camp on July 29.

“He’s fired up — we’ll say that. You don’t want a mad Tom Brady, and he’s a little ticked off,” Edelman told ESPN.com.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to announce a ruling this week on Brady’s appeal of his four-game suspension for his alleged role in connection with the Patriots using underinflated footballs in the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts in January.

Edelman was participating in his football clinic for kids Saturday at Reading (Mass.) Memorial High School.

“I’m not really thinking about that right now,” Edelman said of Brady’s suspension appeal. “I have 10 more days to get ready for camp, and I’m going to worry about what I can do to put myself in the best situation to help this team. Whatever happens, it happens. I’m sure our coaches will have their thing and have us prepared either way.”

ABC News and ESPN legal analyst Ryan Smith cited sources last week that the NFL Players Association will go to federal court to challenge the league if Brady still is suspended for any games.

—A ball used by the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game sold for $43,740 on Saturday.

The ball, which was auctioned off by Lelands.com, is the only ball from the game thought to be in the public domain. The ball was sold by Laura Anthony, who was given the ball by Patriots wide receiver Brandon LaFell after running back LeGarrette Blount’s touchdown in the third quarter of the Patriots’ 45-7 win over the Colts.

—Bart Starr wasn’t able to be in attendance as Brett Favre joined him in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, but his health is improving, according to his son.

Starr’s son, Bart Jr., spoke at the banquet to honor Favre, who was inducted and had his No. 4 retired on Saturday in the Lambeau Field Atrium in Green Bay, Wis.

Starr, 81, suffered multiple strokes and a heart attack last fall and is undergoing stem cell treatments, but his son said his father has “begun turning the corner in a significant way.”

The son said that if all goes well, Bart Starr will be in Green Bay on Thanksgiving night when Favre’s No. 4 goes up on the Lambeau Field facade during a ceremony when the Packers play the Chicago Bears.

“He wants to walk out onto midfield and give Brett Favre a hug and tell him how much he loves and admires him,” Starr Jr. told the crowd for Favre’s induction into the Packers Hall of Fame and retirement of his number Saturday. “He wants to tell the same thing to all of you because you cannot imagine how strengthening it is getting all of your messages and all your well wishes. You have made a difference in his recovery and therefore in my mom’s well-being also.”