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.

“It’s what you’ve been training for. You go out in spring and you get to play touch football almost with the helmets on, then you get to strap up now and mold your team. It’s going to be an exciting time to get out there and see the fellas — you haven’t seen them in a while and shape your team.”

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.