Is there any possibility this is how they wanted it to work out?
Brady takes the fall and gets 2-4 weeks extra rest after an appeal. He looks like a martyr to all pats fans.
Belichick is scott free
1 mill isn't much to Kraft or the Pats
The lack of a 1st rounder helps them because they don't have to pay someone a 1st round contract.
I think the 4th rounder may hurt the most with all the draft finds they have.
Before the rookie wage scale 1st rounders would sign mega deals. Now you don't pay very much. That first rounder should sting a bit, tho it will probably end up being a late one as usual