Die Macht » rather than deflecting it

Tom Brady will miss the first four games of the upcoming NFL schedule. Unless he doesnt.Deflategate has crept into a third NFL season, and with the federal courts rejection on Wednesday of the New England quarterbacks appeal of his suspension, it certainly appears that Brady will be sidelined into early October.Brady still has the option of taking his case to the Supreme Court -- one legal analyst called that nothing more than a Hail Mary -- and getting the suspension for his role in the use of underinflated footballs in the 2014 AFC title game overturned or stayed. Given how aggressively Brady, the NFL Players Association and all the lawyers involved have pursued the case, trying to get the Supreme Court to hear it could be the next step.Meanwhile, its up to the Patriots to figure out the best approach to opening the season at formidable Arizona before a homestand against Miami, Houston and Buffalo.One thing for sure: super-secretive New England wont be giving out any hints.Among the Patriots biggest dilemmas is how to split reps and game time in the preseason. Normally, Brady would take a huge number of reps, but would play sporadically in the exhibition matches. Jimmy Garoppolo would get the majority of the game snaps.Now? New Englands coaches must get Garoppolo prepared for his most significant pro action. Yet offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels must be careful not to get in the way of Bradys prep.While Brady is among the most accomplished winners in sports, and no one knows his craft better than the four-time Super Bowl champion, this is uncharted territory for him. Staying sharp when you are barred from any interactions with your team for a month is a huge challenge even for Brady.That makes the Patriots August very intriguing. Watch for lots of photos and video of Brady working with backups and rookies whenever that occurs on the practice field. Sort of like Leonardo DiCaprio doing a cartoon.The Patriots also must begin considering their overall quarterback situation. Rookie Jacoby Brissett would be the only backup to the untested Garoppolo, hardly an ideal situation for anything except a rebuilding team. So bringing in a veteran QB for at least the four games Brady will miss makes some sense.Except, of course, how does that quarterback get any practice reps in light of the urgency of preparing Garoppolo and keeping Brady somewhat sharp? He doesnt. So finding someone willing to be nothing more than a camp body would be the Patriots chore.In a way, though, the Patriots are fortunate that the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan issued its decision Wednesday. Barring that Hail Mary in DC, the team can move ahead with concrete plans for preparing Garoppolo, who has thrown all of 31 passes in two NFL seasons.Envision a scenario where the deflated footballs issue remained unsettled and Brady received a stay of his suspension while the courts considered its merits. He would play in those first four games and many others until a decision was made.Imagine then that Brady still loses on appeal and is forced to sit out the final four games of the schedule. Or the section when the Patriots play Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Seattle, their most formidable four-game stretch.Or -- New Englanders shudder at this thought -- he has to sit out the playoffs. After all, the genesis of all of this hot air was what the NFL says occurred in a conference championship game.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Ryan Kesler Jersey .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. Rickard Rakell Jersey . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. http://www.authenticduckspro.com/Nick-ritchie-ducks-jersey/ .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. Ryan Kesler Ducks Jersey . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. Ryan Getzlaf Ducks Jersey . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. Melbourne City captain Bruno Fornaroli says embracing the pressure that comes with leading the competition can fire the A-League upstarts to great things this season.City continued their perfect start to their campaign on Saturday night with a 4-1 win over cross-town rivals Melbourne Victory.Along with Sydney FC, the club have six points from two matches and proudly sit on top of the ladder, as well as betting markets for the championship.Its an unfamiliar but not unexpected situation for the club, who have invested heavily towards that outcome.Fornaroli, in his first campaign as captain, says taking the pressure on board - rather than deflecting it - can be the key to their success.I think we need to take this pressure. I like it, he said.Its a great start for us.Everyone runs and everyone fights for the team and this is very important.But (the league) is long. We need to continue to work.The Uruguayan is delighting in his role as the chief of a new Latin American brigade at City.Behind the striker is Argentinian attacking duo Nicolas Colazo and Fernando Brandan, with Anthony Caceres Uruguayan heritage broadening the pack to four.Despite their sharred language, Fornaroli said there was no special treatment for the Spanish speakers, and no splintering among the group.ddddddddddddInside the pitch you have only one language, a football language, he said.Sometimes inside the pitch I talk in English for them. Or in Spanish for the Australian players. I dont think too much what language I talk. You need to talk with the ball and thats it.The goal for Citys Argentinian imports - unknowns in Australia to all but the most avid football fans - is to enjoy the same status as Fornaroli after one season.We hope for Fernando and Nico at the end of the season, everyone talks about them and says theyre great players, Fornaroli said.Its only two games (so far) for them so I think when we continue to play more games, they come more inside the team, their level will go up.Fornaroli, so clearly full of ambition, said their sensational 4-1 derby victory was the best performance the club had produced in his stint in Australia.Yes, at the moment. But I think the best is coming, he said. ' ' '