Brady suspension means break for Steelers
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Tom Brady was suspended for being part of the deflategate "scandal" that rocked the sports world after the AFC Champiosnhip game last season. There was an investigation into what happened with the game balls in the Patriots and Colts game. Results of the investigation showed Patriots personnel were responsible for the deflated balls and Tom Brady knew about the altered balls.
Brady will miss four games at the beginning of the 2015 season and the team will lose 2 first round draft picks and fined $1 million. But guess what? The Patriots still are NFL Champions of the 2014 season. The consolation prize for the Steelers is the fact they will play the season opener against the Patriots while Brady is suspended. However, Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell will also be suspended three games because he violated the league's substance abuse policy. Bell is appealing his suspension and Brady has the ability to appeal his as well (http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2015/05/11/Patriots-Tom-Brady-to-be-suspended-for-four-games-deflategate/stories/201505110167).
With Tom Brady out for the season opener the Steelers defense may be able to take advantage of replacement Jimmy Garoppolo who has only played 6 professional games for the Patriots. Of course Belichick being the coach he is he will have his backup quarterback prepared to take on a new Steelers defense under the guidance of Keith Butler. It is still too early to tell how the new rookie defensive pieces will fit into the plan next season but the general consensus is they will thrive. We will see once preseason and the regular season roll around.
