Report: NFLPA to challenge any suspension for Tom Brady in federal court

Tom Brady, the New England Patriots, and the rest of the football world are still awaiting a decision on the future Hall of Famer's four-game suspension appeal, but his battle against the NFL may not end there.

Should the quarterback's appeal result in any sort of suspension from regular-season games, no matter the length, the NFLPA and Brady's representation are expected to challenge the ruling in federal court, according to ABC and ESPN legal analyst Ryan Smith.

While Brady is thought to stand a realistic chance of having his punishment reduced, it remains unclear whether or not the league is considering the option of vacating his suspension altogether.

After declining to recuse himself from the case, insisting that he entered the process with an open mind, commissioner Roger Goodell served as the hearing officer in Brady's 10-hour appeal on June 23.

The league has still yet to announce an exact timeline for an announcement, but Goodell indicated last week that a ruling can be expected soon.