When the schedule came out, it was hard not to look first at the Cardinals' opener -- against the Patriots at University of Phoenix Stadium on "Sunday Night Football." As glitzy as an opener can get. Monday, the glitz was dimmed. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who had been suspended last year for four games after deflategate before winning an appeal, is suspended again.

After Brady won an appeal on the suspension, the NFL took its turn to appeal one step up the legal food chain. Monday, the United States Court of Appeals in the Second Circuit ruled in favor of the NFL. According to the court's ruling, "We hold that the Commissioner properly exercised his broad discretion under the collective bargaining agreement and that his procedural rulings were properly grounded in that agreement and did not deprive Brady of fundamental fairness."

In short, Roger Goodell has the power -- broadly given under the current collective bargaining agreement -- to suspend Brady under the circumstances. It would be hard to believe Brady wouldn't appeal again, so we'll see what the next step would be. It's possible the sides could negotiate a lower suspension, although that would still mean sitting out against Arizona. Legal maneuverings could still mean Brady finds a way on to the field in Arizona Sept. 11. For now though, he will not play.

After the Cardinals, the Patriots have three straight home games on the schedule against the Dolphins, Texans and Bills.