Following the Wells Report that investigated the "deflate-gate," the rumblings were loud as to how the NFL would handle the situation. Recently, they got their answer. As reported by ESPN, the NFL suspended Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady without pay for the first four games of the season, and levied a $1 million fine on the New England Patriots. The league also took away two draft picks from the Super Bowl champions for what was deemed to be purposely deflating footballs used in the AFC championship game.

As said in a league statement, the Patriots will lose a first round pick in 2016, and a fourth round pick in 2017. The Along with the suspension and fines, the NFL also indefinitely suspended the two equipment staff that the league believes carried out the plan.

"Despite our conviction that there was no tampering with footballs, it was our intention to accept any discipline levied by the league. Today's punishment, however, far exceeded any reasonable expectation. It was based completely on circumstantial rather than hard or conclusive evidence," Patriots chairman and CEO Robert Kraft said in a released statement.

According to the ESPN report, Brady's agent, Don Yee, said they would appeal the suspension to league commissioner Roger Goodell. Brady is allowed three days to make such an appeal.

Said Yee, "The discipline is ridiculous and has no legitimate basis. And if the hearing officer is completely independent and neutral, I am very confident the Wells report will be exposed as an incredibly frail exercise in fact-finding and logic."

As noted by ESPN, league-appointed attorney Ted Wells came up with the 243-page report that indicated "it was more probable than not" that Brady was aware of the equipment staff's plans to prepare the football below the league mandated minimum of 12.5 psi.

"I think it's wrong to question my independence just because you disagree with my findings," Wells said in response.