AP

The decision of two judges of the U.S. Supreme Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to reinstate Tom Brady’s four-game suspension doesn’t end the case. But it definitely makes it harder for Brady and the NFL Players Association to prevail.

“The NFLPA is disappointed in the decision by the Second Circuit,” the NFLPA said in a statement. “We fought Roger Goodell’s suspension of Tom Brady because we know he did not serve as a fair arbitrator and that players’ rights were violated under our collective bargaining agreement. Our Union will carefully review the decision, consider all of our options and continue to fight for players’ rights and for the integrity of the game.”

The options at this point are fairly narrow: Continue the appeal process or end the case.

If the appeal continues, the first step will be to file a petition for rehearing “en banc,” before the entire Second Circuit. If the 14 eligible judges (13 active judges and the one senior-status judge who was assigned to the case) choose not to accept the rehearing — or on rehearing to keep the suspension — the fight would move to the U.S. Supreme Court, where the first challenge will be to get the highest court in the land to take the case. And that will be a long shot.

If further appeals are pursued, the biggest question becomes whether the suspension will be stayed. If it isn’t, the ultimate outcome in court won’t matter; he’ll miss the first four games of the 2016 regular season. If the suspension is stayed, Brady wouldn’t be suspended until the process has ended — and given the speed with which the justice system moves (or doesn’t), he could be retired by the time all appeals officially have been exhausted.