The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement worked against Tom Brady in Deflategate, and it worked against Adrian Peterson, Greg Hardy, Ezekiel Elliott, and other players who ran afoul of commissioner Roger Goodell.

But the CBA will likely help Antonio Brown recover his $9 million signing bonus from the Patriots, who reportedly did not pay the $5 million installment that was owed last Monday.

“It’s one of the few occasions where a player can actually rely on the CBA and win,’’ said attorney Daniel Wallach, a sports legal expert for The Athletic. “I think the language protects the player’s signing bonus, and if you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. It is money that has already been earned.’’