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In response to a claim from Craig Carton of WFAN that a league office said Thursday’s there’s “no doubt” the Tom Brady appeal will be resolved this season and that he’ll serve his suspension, the NFL has spoken.

“It is highly unlikely that the appeal will be decided before the end of the season,” the NFL said in a statement issued to PFT.

That’s the smart response, because it is highly unlikely that the appeal will be decided before the end of the season. But that doesn’t mean the NFL lacks confidence regarding the outcome of the appeal. It only means that a suspension won’t happen in 2015.

The question then becomes whether it would happen in 2016. With further proceedings inevitable and other layers of appeal, it remains possible that Brady’s suspension would become final after he has retired from football.