The New England Patriots' long history of dominance over the rest of the AFC, often riddled with controversy, may soon come back to haunt them.

With the NFL's decision on Tom Brady's four-game suspension appeal looming, two rival owners have reportedly stepped up in strong opposition of a potential reduction.

ESPN's Sal Palantonio on Friday told San Diego's Mighty 1090 radio that Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti and Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay have thus far been the most vocal against reducing the star quarterback's suspension.

"(By reducing the suspension) you’re angering some of the hard-core owners out there,” Paolantonio said, according to Tom E. Curran of CSN New England. "I know who they are and I'm gonna name 'em right now: Jim Irsay of the Colts. Steve Bisciotti of the Ravens and others in the AFC who believe the Patriots have gotten away with murder for years and have not been publicly punished properly."

It remains to be seen whether Roger Goodell is at all swayed by the opinions of rival owners as he carries out the increasingly long decision-making process, but it certainly appears that letting Brady off with a minor punishment would not be well received by league owners.

Goodell, of course, works directly for the owners in his position as league commissioner. While reducing the suspension would be an unpopular decision among the majority of those employers, many have also speculated that the Patriots declining to contest the penalties imposed against the team could benefit Brady in his individual appeal.

The Ravens and Colts wouldn't directly benefit from Brady's suspension being upheld, as neither club plays New England at any point in the first four weeks of the year, but each could have their playoff standing impacted if the future Hall of Famer is forced to sit out.

Either way, the story that has taken over the 2015 offseason from start to finish is slowly coming to an end. Teams around the league will begin training camps in the coming weeks, and the NFL can be expected to announce its decision on Brady's fate sooner than later.