The NFL and NFL Players Association' request to expedite an appeal hearing on Tom Brady's eliminated suspension has been denied.

The move virtually guarantees Brady will play the entire regular season and postseason without the threat of being suspended for his role in Deflategate.

The appeal then will be heard as early as the week of Feb. 1, 2016.

Brady was initially suspended for the first four games of the season.

On Sept. 3, U.S. District Court Judge Richard M. Berman overturned the suspension.

The NFL appealed Berman's decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals.