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.

On Friday’s “Boomer and Carton” program, WFAN host Craig Carton said a "very influential person in the NFL" told him "there's no doubt in his mind" Tom Brady will serve a four-game suspension this season after the NFL's appeal is heard.

The NFL responded to the report to Pro Football Talk.

"It is highly unlikely that the appeal will be decided before the end of the season."

Martavis Bryant is in Houston working with renowned substance-abuse counselor John Lucas while serving his four-game suspension.

Lucas works with many prominent athletes with off-field issues.

Bryant caught eight touchdowns as a rookie and received a four-game suspension after multiple failed marijuana tests.

Shortly after Bryant's suspension in late August, Mike Tomlin said Bryant has problems "bigger than football" and that he would support his player through the process.

Adam Jones will likely be fined for slamming the head of Amari Cooper into his helmet, but won't receive a suspension.

Asked if he anticipated a fine or suspension, he simply replied: "No."

Officials didn't see the incident during the game.

"Whatever you saw happen, that's what happened," Jones said. "I'm just here to play football. I don't back down from anybody and I'm not out here trying to start anything. I'm just out here playing football."

"I mean, it's football," Cooper said. "It's a physical game, so you kind of expect it."

Ndamukong Suh won't face discipline from the NFL after he appeared to kick the helmet off Alfred Morris on Sunday.

NFL spokesman Michael Signora confirmed that the play was reviewed by the senior football operations staff and there will be no action taken against Suh.

Following the game, Suh claimed not to remember the incident.

"I tackled him plenty of times during the game, so I'm not really certain what you are speaking of," he told reporters.

Suh, who signed a six-year, $114 million contract with the Dolphins as a free agent in March, has a reputation as a "dirty" player following a history of being fined for player-safety violations.

Roger Goodell is hope to changing his role when it comes to the league's process for discipline. 

Goodell admitted that it has "become extremely time-consuming."

U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman nullified Brady's four-game suspension last week, criticizing Goodell's "brand of industrial justice."

Goodell defended the NFL's position in the case Tuesday and affirmed the league's decision to appeal Berman's ruling, but also said that he has reconsidered his overall role in player discipline.

"I am open to changing my role," he said. "It's become extremely time-consuming, and I have to be focused on other issues. I've discussed this with owners."

Goodell acknowledged that the NFL needs a "better discipline system," suggesting that the league could institute designated discipline officers or panels.

"I want to get to a better discipline situation," he said. "I have had discussions with the (players') union. ... The courts are not where we should be having these discussions.

"A designated discipline officer or panel to make the initial decision would make for a better system. But we also have resistance to third-party arbitration. The standards of the NFL are important to uphold, and we don't want to delegate that responsibility or standard."

Arnie Stapleton of the Associated Press reports that Tom Brady's four-game suspension is the fifth punishment from Roger Goodell that has been overturned on appeal.

Suspensions for Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, Greg Hardy and the New Orleans Saints' bounties were also overturned on appeal.

The NFL will appeal the ruling from Judge Richard Berman nullifying the suspension of Tom Brady.

"We are grateful to Judge Berman for hearing this matter, but respectfully disagree with today's decision. We will appeal today's ruling in order to uphold the collectively bargained responsibility to protect the integrity of the game," Goodell wrote. "The commissioner's responsibility to secure the competitive fairness of our game is a paramount principle, and the league and our 32 clubs will continue to pursue a path to that end. While the legal phase of this process continues, we look forward to focusing on football and the opening of the regular season."

The NFL is unlikely to seek an injunction to keep Brady off the field under any appeal.

The NFLPA released the following statement:

"The rights of Tom Brady and of all NFL players under the collective bargaining agreement were affirmed today by a Federal Judge in a court of the NFL's choosing. We thank Judge Berman for his time, careful consideration of the issue and fair and just result.

"This decision should prove, once and for all, that our Collective Bargaining Agreement does not grant this Commissioner the authority to be unfair, arbitrary and misleading. While the CBA grants the person who occupies the position of Commissioner the ability to judiciously and fairly exercise the designated power of that position, the union did not agree to attempts to unfairly, illegally exercise that power, contrary to what the NFL has repeatedly and wrongfully claimed.

"We are happy for the victory of the rule of law for our players and our fans. This court's decision to overturn the NFL Commissioner again should signal to every NFL owner that collective bargaining is better than legal losses. Collective bargaining is a much better process that will lead to far better results."

Judge Richard Berman has nullified the NFL's four-game suspension for Tom Brady.

Berman announced his decision after the sides failed to reach a settlement following several weeks of talks.

Brady's suspension originally was upheld by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in July after an appeal.