The NFL on Monday suspended New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for four games without pay over the "Deflategate" scandal after an investigation found he probably was aware of ball tampering in a key playoff game.
The National Football League also fined the Patriots $US1 million ($A1.27 million) and stripped the Super Bowl champions of both their 2016 first round draft pick and the 2017 fourth round draft pick.
"Quarterback Tom Brady will be suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2015 regular season for conduct detrimental to the integrity of the NFL," the NFL said in a statement.
"Brady may participate in all offseason, training camp and pre-season activities, including pre-season games."
An NFL investigation found last week that it was "more probable than not" that Patriots employees had conspired to deflate balls in the team's AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts, which they won 45-7.
That probe also found that Brady - who went on to lead the Patriots to a Super Bowl victory over the Seattle Seahawks - was "at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities."
"We reached these decisions after extensive discussion," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in Monday's suspension announcement.
"We relied on the critical importance of protecting the integrity of the game and the thoroughness and independence of the Wells report," he added, referring to the investigation findings.
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