The Sports Xchange

The NFL and the players’ union asked a U.S. District Court on Friday to expedite a resolution on an appeal by New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady of his four-game “Deflategate” suspension.

Both sides filed a joint letter proposing a ruling be made by Sept. 4 on Brady’s lawsuit seeking to have the suspension rescinded. That date is six days before the Patriots’ season opener.

They also agreed not to pursue a preliminary judgment before the final outcome in the case and to file all paperwork by Aug. 14.

Jeffrey Kessler, Brady’s lead lawyer, said both sides agreed “to a final resolution of this matter prior to the commencement of the 2015 regular season would be in everyone’s best interest.”

The union did not request a court order allowing Brady to play before a decision is handed down. Judge Richard M. Berman was assigned the case after a federal judge in Minnesota transferred it to New York.

The NFL suspended Brady on May 11 for the first four games of this season after investigators determined that he likely had knowledge of footballs being deflated during the AFC Championship game in January against the Indianapolis Colts.