Tom Brady: the quarterback we love to hate

On May 11, 2015, the NFL suspended New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for the first four games of the 2015 season because of his role in the DeflateGate scandal. Brady, however, appealed; and on September 3, 2015, he won.

This is just the latest in a long line of public and polarizing incidents that have landed the star quarterback in the headlines for his actions on and off the field.

Hopes inflated

On September 3, 2015, a New York federal judge nullified Brady's four-game NFL suspension on the grounds that it was "premised upon several significant legal deficiencies."

Following the ruling, the Patriots tweeted a picture of a jubilant, fist-pumping Brady taken during a game. And NFL players union head DeMaurice Smith took to Twitter with a simple message: "Players win."

Goodell statement

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) stretches prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, Aug. 28, 2015. — Jeremy Brevard/USA Today Sports/Reuters

Shortly after U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman's decision in Brady's favor, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released the following statement, promising that the league would appeal:

"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. 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."

IrateGate

Prior to the September 3, 2015 decision in Brady's favor, Patriots fans had been up in arms over what they felt was an unfair and extreme punishment of their star player.

The four games, for which the NFL had suspended Brady represent 25 percent of the NFL regular season.

To put that in perspective... When Sammy Sosa famously corked his bat in 2003 -- arguably a much more deliberate offense -- he was suspended for eight games, only five percent of the regular season.

Tom Brady - DeflateGate

Tom Brady, New England Patriots — Jared Wickerham/Getty

In fact, Brady's DeflateGate proposed punishment was even harsher than the punishment the NFL delivered to his team.

The New England Patriots were fined $1 million and docked two draft picks, including their top pick next year. Brady's suspension, on the other hand, would have cost him nearly $2 million in missed pay.

Tom Brady - DeflateGate

This disproportionate response may have been the NFL's attempt to make an example out of Brady for his unwillingness to cooperate with the investigation.

Brady refused to submit his phone records, text messages and emails; even going so far as to have his cellphone physically destroyed before he was interviewed for the NFL probe.

As the charges against him weren't criminal, he wasn't required to submit his phone records or his 10,000 texts. However, the NFL most likely viewed Brady's refusal as an omission in bad faith.

Tom Brady - DeflateGate

The NFL also likely believed Brady lied in his initial statements on the cheating scandal.

In the January 2015 press conference seen here, for example, Brady insisted that he had zero knowledge of how New England ended up using under-inflated balls in its win against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship game.

Tom Brady - DeflateGate

Brady remained coy when asked about DeflateGate during public appearances, even after the Wells Report implicated him as "more likely than not" playing a key role in the scandal.

Here, Brady can be seen deflecting questions with humor at an event at Salem State University in Massachusetts, May 7, 2015.

Tom Brady: Polarizing Patriot

However, many people hated Brady long before the NFL announced its verdict on DeflateGate, and for a whole host of reasons.

If you don't live in New England, for example, you probably hate Brady's ability to seemingly always win.

He has won a whopping four Super Bowls with the Patriots, including the 2015 Superbowl -- now somewhat colored by the cheating scandal -- which appeared, for much of the game, like it would finish in the Seahawks' favor.

Tom Brady: Polarizing Patriot

Tom Brady leaves field after Super Bowl XLVI — Getty Images/Elsa

Tom Brady is a three-time Super Bowl MVP, and a two-time NFL MVP.

Those stats alone are enough to inspire the hatred of other teams' fans.

Tom Brady: Pretty Boy Patriot

And many sports fans were turned off, when Brady became the poster boy for men's Uggs.

Tom Brady: Pretty Boy Patriot

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and model Gisele Bundchen attend the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art May 2, 2011, in New York. — AFP/Getty

In fact, over the years, Brady has made news for his hair styles almost as much as his abilities on the gridiron.

Here, the Patriots quarterback attends the 2011 Met Gala with a slicked back, long do.

Tom Brady: Polarizing Patriot

Bridget Moynahan and Tom Brady — Peter Kramer/Getty

Brady has also made headlines over the years for his personal relationships.

He dated actress Bridget Moynahan for years -- even having two sons with her -- before moving on to his current wife.

Tom Brady: Polarizing Patriot

Brady is now married to supermodel Gisele Bündchen.

And the two of them frequent high-profile red carpet events together, making quite the striking pair.

Here, they pose for cameras at the 2013 Met Gala in New York... Brady in a bright blue tux jacket, as polarizing as the man himself.

Tom Brady: Polarizing Patriot

To Patriots fans, Tom Brady is the golden boy.

He is the team's all-time leader in passing touchdowns, passing yards, pass completions, pass attempts and career wins.

Tom Brady: Polarizing Patriot

Tom Brady is a three-time Super Bowl MVP (XXXVI, XXXVIII and XLIX).

Here, he celebrates his 2015 win with Mark Wahlberg at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, February 1, 2015.

Tom Brady: Polarizing Patriot

Brady led the New England Patriots to five AFC Championships (2001, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2011), before the infamous 2014 win that sparked the DeflateGate controversy.

Tom Brady: Polarizing Patriot

Ironically, if Brady's appeal fails and he remains suspended for the first four games of the 2015 season, his first game back will be against the Indianapolis Colts...

The very team that reported the Patriots' under-inflated game balls, in the first place.

So, that is likely to be a charged contest.

Tom Brady: Polarizing Patriot

The DeflateGate punishment was imposed five days after a 243-page report prepared by league-appointed investigator Ted Wells said Brady "was at least generally aware" of plans by team employees to prepare game balls to his liking, below the league-mandated minimum of 12.5 pounds per square inch.

Tom Brady - DeflateGate

However you feel about Brady personally, its clear the NFL felt that his actions with regard to the DeflateGate scandal threatened the integrity of the shield.

Tom Brady: Polarizing Patriot

So, in order to protect the sport as a whole, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hit Brady hard.

The league brought the scandal to Berman's Manhattan courtroom immediately once Goodell upheld Brady's four-game suspension, blasting the quarterback for arranging the destruction of his cellphone and its nearly 10,000 messages just before he was interviewed for the NFL probe. The union countersued, said Brady did nothing wrong and asked the judge to nullify the suspension.