New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is currently slated to serve a four-game suspension for his part in Deflategate. Should the current suspension stand and Brady’s appeal be handled in a timely manner, the star quarterback would sit out the first four games of the 2015 season. That would keep Brady out of an intense week one battle with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while he’d also miss matchups against the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys. Brady would first be eligible to return in week six against the Indianapolis Colts, following a week five bye.

Of course, things could change dramatically if Brady’s appeal isn’t handled in a timely manner. Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy filed his own appeal for a 10-game ban, and it’s been 23 days and counting in regards to him hearing back from the league. If the league takes as long or longer with Brady, it’s entirely possible that he could start the season under center and wait to hear what his suspension is or when it will be served.

The crazy notion is Brady’s appeal being delayed and then Brady and co. fighting the suspension further to the point where Brady would be eligible to play until a final resolution has been established. The point? There is an outside chance that Brady could have his suspension completely wiped out, or he could have it delayed to the point where it is still a four-game ban, but isn’t served until later in the year.

That’s where things get tricky for folks thinking about betting on the Patriots to repeat as Super Bowl champs. What if this thing leaks into 2016 and impacts the Patiots in January? It’d be pretty ironic after the Pats won it all a year ago, to once again get in that position and then have Brady ripped away from them just as they’re getting ready for another title run. It could happen, though, and it’s something NFL bettors absolutely need to think about in advance.

This does two things: for one, it makes the Patriots increasingly harder to trust as a Super Bowl pick (8/1 odds to win it all again), while them taking a hit has to open the door for other AFC powerhouses like the Colts and Broncos (9/1 and 12/1 Super Bowl odds, respectively).