Brady breaks silence on Deflategate: ‘We have all lost’

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said in a statement Friday night on his personal Facebook page that everyone in the NFL lost in the Deflategate saga.

The Patriots leader lamented the ordeal that has embroiled the league, his team and the fans this offseason.

Brady, who had been silent since winning the battle to overturn his four-game suspension, showed remorse and regret in his statement.

"While I am pleased to be eligible to play, I am sorry our league had to endure this. I don't think it has been good for our sport -- to a large degree, we have all lost," Brady wrote on Facebook. "I am also sorry to anyone whose feelings I may have hurt as I have tried to work to resolve this situation. I love the NFL."

Brady's four-game suspension by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was nullified by U.S. District Court Judge Richard M. Berman on Thursday.

The action in federal court cleared Brady to get back to football and his starting job with the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots when they open the regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night.

An appeal was filed by the NFL to preserve the commissioner's heirarchy as defined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. However, the league will not seek a stay of the decision to keep Brady suspended during the process.

Brady was suspended four regular-season games by the NFL for his alleged knowledge of the intentional reduction of football air pressure in the AFC Championship game in January. Brady also was uncooperative in the opinion of the NFL and Goodell during investigator Ted Wells' search for details.

The Patriots will be conducting their first official practice of the regular season on Saturday and Brady can't wait to step on the field without the specter of suspension hanging over his head.

"The regular season starts (Saturday) morning, and I can't wait to fully commit my energy and emotion to focus on the challenges of the 2015 NFL season," Brady said on Facebook. "I want to thank my family, my friends, all of the fans, past and current players and my teammates for the support they have given me throughout this challenging experience.

"I look forward to representing the New England Patriots on Thursday night in our season opener. I hope to make all of our fans proud this year ... and beyond!"