Patriots Quarterback Brady Says Will End 'Deflategate' Legal Fight

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Friday said he would end his legal battle against the National Football League over the decision to suspend him for four games as a result of the "Deflategate" scandal.

"It has been a challenging 18 months and I have made the difficult decision to no longer proceed with the legal process," the star player said in a statement posted to his official Facebook page.

"I'm going to work hard to be the best player I can be for the New England Patriots and I look forward to having the opportunity to return to the field this fall."

On Wednesday, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York declined to review its April decision to reinstate the suspension of Brady, 38, who was twice the league's most valuable player.

Brady's decision ends an 18-month saga that had become a major distraction for the NFL, which also faces criticism over player safety and the link between football and concussions. (Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Chris Reese and Jonathan Oatis)