NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has admitted that suspending Tom Brady was a "difficult decision".
The New England Patriots quarterback was banned for four games for his role in the deflategate scandal in the AFC championship game last season.
Brady has appealed his ban, but Goodell has insisted that rules must be enforced.
He told reporters: "Listen, any time anyone's suspended from a game that they love it's difficult. So any player or coach that we're involved with suspending, that decision comes after a great deal of thought, consideration and recognising that that's a difficult decision. And we're very careful with it and we're very thoughtful with it.
"I have great admiration and respect for Tom Brady, but the rules have to be enforced on a uniform basis and they apply to everybody in the league. They apply to every club, every individual coach, every individual player and that is something that we put the game ahead of everything."
Brady led the Patriots to Super Bowl success in February.
