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          New York Jets

          Teflon Tom wins, and everything returns to normal for Jets

          • Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff WriterSep 3, 2015, 11:45 AM ET
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              Rich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University. You can follow him via Twitter @RichCimini.
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          You can't beat Tom Brady on the field, and you can't beat him in court, either. Much to the chagrin of the New York Jets and their fans, he's Teflon Tom.

          Judge Richard M. Berman's decision to nullify the Deflategate controversy doesn't directly affect the Jets because they don't face the New England Patriots until Week 7 -- it would've been Brady's second game after the suspension -- but the court's decision is a blow to those in New York, Miami and Buffalo who embraced the idea that the Brady-less Patriots would be vulnerable in the AFC East.

          If you were one of those people, shame on you.

          First of all, it ain't over till it's over when it comes to legal matters and the court system. Even now, it might not be over, as the NFL could still file an appeal. Second, even if the four-game suspension was upheld, the Patriots still were going to have the best quarterback in the division -- indeed, one of the best in history -- for three-quarters of the season. And that's huge, considering the other quarterbacks in the AFC East are Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Tannehill and Tyrod Taylor, none of whom has played in the postseason.

          To the Jets' credit, they never did any gloating during the entire Deflategate controversy, recognizing they were in no position to make bold statements. When you're coming off a four-win season, staring up at Mt. Brady-chick, you keep your mouth shut and start hiking. The Jets have been hiking for 15 years, and it seems like they're not getting any closer to the summit.

          This hasn't been the greatest summer for the Jets. They lost their quarterback, Geno Smith, to a broken jaw. They lost Sheldon Richardson to a four-game suspension, maybe longer. And now they have to watch their No. 1 rival celebrate the return of their No. 1 player (even though he never left), a victory that, no doubt, will energize the Patriots' franchise and fan base.

          A silver lining for the Jets? Well, there's this: When they face the Patriots in Week 7, it won't be Brady's first home game after the the suspension -- an event that would've created a tidal wave of emotion at Gillette Stadium. It'll just be an ordinary game for the defending Super Bowl champs on their home turf.

          Where the Jets almost never win.