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The NFL on Monday suspended Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (MVP) Tom Brady for the first four games of the upcoming season for his role in a scheme to deflate footballs used in the AFC title game.

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The NFL has suspended Tom Brady for the first four games of the season for deflating footballs used in the AFC title game.

The league suspended the Super Bowl MVP on Monday and also fined the New England Patriots $1 million, as well as taking away two draft picks as punishment.

The Patriots, who defeated the Indianapolis Colts 45-7 and went on to beat the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl, will lose next year's first-round pick and a fourth-round choice in 2017.

NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent wrote letters to the team and Brady saying a league-sponsored investigative report established "substantial and credible evidence" that the quarterback knew the employees were deflating footballs and failed to co-operate with investigators.

The investigation by attorney Ted Wells found that Brady "was at least generally aware" of plans by two Patriots employees to prepare the balls to his liking, below the league-mandated minimum of 12.5 pounds per square inch.

His agent, Don Yee, said "the discipline is ridiculous and has no legitimate basis" and that Brady will appeal the decision.

Brady said last week that the scandal hasn't taken away from the team's 28-24 Super Bowl win over Seattle - its fourth NFL title since the 2001 season.