Lawyers for Tom Brady and The National Football League Players Association officially filed a petition on Monday for a rehearing of Brady's suspension ruling with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York.
Led by former U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson, Brady's legal team requested the court rehear the matter en banc, meaning all 13 of the active Second Circuit judges will decide whether or not an appeal of their ruling should be heard.
Olson, who has argued before the Supreme Court 62 times -- filed the petition before the Monday deadline passed.
"The facts here are so drastic, and so apparent, that the court should rehear it," Olson told ABC News.
The court is under no timeframe to decide whether to rehear the case. If the court accepts Monday's petition, a stay of Brady's suspension will be ordered and he will be allowed to play.
If the court rejects the petition, Olson can petition the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the only justice assigned to the Second Circuit, then would decide whether the high court will rehear the case.
Brady was suspended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on May 11, 2015, for his involvement in the Patriots' alleged deflation of footballs during the 2015 AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts, which New England won 45-7.
"This union has always stood for protecting the rights of our members," NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said. "Our filing of this appeal today ... is no different. He was not afforded fundamental fairness and due process as guaranteed by the collective bargaining agreement and case law. We also know that the NFL propped up a now completely de-bunked 'independent' report with a made-up standard as the basis for his suspension."
Brady's suspension was overturned on Sept. 3, 2015, by U.S. District Court Judge Richard M. Berman, but was reinstated on April 25 by the Second Circuit judges.
Brady played in all 16 regular-season games in 2015, leading the Patriots to a 12-4 record and another AFC title game appearance.
Brady's legal team is likely to question Goodell's broad power as arbiter of the case.
"The decision and the standards (the Second Circuit) imposes are damaging and unfair -- not only to Tom Brady -- but to all parties to collective bargaining agreements everywhere," Olson said. "Commissioner Goodell cannot sit as an appellate arbitrator and then affirm the league's initial disciplinary decision based upon a new theory and imagined evidence and pretend to be an unbiased decision-maker."
If Brady's suspension is again upheld, he would miss New England's first four games in 2016 against the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills.
He would be eligible to return on Oct. 16 against the Cleveland Browns.
