New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has admitted that he feels 'terrible' for the game day staff that were suspended for their supposed involvement in the deflategate scandal.

The 38-year-old spoke to the media for the first time on Sunday since a federal judge nullified a four-game ban for his connection to deflated footballs used in the AFC championship game in January.

The Patriots quarterback believes that it was a tough time for everyone involved but regretted the fact that the two who were suspended, John Jastremski and James McNally, were not able to celebrate with them.

Brady said: ""I think that, you know, it's been a very tough situation for everybody. It's been a lot of stress on everybody's families, and I feel bad that anybody's in the position that we've been put in.

"Hopefully, we can just keep learning from life experiences. I certainly feel terrible for them that they're not able to be with us right now."

The four-time Super Bowl champion will be in action as the Patriots take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the season opener on Thursday.