New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's four-match ban may be reduced

Tom Brady's four-game suspension for deflating balls at last season's AFC Championship Game may be cut now that the NFL and NFL Players Association are in settlement discussions, according to reports in the US media.

Despite the NFLPA's first effort to get a settlement for the most storied player in the players' union going unanswered by the league, both sides have since come to the negotiating table - just as the New England Patriots open up training camp.

Part of the talks will be reducing Brady's four-game ban, although ESPN's sources told the network "it is unlikely that both sides will reach a settlement".

ESPN said that Brady's camp want the 2015 Super Bowl-winning quarterback exonerated from "any charges of cheating and noncompliance" from investigator Ted Wells' report, while it was possible he might accept a fine - although he doesn't want to be banned.