Brady: 'I am pleased to be eligible to play ... sorry our league had to endure this'

BOSTON -- A day after his four-game suspension was lifted by a federal judge, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady issued a statement Friday, saying he was pleased he could play but expressing regret over how the controversy was handled.

The statement was posted on Brady's Facebook page.

On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman ruled in Brady's favor, maligning the NFL for its handling of the investigation and punishment after it was discovered Brady used underinflated balls in  AFC championship game in January.

Brady steadfastly denied any wrongdoing. But NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hit Brady with a four-game suspension after an NFL investigation found the Brady was "generally aware" that footballs might have been deflated.

Berman's ruling lifted that suspension.

"While I am pleased to be eligible to play, I am sorry our league had to endure this," Brady wrote. "I don't think it has been good for our sport -- to a large degree, we have all lost. I am also sorry to anyone whose feelings I may have hurt as I have tried to work to resolve this situation. I love the NFL."

Here is Brady's full statement:

The regular season starts tomorrow morning and I can't wait to fully commit my energy and emotion to focus on the challenges of the 2015 NFL season. I want to thank my family, my friends, all of the fans, past and current players and my teammates for the support they have given me throughout this challenging experience. I also want to thank Judge Berman and his staff for their efforts to resolve this matter over the past five weeks. I am very grateful. My thanks also to the union's legal team who has fought so hard right along with me. While I am pleased to be eligible to play, I am sorry our league had to endure this. I don't think it has been good for our sport -- to a large degree, we have all lost. I am also sorry to anyone whose feelings I may have hurt as I have tried to work to resolve this situation. I love the NFL. It is a privilege to be a member of the NFL community and I will always try to do my best in representing my team and the league in a way that would make all members of this community proud. I look forward to the competition on the playing field and I hope the attention of NFL fans can return to where it belongs -- on the many great players and coaches who work so hard every week, and sacrifice so much, to make this game great. Most importantly, I look forward to representing the New England Patriots on Thursday night in our season opener. I hope to make all of our fans proud this year ... and beyond!