12/21/24
May 19, 2015
Kraft Says Patriots Won't Appeal DeflateGate Punishment: New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft said today that he would "accept reluctantly" the NFL's decision to fine the team $1 million and revoke their 2016 first-round draft pick as a result of the investigation of the team's use of allegedly under inflated footballs. "Although I might disagree with what he decided, I do have respect for the commissioner and believe that he is doing what he believes is in the spirit of the best for the whole 32 [teams]," Kraft said
That's interesting, @rcade, even more so given that Kraft typically stands in solidarity with his team, and Brady is still denying and fighting his verdict.
I suppose this may also have been a bit of expectations management on Kraft's part. After Goodell decided to personally hear Brady's appeal (which I still love--"why don't you tell me why I was wrong, Tom"), Kraft realized that going head-to-head with the commissioner on this one would not lead to an ending that the public would embrace.
posted by werty at 02:06 PM on May 19, 2015
I'm wondering if Kraft feared another shoe was about to drop.
Don't think so. He doesn't have any options other than suing the league. Thought these two tweets from Greg Bedard were interesting:
"Was told by a high-ranking NFL source that Kraft's decision to stand down does not include a deal on Brady. Surprising to me. . . . Belief in league circles is NFLPA has found the perfect player & case to go big-game hunting and change commissioner discipline forever."
posted by yerfatma at 02:13 PM on May 19, 2015
two men already have "met, spoke and even hugged" already and that they were spotted "on a couch, talking by themselves for quite a long time" at a birthday party
No word on whether they agreed to a first date, though.
posted by dfleming at 03:49 PM on May 19, 2015
I think those two are way past their first date.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 03:51 PM on May 19, 2015
Meanwhile, Pats fans continue to consult with Lorena Bobbitt Associates on Goodell's severance package.
posted by beaverboard at 05:26 PM on May 19, 2015
I've been critical of Brady, but I think he had to appeal. If he didn't, he'd be letting down his teammates and the team. Four games is a long time to lose your starting quarterback. If there's a chance he can get that reduced, he has to try even if his defense is as weak as the Jaguars running game.
But ...
Doesn't the same logic apply to Kraft? A first-round pick is a lot to lose too, and he's accepting that penalty along with a fourth-rounder after a little commissioner/owner canoodling. (The money seems irrelevant, given what Kraft doesn't have to pay Brady during a suspension.)
posted by rcade at 07:40 PM on May 19, 2015
I think that Kraft knows that either A) they did it, or B) there's no way in hell it can be proven that they didn't do it.* So if he appeals, the best result for him is that it gets overturned on some form of technicality, which weakens Goodell (delenda est), and Kraft genuinely believes that a strong Goodell (delenda est) in the Commissioner's Office is better for the league in the long run, which is better for the Patriots in the long run than a presumably low-first-round pick would be.
* -- Not to any standard that would make the average NFL fan say, "Oh, okay, that makes sense. They didn't do it."
posted by Etrigan at 09:21 PM on May 19, 2015
Two things come to mind. Kraft dropping the appeal might just involve some "new" facts about the deflation coming to light, causing Goodell to reduce the fine and/or restore one or both of the draft picks. Goodell will explain that Wells overlooked something or other in his report, the Patriots acted improperly, but were not the evil cheats everyone thought they were.
The second thing is that if the above does not happen, the next time Kraft and Goodell hug, there will be a figurative switch blade in Kraft's hand. In other words, Goodell will be on a very short leash, and one more screw-up in discipline, revenue, or relocation of teams will result in a new commissioner being sought.
posted by Howard_T at 11:28 PM on May 19, 2015
The thing that bothers me is that Kraft's abrupt change of position has legitimized and validated a highly flawed investigation and report and the league's conduct, which has been an utter charade.
And Kraft supposedly choosing the wiser course of action (from any number of different perspectives) has not silenced one bit of anti-Patriot rancor and hatred. On the contrary, the haters are more revved up and irrational than ever. Additionally, many Pats fans are infuriated at Kraft's tent folding. No waters have been calmed by Kraft's reversal.
The other thing that bothers me is that only now is it quietly being reported that the league is going to take control of the management of the game day footballs. Goodell should have addressed this problem and taken responsibility for it months ago. Years ago, really, because the routine doctoring of footballs by teams around the league has been a known issue for a long time.
posted by beaverboard at 11:52 PM on May 19, 2015
And Kraft supposedly choosing the wiser course of action (from any number of different perspectives) has not silenced one bit of anti-Patriot rancor and hatred. On the contrary, the haters are more revved up and irrational than ever. Additionally, many Pats fans are infuriated at Kraft's tent folding. No waters have been calmed by Kraft's reversal.
The other owners seem calmed - the prospect of this months-long ordeal which has tarnished the NFL's reputation further going on into the summer was likely to wear on all of them. It seems like the public voices so far are just glad it's over.
posted by dfleming at 07:29 AM on May 20, 2015
Doesn't the same logic apply to Kraft?
Chad Finn, one of the few sane voices in the Boston sports world, thinks so: If Brady suspension isn't reduced, Kraft puts NFL's well-being above Patriots': "[If there is no quid pro quo], Kraft sold out the team he owns -- and the fans he years ago counted among -- in order to appease a much more exclusive club: the unholy alliance of Goodell and Kraft's fellow NFL owners."
posted by yerfatma at 07:41 AM on May 20, 2015
No waters have been calmed by Kraft's reversal.
I think Kraft's move may calm things for those of us who neither hate the Patriots nor love them. The only thing I like about a prolonged battle is the possibility it ends up with Roger Goodell unemployed. But what are the odds?
posted by rcade at 10:12 AM on May 20, 2015
From the Finn column: "I've wished for a while that they'd embrace the hate, never more so than today. Go full-heel, us-versus-them. Unfortunately, the owner is still too concerned with what 'them' think."
I don't believe that can happen any more in the top levels of pro sports, at least not in the U.S. There's so much money in the franchises now that the management of teams is corporate and risk-averse.
Let's say Kraft decides to play the heel and become Goodell's No. 1 public antagonist.
Then he wants special revenue concessions from the NFL for a stadium upgrade, like he got in 2013, or something bigger.
How's his rebellion looking then, when it directly translates to lost revenue opportunities?
posted by rcade at 10:21 AM on May 20, 2015
I think that Kraft knows that either A) they did it, or B) there's no way in hell it can be proven that they didn't do it.
Kraft sold out the team he owns
I would expect Kraft is pretty pissed with a few folks in his own organization for not properly informing him of some important details before he went on his initial tirade against the NFL in support of those same people.
Goodell will explain that Wells overlooked something or other in his report
Unless Wells comes out with some previously unreleased information in support of the Patriots claims it's not going to happen. Imagine the damage the optics of Goodell making a back room deal to kiss Kraft's ass would create. At best, Goodell praises Kraft for making a difficult decision for the betterment of the game.
The NFLPA continues it's appeal on behalf of Brady - it's what unions do for their members. I'd expect the appeal to be limited to the mechanics of the application of the suspension and stop short of any further investigation into Brady's involvement.
I see the outcome as Brady reluctantly agreeing to serve a reduced 2 game suspension.
posted by cixelsyd at 10:27 AM on May 20, 2015
I don't believe that can happen any more in the top levels of pro sports
Agreed. The article is a little unfair, but emotionally I agree with Finn, if this is all what it looks like (especially the part about the Pats suspending The Deflator and Dorito Dink because the League asked them to), Kraft can stop with the soft-soaping and waxing nostalgic for his days on the metal bleachers of Schaeffer Stadium.
posted by yerfatma at 10:37 AM on May 20, 2015
Being a Brady and Belichick believer comes with so many rigorous and stressful complexities. Perhaps some folks in Pats land like myself should consider waxing nostalgic for the simpler, less astute days of Patrick Sullivan.
I kept expecting to see Mr. Haney from Green Acres show up at Schaefer, trying to sell Patrick a washing machine.
posted by beaverboard at 11:37 AM on May 20, 2015
Perhaps there is a darker side to Kraft's apparent submission. I read today that the NFLPA has asked that Goodell be held in contempt of court in connection with the Adrian Peterson case. If this is done, our favorite commissioner will have lost a great deal of credibility. It is also a sure thing that the NFLPA will aggressively pursue having Goodell testify as a witness at Brady's hearing. If he does, and does not recuse himself from ruling on the appeal, it's almost an automatic that the NFLPA will go to court to have anything but a favorable result (for Brady) set aside. Should this happen, the possibility for Goodell to perjure himself is there. If he gets it all wrong and does indeed commit perjury, I do believe the owners would be forced to dump him. I would not greatly surprise me were Kraft having someone work closely but clandestinely with Brady's defense team in order to set Goodell up.
posted by Howard_T at 10:51 PM on May 20, 2015
Adam Schefter is reporting that the NFL asked the Patriots to suspend McNally and Jastremski, per an unnamed league source. That's the opposite of what the NFL stated publicly in a statement I linked yesterday, so I don't know what to believe.
If Kraft was open to taking punishment and moving on without a public fight, Goodell should have pursued that option before the Wells report and the Patriots rebuttal came out.
I'm wondering if Kraft feared another shoe was about to drop. His about-face is a big surprise given his public defiance lately.