#DFG: Canceling the Noise
- Thread starter nattysez
- Start date
From a short time listening to both sports radio stations, reading here, and browsing Twitter, it seems there is a portion of the fan base that is irate about Kraft's statement today.
I can see why people might be angry. I'm sure many have been vigorously defending the team's innocence for the past few months (or 8 years) . Kraft appears to be putting on the war paint to defend the team's honor. Fans are whipped into a bit of a frenzy, then Kraft suddenly relented.
Should Patriots fans be upset with the organization or should they just be grateful for the success the team has enjoyed ?
I can see why people might be angry. I'm sure many have been vigorously defending the team's innocence for the past few months (or 8 years) . Kraft appears to be putting on the war paint to defend the team's honor. Fans are whipped into a bit of a frenzy, then Kraft suddenly relented.
Should Patriots fans be upset with the organization or should they just be grateful for the success the team has enjoyed ?
I am mostly disappointed that Goodell has preached integrity of the game in all this and not once has anyone at the NFL been seriously looked at/investigated for bias, leaks or even held accountable as all eyes were on the Patriots during this investigation / Inquisition. I really want to hope Kraft acquiesced in a handshake deal for TB.
I was talking to a business colleague who hates the Patriots because they always cheat, Patriot fans are arrogant and entitled. He could care less what the Patriots get caught at or get punished for because they deserve it regardless.
I hope karma is a bitch because this whole exercise has never been about integrity, it was about knocking Brady/Patriots down a peg or seven.
Oh and watching Mortensen today discuss this whole mess on ESPN without anyone asking him were he got his wrong info regarding PSI was frustrating.
It seems the only ones accountable are the Patriots here.. everyone else gets a free swing at the pinata.
Disgusting.
I was talking to a business colleague who hates the Patriots because they always cheat, Patriot fans are arrogant and entitled. He could care less what the Patriots get caught at or get punished for because they deserve it regardless.
I hope karma is a bitch because this whole exercise has never been about integrity, it was about knocking Brady/Patriots down a peg or seven.
Oh and watching Mortensen today discuss this whole mess on ESPN without anyone asking him were he got his wrong info regarding PSI was frustrating.
It seems the only ones accountable are the Patriots here.. everyone else gets a free swing at the pinata.
Disgusting.
I think this question is premature until we see if/when the other shoe(s) drop. Would you evaluate a trade solely based on what one team sends without looking at the other side?
They've given me a lot of fun and plenty to look forward to regularly for basically my entire life, so no, I'm not upset with this organization. Far from it.
Two NFL league officials walk into a bar and gauge the air pressure of a single football. They find it to be exactly what you would expect given environmental conditions and NFL regulations.SeanBerry said:
One of the guys says to the bartender, "We weighed the balls. You're in big fuckin' trouble."
okay, let me work on it.
Two guys walk into a bar and gauge the air pressure of a single football. They find it to be exactly what you would expect given environmental conditions and NFL regulations.
The bartender says, "Wow, that football has a referee's autograph on it! What kind of criminal favors did you do to get that memorabilia?"
Better, but..
Two NFL league officials walk into a bar with 5 million dollars and gauge the air pressure of a single football. They find it to be exactly what you would expect given environmental conditions and NFL regulations.
One of the officials says, "If only this was the New York state bar. We could solve this mystery in no time."
What's something big that happened over nothing? I know!
The NFL Commissioner and an NFL league official walk into a bar and gauge the air pressure of a single football. They find it to be exactly what you would expect given environmental conditions and NFL regulations.
The commissioner says, "I'll call my dad. This is enough evidence to pass a joint resolution to promote the maintenance of international peace and security in southeast Asia."
soxhop411 said:so………
You just spent over $150,000 after splitting the cost 32 ways, of course the report is satisfactory. Not sure what CHB expected him to say. Wouldn't think any other owner would speak out even if they disagreed. Not after watching Kraft fall in line.
I'm nothing but grateful to the Patriots organization. I've been a fan since the Plunkett Era. For many years, the Pats were a Charlie Brown Franchise. They got close a few times, only to have Lucy or Ben Dreith, may he rot in hell, pull the ball away.
Then comes along Kraft and the team goes to 7 Super Bowls under his watch. They've been a contender in the salary cap era since 2001. Now of course, they've had the good fortune of having Brady and Belichick during much of that run, but the organization gets credit for getting and keeping those guys.
As to the events of today, there's a lot we don't know. We don't know what Kraft heard from other owners, for example. I assume, however, that he has been made to understand that sentiment is not with him and that a movement to replace Goodell or get the fines lessoned would not have their support. It's also possible that there is some kind of understanding that if Kraft played nice, Brady's suspension would be reduced.
As I mentioned elsewhere, it would have felt good if Kraft continued the fight. But fighting a battle that cannot be won is a fools' errand, and knowing when to fold them is the sign of a smart man. Does anyone think Bob Kraft is not an exceptionally smart man?
Kraft came out fighting and issued his report (which was fantastic except for the moronic Deflator stuff), and then learned he was still on an island. When that was made clear to him, and he learned that a fight would be like a shot of whiskey -- great going down but no last effect -- he did the smart thing.
I know today stings but how I have a lot of trouble understanding how fans of this incredible franchise could be mad at the organization or the owner.
Then comes along Kraft and the team goes to 7 Super Bowls under his watch. They've been a contender in the salary cap era since 2001. Now of course, they've had the good fortune of having Brady and Belichick during much of that run, but the organization gets credit for getting and keeping those guys.
As to the events of today, there's a lot we don't know. We don't know what Kraft heard from other owners, for example. I assume, however, that he has been made to understand that sentiment is not with him and that a movement to replace Goodell or get the fines lessoned would not have their support. It's also possible that there is some kind of understanding that if Kraft played nice, Brady's suspension would be reduced.
As I mentioned elsewhere, it would have felt good if Kraft continued the fight. But fighting a battle that cannot be won is a fools' errand, and knowing when to fold them is the sign of a smart man. Does anyone think Bob Kraft is not an exceptionally smart man?
Kraft came out fighting and issued his report (which was fantastic except for the moronic Deflator stuff), and then learned he was still on an island. When that was made clear to him, and he learned that a fight would be like a shot of whiskey -- great going down but no last effect -- he did the smart thing.
I know today stings but how I have a lot of trouble understanding how fans of this incredible franchise could be mad at the organization or the owner.
There are enough bad guys in this story that I don't have to be upset with Kraft or the Patriots organization.
I'm asking the organization to sleep on the couch for a while, but in no way am I contemplating divorce.
I appreciate that he publicly presented a case against the Wells report. I appreciate that he defended Brady and gave him some cover to use now and in the future.
He probably had pretty good reasons for doing what he did and I generally trust his judgment.
It does all suck though.
He probably had pretty good reasons for doing what he did and I generally trust his judgment.
It does all suck though.
They might but it isn't in the report. This says a lot more about the owners than it does this case.soxhop411 said:so………
Who do we think this is, BTW? Jones?
Schefter this evening says his sources in NFL headquarters tell him that not only is there no deal on Brady, but a reduction from four games is unlikely.
If someone is upset about some of the wording in today's statement, I get it. I have much less understanding for people who wanted Kraft to light himself on fire in a protracted war he was destined to lose. I have no understanding or tolerance of people who insist Kraft had viable options in court attacking the League discipline. He did not. And that's not a matter of opinion.
Van Everyman said:
Work backward. How many "vaunted" franchises are there? CHB isn't getting anonymous quotes from a Rooney or a Mara. Green Bay is publicly owned.
Cowboys, Bears, Colts (historically), Dolphins ... Ravens maybe?
Doug Kyed @DougKyedNESNhttps://twitter.com/DougKyedNESN · 18m18 minutes ago
Someone tried to ask Troy Vincent about a non-extra-point related question, and he was turned down by an NFL spokesman.
Someone tried to ask Troy Vincent about a non-extra-point related question, and he was turned down by an NFL spokesman.
Not at all. As much as I'd want Kraft to go all nuclear on the league, what would he accomplish? Kraft has to think about the long term here and anything he did wouldn't have a direct correlation to get Brady back earlier as he has to go through the appeal. He took the heat for this crap but he has an asset in the bank because of this. It will work out.
No. Many of the fans who Marbleheader references in the opening post have set unrealistic goal posts from the start of this.
Does the punishment sting? Sure, but there hasn't be a repeat Super Bowl champion in years ... and I'd like to see a truly pissed off Brady take aim at that
Does the punishment sting? Sure, but there hasn't be a repeat Super Bowl champion in years ... and I'd like to see a truly pissed off Brady take aim at that
lambeau said:
Sure glad the independent arbitrator who hasn't even heard the case yet has already made up his mind lolz.
I'm split. However the next time another organization does something as little as the Patriots did I want the penalties to be up there. I sick of other organizations getting slap on the wrists.
I don't have any problem reconciling the positions "this has been a great team to root for" and "Bob Kraft just punted his loyal supporters in the balls." I don't even have a problem reconciling the latter with "he didn't really have a palatable alternative." If he had to surrender, I certainly wish Kraft had been a little more defiant; the optics of this, as many have noted, are hard to reconcile with the belief (espoused by Kraft and thousands - millions? - of fans) that the Pats/Brady were not proven to be guilty of anything, and that the process and punishment were unfair.
The whole situation sucks. Yeats wrote that the world would end with a whimper, and I suppose in the grand scheme of things, it isn't surprising that Kraft went down with one, too. But hey, I suppose if I treat this as being important (and reading thousands on thousands of posts on this suggests that's true), then the real problem is more likely my own sense of proportion than the denouement. The real question begged by the entire affair isn't "how can this be SO UNFAIR?" it's "why take the NFL this seriously?"
The whole situation sucks. Yeats wrote that the world would end with a whimper, and I suppose in the grand scheme of things, it isn't surprising that Kraft went down with one, too. But hey, I suppose if I treat this as being important (and reading thousands on thousands of posts on this suggests that's true), then the real problem is more likely my own sense of proportion than the denouement. The real question begged by the entire affair isn't "how can this be SO UNFAIR?" it's "why take the NFL this seriously?"
He's forsaking the legacy of the greatest coach/quarterback combo in league history, as well as his own for some abstract bargaining chip to use down the road? That's unfathomable. He's going to get booed out his own stadium on opening night.
Yes he is, and that's far more damning to the cult of personality that Robert has been crafting than anything the ginger menace can do.
Kraft made his first mistake in the aftermath of Spygate, and has continued to stumble since then. His lack of support for other aggrieved owners and his continued support of Goodell in the aftermath of the Rice situation sealed his fate. He might have had limited options here, but that is in large part due to his past mistakes.
So yes, we have every right to be pissed off at Bob Kraft right now.
So yes, we have every right to be pissed off at Bob Kraft right now.
No, he's quitting because he was either threatened with more sanctions if he didn't, or because he feared the owners would have gotten the 24 votes to kick him out had he sued. I'm still not convinced his odds in a court case were as low as some think here, but he would have fucked himself and his son from a league standpoint.Dirty Sanchez Forever said:
I still wish he had better worded his speech today, however. He should have made clear by "not appeal" that he meant litigation, should have been stronger in his support of Brady, should have mentioned the terrible process by which the league makes these decisions, and the language about Goodell makes me sick. As does the thought of us watching Goodell and Kraft standing buddy buddy at some point down the road. I am extremely thankful for everything Kraft has done, but I have personally lost some respect I have had for him with his gutless defense of "The Shield" over the past 15 months or so.
mwonow said:
This is where I'm at. I'm thankful for all that Kraft's done for football in New England, but as a fan I just really can't be happy with the outcome here, nor with an owner who doesn't put up a fight when his team gets railroaded.
I also don't particularly care whether or not they were going to get any real concessions out of continuing to fight. I just wish he didn't go down so gently.
EDIT - Or what Ed said above. Exactly that.
Kraft paid the price to get Belicheck, and then had the sense and discipline to stay out of the way. He's allowed Belicheck total control over football operations and has presided over the team in unparalleled cap era success. As a football fan, the Kraft era has exceeded anyone's reasonable hopes and expectations. Whether or not 0.3 psi were missing from some footballs doesn't change my feelings about the organization.
I wonder if Kraft felt knifed in the back and had trouble realizing he had no play.
I say that because Florio said they asked him to suspend "Beavis and Butthead" (Florio) before the discipline came down, and he did--which many took as an acknowledgement of some guilt--figuring he'd go along to moderate his discipline. Then they clobber him.
When Florio reported the league requested the suspensions, a league spokesman called him to say it was not true; Florio called his source high in the League office, who stood by the story, as does Florio. Curious. Was Kraft set up? He looked old today.
I say that because Florio said they asked him to suspend "Beavis and Butthead" (Florio) before the discipline came down, and he did--which many took as an acknowledgement of some guilt--figuring he'd go along to moderate his discipline. Then they clobber him.
When Florio reported the league requested the suspensions, a league spokesman called him to say it was not true; Florio called his source high in the League office, who stood by the story, as does Florio. Curious. Was Kraft set up? He looked old today.
I'm not upset at Kraft, he took a realistic approach, but I'm not happy with the organization that somehow put itself into the position to again be penalized by what I think is a petty and vindictive NFL league office. But that unhappiness might represent 5% of my overall feeling about the organization that has accomplished so much over the past 15 years. Hopefully in a short period of time that 5% will be smaller.
Although watching Kraft kick Goodell in the nuts might have been pretty ok too.
Although watching Kraft kick Goodell in the nuts might have been pretty ok too.
Question: if this does go to court (presumably after the appeals process plays out), how long would that take to resolve itself, assuming both sides put up a real fight? Like, what are the odds its still underway when the season picks up, and how would that even be handled--especially if, say, the court rules in Brady's favor, but after he's already missed games?
I said it once and I'll say it again, if Brady, the NFLPA, and Kessler beat Goodell in court and get the suspension totally rescinded, this will be seen as a vindication of the Patriots as a whole. Kraft had little to no chance of beating the NFL penalty and fell on his sword for the team and the league without admitting any wrongdoing. A Brady victory against Goodell will enable the Patriots to claim that they were innocent all along and were bullied by Goodell into accepting the penalty. Sure, some fans of other teams will continue to hate the Patriots, but that would have been true no matter what. So, I'm rooting for Brady to take this all the way till he gets no suspension.
twothousandone said:
This seems unlikely. But if they did, I would hope they would have admitted it in the style of Spygate, rather than openly demanding an apology, posting a website-takedown of the Wells report, then following it up with a contrite tail-between-legs statement like that. If they really did cheat here then I'm even more disappointed with Kraft for egging on the NFL into this full-blown circus.
I would clearly rather have Kraft go out guns-blazing but I also don't want to blame the victim.
I'm not really even upset with McNally for taking a piss.
The problem with all of this now (leaving aside the 1st and 4th rounders) is that Kraft's position will be taken as a tacit admission of guilt. That part sucks and it would have been good to at least clarify more firmly that there is no admission of guilt.
I'm not really even upset with McNally for taking a piss.
The problem with all of this now (leaving aside the 1st and 4th rounders) is that Kraft's position will be taken as a tacit admission of guilt. That part sucks and it would have been good to at least clarify more firmly that there is no admission of guilt.