Should respond with " Can't wait for the NFC North orphans of the poor to demand the PSI check on Prince Rogers balls next year"Riconway3155 said:
And like clockwork, here is a post from a Packers fan on my newsfeed...
"Patriots wont appeal deflate gate because they know theyre guilty.
Cant win a superbowl without cheating still."
This statement has merit until you consider his limited legal options for relief.Smiling Joe Hesketh said:Kraft needs to step down. He's letting the team get absolutely boned and thats fucking irresponsible of him in the extreme.
because it's the owners vs the NFLPA.TheoShmeo said:I get the Pats not fighting this. Limited options.
I don't get not saying that he understands and respects that Tom might be in a different position, and that Tom has his full support.
SeoulSoxFan said:"Kraft Picks $$$ Over Fans" was my initial choice for the new title thread.
Stitch01 said:I mean, he said in his initial response to the Wells report that fighting is almost certainly futile. While the punishment clearly raised his ire, its not surprising a dude that's been wildly successful in the business world heard what the owners were saying in the press and realized, yeah, its going to be futile.
It also shouldn't be shocking if Goodell drops the Brady suspension next week, as that really makes this whole thing go away.
MetSox1 said:I strongly object to the statement and would have liked to see aa much stronger stand on innocence, but he said one thing that's right on:
As a Patriots fan, you have to have faith and respect for Bob Kraft and the decisions he makes.
Trust in TB12, Trust in BB, Trust in Kraft
19-0
soxhop411 said:
Mike Petraglia @Trags 3m3 minutes ago
Kraft wants Brady to play Sept 10. Reading between the lines with Goodell hearing appeal, suspension might be eliminated
Smiling Joe Hesketh said:Kraft needs to step down. He's letting the team get absolutely boned and thats fucking irresponsible of him in the extreme.
ivanvamp said:No appeal? That sucks. Completely. What did Goodell tell him that made him give in? Or was it the other owners putting pressure on him or what?
and that's different now as opposed to 1 year ago, how?aksoxfan said:Forever labeled as cheaters...
There's the legacy.
rodderick said:So the NFL can go to whatever lengths to protect "the shield' and tarnish the organization, but we're just going to eat shit and accept it because well, the odds of anything coming out of it were slim anyway? Fuck that. If you think the penalties imposed won't be changed, at the very least make a big deal about how much you're being screwed. This is not only a terrible PR hit for the franchise, but for Brady as well.
aksoxfan said:Forever labeled as cheaters...
There's the legacy.
Rudy Pemberton said:
Brady accepting two games would be him admitting guilt too, which would suck. Rather he fight like hell and end up with 4 then give in and take 2, personally.
Smiling Joe Hesketh said:Kraft needs to step down. He's letting the team get absolutely boned and thats fucking irresponsible of him in the extreme.
Exactly the argument that will be used by every hater to cheapen everything the Patriots organization has accomplished. "He caved when he found out they had evidence."H78 said:He knows something we don't. I wonder if Roger revealed to him some bit of evidence that didn't get released to the public.
GregHarris said:I've just lost a lot respect for Kraft.
MetSox1 said:I strongly object to the statement and would have liked to see aa much stronger stand on innocence, but he said one thing that's right on:
As a Patriots fan, you have to have faith and respect for Bob Kraft and the decisions he makes.
Trust in TB12, Trust in BB, Trust in Kraft
19-0
Agree with most of this. But his comment about one team's interest not being above the other 31 WILL BE widely (and deliberately) misconstrued as an admission of guilt. He could have folded his tent (had to really) without handing the press more ammo.TheoShmeo said:I get the Pats not fighting this. Limited options.
I don't get not saying that he understands and respects that Tom might be in a different position, and that Tom has his full support.
PS: And BS on the admission of guilt. If you don't believe you are going to win, fighting just to fight is pointless. I head no words of admission in what he said. I heard that he's part of a club, the club has rules, one of the rules allows the Commish to decide, he doesn't like the decision, but club rules are club rules, and it's time to move on. Nothing in that is an admission.
See this is the kind of ad hoc writing that infuriates me. Mara and Rooney undoubtedly talked with Goodell and played a part in boning their partner for mostly spiteful reasons. But O yes they are such wonderful families and scions. Hate nfl writers.soxhop411 said:Albert Breer @AlbertBreer 3m
3 minutes ago
Hard not to see the legacy of families like the Maras and Rooneys impacting Kraft's decision-making, in considering the league as a whole
The lunacy in all of this has made us look for rational reasons for the NFL's conduct throughout. We've been wrong every step of the way.cshea said:Kraft falling on the sword so Brady gets zero games has to be the deal.
glennhoffmania said:
I didn't mean that Brady was part of the discussion. I meant what if Roger secretly told Kraft that he'll cut it in half only if Kraft shuts up about the team penalties. Then the appeal is heard and Roger cuts it to two games. That can't be kosher, right?
Being a good soldier for the league has gotten the team nothing but a screwjob from the league.BigJimEd said:because it's the owners vs the NFLPA.
Kraft stays on the owners side.
Kraft has always been a good soldier and will apparently continue do.
It will affect the team's rep but Kraft puts the NFL over the Patriots
cshea said:Kraft falling on the sword so Brady gets zero games has to be the deal.
riboflav said:Someone said it upthread but the leaks of a deal make Kraft look like a complete buffoon after that statement.
Two probably doesnt do anything to keep this out of the courts. Unless Kraft were to pressure Brady to accept the (hypothetical) two game deal which (unless there's info we dont know) would be the one "more bad" outcome from this.wiffleballhero said:The lunacy in all of this has made us look for rational reasons for the NFL's conduct throughout. We've been wrong every step of the way.
Kraft is not infallible and I think he fucked up here....not in his caving, but in his support for Goodell during the Ray Rice fiasco. In some ways, he has no right to complain about the draconian commissioner and his nonsensical punishment standards. Bob threw him a life preserver when Goodell was about to drown. Goodell threw Bob an anchor.Number45forever said:Everyone should calm the fuck down with not liking how Kraft handles this. The man is and will forever be a God for saving football in New England. Fuck this entire saga and the NFL and Goodell, leave Kraft out of it.
Smiling Joe Hesketh said:Kraft needs to step down. He's letting the team get absolutely boned and thats fucking irresponsible of him in the extreme.
Smiling Joe Hesketh said:Being a good soldier for the league has gotten the team nothing but a screwjob from the league.
If Kraft puts the NFL over the Pats then he needs to be forcibly retired by Jonathan. He's letting the team have their next 3 seasons irreparably damaged and is getting nothing in return. Shameful.
“It’s been an emotionally charged couple of weeks as all of you know, and I’ve been considering what my options are. And throughout this whole process there have been two polarizing audiences. At one end of the spectrum we’ve had Patriots fans throughout the country who have been so supportive and really inspirational to us and believing in us. But, also mindful, at the other end of the spectrum, there are fans who feel just the opposite. And what I’ve learned is the ongoing rhetoric continues to galvanize both camps. And I don’t see that changing, and they will never agree.
“But the one thing that we all can agree upon is the entire process has taken way too long. And I don’t think anyone can believe that after four months of the AFC Championship Game, we are still talking about air pressure and the PSI in footballs. I think I made it clear when the report came out that I didn’t think it was fair. There was no hard evidence, and everything was circumstantial. And at the same time, when the discipline came out, I felt it was way over the top. It was unreasonable and unprecedented, in my opinion.
“So I have two options: I can try to end it, or extend it. And I have given a lot of thought to both options. The first thing that came to mind is 21 years ago, I had the privilege of going to a meeting similar to what we have here, in Orlando, and being welcomed in an NFL owners’ meeting. So here’s a fan and a former season ticket holder, living a dream and being welcomed in that room. And I got goosebumps that day. And I vowed at that time that I would do everything I could do to make the New England Patriots an elite team, and hopefully respected throughout the country and at the same time, do what I could do to help the NFL become the most popular sport in America.
“You know, what I’ve learned over the last two decades is that the heart and soul and strength of the NFL is a partnership of 32 teams. And what’s become very clear over those very two decades is at no time should the agenda of one team outweigh the collective good of the full 32. So I have a way of looking at problems that are very strong in my mind, and before I make a final decision, I measure nine times and I cut once. And I think maybe if I had made the decision last week it would be different than it is today.
“But believing in the strength of the partnership, and the 32 teams — we have concentrated the power of adjudication of problems in the office of the commissioner. And although I might disagree with what is decided, I do have respect for the commissioner and believe that he’s doing what he perceives to be in the best interests of the full 32. So in that spirit, I don’t want to continue the rhetoric that’s gone on for the last four months. I’m going to accept, reluctantly, what he has given to us, and not continue this dialogue and rhetoric. And we won’t appeal.
“Now, I know that a lot of Patriot fans are going to be disappointed in that decision. But I hope they trust my judgment and know that I really feel at this point in time that taking this off the agenda, this is the best thing for the New England Patriots, our fans and the NFL. And I hope you all can respect that.
“You know, I would normally take questions, but my desire is truly not to continue the rhetoric, and so I’m going to leave this discussion exactly here. Thank you very much.”