Menu
Franchises

Kraft Says Patriots Played By Rules, Demands Apology From League If No Wrongdoing Found

Patriots Owner Robert Kraft yesterday addressed the Deflategate controversy for the first time and "strongly expressed his belief that no league rules were broken" during the Patriots-Colts AFC Championship, according to Michael Whitmer of the BOSTON GLOBE. Kraft read from a prepared statement and took "no questions during his address." Kraft: "I want to make it clear, that I believe unconditionally that the New England Patriots have done nothing inappropriate in this process to be in violation of NFL rules.” Kraft said Patriots QB Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick "are my guys ... and I have never known them to lie to me." Kraft said that he "welcomed the league’s investigation, but all but demanded an apology from the NFL if it clears the Patriots of any wrongdoing." Kraft: "If the investigation is not able to definitively determine that our organization tampered with the air pressure in the footballs, I would expect and hope that the league would apologize to our entire team, and in particular, Coach Belichick and Tom Brady for what they have had to endure this past week. I am disappointed in the way this entire matter has been handled and reported upon" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/27). In Chicago, Patrick Finley notes Kraft wrote the statement yesterday "on the Patriots' charter flight" to Glendale for Super Bowl XLIX (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 1/27). The NFL "did not immediately respond to a request for a reaction to Kraft’s comments" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/27).

ONE FOR THE AGES: In Boston, Dan Ventura writes Kraft "put on a performance for the ages" (BOSTON HERALD, 1/27). In N.Y., Carl Nelson notes Kraft was "visibly angry" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/27). Also in N.Y., Mike Vaccaro writes it was "quite a show, and you can only imagine how this was received in the commissioner’s office." Kraft, like Brady and Belichick "before him, plays the victim well." Vaccaro: "Time will tell if it was real or imagined" (N.Y. POST, 1/27). In Boston, Steve Buckley writes Kraft's address was "riveting, unprecedented stuff." Buckley: "Up stepped Kraft. Swinging. Nobody could ever recall one of these obligatory stepping-off-the-plane coaches press conferences being usurped by an owner." Before Belichick and Brady yesterday spoke to the media, Kraft already had "thrown all those haymakers, flying drop kicks and elbows to the noses of all these masked cretins" (BOSTON HERALD, 1/27). ESPN BOSTON's Mike Reiss wrote Kraft "showed a willingness to step away from league-wide interests ... while at the same time putting the NFL in his cross-hairs by requesting an apology" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 1/26). 

COMING OUT SWINGING: YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Wetzel writes Kraft "was angry" and "was stern." He was "fighting ... for his franchise, for his own good family name." Whatever relationship he has with Commissioner Roger Goodell "is now clearly strained." His anger "stems from how, the Patriots believe, the league office keeps leaking to the media damaging evidence of unknown accuracy in the middle of what is supposed to be a closed-lip investigation" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/27). SI.com's Chris Burke wrote it was a "stunning moment." If one thing "seemed clear throughout a tumultuous NFL season, it was that the owners rather unanimously still supported Goodell" (SI.com, 1/26). In Toronto, Bruce Arthur writes, "It’s not every Super Bowl week that the owner of one of the teams involved pre-emptively demands an apology from the NFL, much less one as invested as Kraft." He was "reminding the commissioner who he works for, in public" (TORONTO STAR, 1/27). On Long Island, Bob Glauber writes Kraft "came out swinging ... and delivered a warning of his own to the league he has supported so fervently for more than two decades: Back off." He was "spouting the kind of invective we have almost never seen from the owner of a professional sports team." Kraft "threw down the gauntlet at a league he has accused of leaking selected information about the ongoing investigation into the matter, and by extension told his good friend Roger Goodell to show him conclusive proof of the alleged misdeeds or apologize." Kraft "saved his most stinging condemnation for the NFL." He not only "offered unequivocal support for the two men at the center of the controversy but put a lot of the pressure on himself by delivering such a vigorous defense." It was a "smart move at a perfect time by an owner who got to where he is by making some bold decisions over the years" (NEWSDAY, 1/27). In New Jersey, Tara Sullivan writes for Kraft to "essentially dare the league to prove him wrong, for him to invite investigator Ted Wells to find evidence of wrongdoing, for him to demand an apology from the league if that inquiry yields no proof was shocking" (Bergen RECORD, 1/27). USA TODAY's Lindsay Jones writes Kraft "was angry and defiant about days of speculation" (USA TODAY, 1/27).

PUTTING HIS CREDIBILITY ON THE LINE: In N.Y., Gary Myers writes Kraft has "provided cover" for Belichick and Brady. If the NFL's investigation "turns up empty, then it will be interesting to hear the next conversation between Kraft and Goodell." Kraft has "put a lot on the line here," as he has a "tremendous amount of credibility and it’s all at stake right now" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/27). In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy writes, "Bill and Bob say it isn’t so, therefore it isn’t so. How many kings, dictators, and elected leaders have enjoyed this kind of support from their people?" The owner and coach "have challenged the NFL" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/27). In Newark, Steve Politi wrote Kraft "should be demanding accountability now for the NFL, not worrying about hurt feelings and damaged reputations." He "better be right" (NJ.com, 1/26). FOXSPORTS.com's Alex Marvez wrote, "For his own sake, Kraft must hope and pray his coach and quarterback are being honest with him. Otherwise, the apology Kraft has demanded will be replaced by one of his own" (FOXSPORTS.com, 1/26). In N.Y., Manish Mehta writes Kraft's address was "either a genius move or a premature strike that will prove embarrassing in the coming weeks." Kraft "took it up a notch by placing the pressure squarely on the NFL to deliver the goods or offer a mea culpa" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/27). ESPN N.Y.'s Ian O'Connor wrote Kraft "better be right." If he "isn't, the three-time Super Bowl champ is going to be best remembered as one of the sport's biggest losers" (ESPNNY.com, 1/26). In Denver, Mike Klis writes the Patriots "have an unusual Super Bowl battle cry this week: Bring on Ted Wells!" (DENVER POST, 1/27). 

LET'S GO TO THE VIDEOTAPE: In N.Y., Teri Thompson cited a report from Fox Sports' Jay Glazer which said that the NFL "had interviewed a Patriots’ locker room attendant who took footballs from the officials’ locker room after they had been inspected to another part of the stadium, and were examining videotape of the path the balls took before they ended up on the sidelines." Wells issued a statement "shortly after the report saying he is following 'customary investigative procedures.'" Wells: "I expect the investigation to take at least several more weeks. In the interim, it would be best if everyone involved or potentially involved in this matter avoids public comment concerning the matter until the investigation is concluded" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/27). THE MMQB's Peter King writes now the "question is how cooperative the Patriots and their employees will be." A "key point" is that Wells "did not have subpoena power" when he investigated the Dolphins last year for alleged locker room bullying. He "won’t have it here." While Belichick and Kraft have "pledged their full cooperation." King wonders, "How full is full?" (MMQB.SI.com, 1/27). SI.com's Michael McCann wrote under the header, "Did A Rogue Staffer Do It? How New Revelations Affect Deflategate" (SI.com, 1/26). NEWSDAY's Glauber cites sources as saying that the investigation into the underinflated footballs "began only when the Colts raised the issue with an NFL game day operations official and was not the result of a sting operation." A source said, "There was a situation that was brought up during the game, and it was looked into. That's when it first came up. It was not the result of something that was arranged ahead of time" (NEWSDAY, 1/27). In Boston, Dan Wasserman provides an editorial cartoon on the subject (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 1/27).

FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES: L.A. Times columnist Bill Plaschke said ever since Goodell became commissioner, Kraft "has been almost the adjunct commissioner." Plaschke: "In fact, people have called him that, an assistant commissioner. He's Goodell’s mentor, he’s his confidante. ... The perception is they're too close for comfort, and that’s a very bad optics on that picture.” ESPN’s Israel Gutierrez said, “There is a conflict of interest there. It's an impossible job … because (Goodell) does work for Kraft, but he works for all of the other owners as well." Gutierrez said, "You have to keep an arm's distance with these guys, even though you definitely work for them” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 1/26).

BRUSCHI CHIMES IN
: ESPN's Tedy Bruschi played 13 years with the Patriots, and talked to SI.com's Richard Deitsch about "whether he is unbiased" when it comes to controversial issues that the Patriots are in the middle of. He said, “It is sometimes. ... For goodness gracious, I presented them with the Lamar Hunt Trophy after they won the AFC Championship. So it is hard" (SI.com, 1/25). Bruschi also addressed the topic of criticism of the team coming from his colleagues at ESPN during his weekly appearance on WEEI's "Dale & Holley" show. Bruschi said, "It's a very difficult position for me to be on set with certain people that said certain things that of course I was listening to and I heard. Every man is entitled to their opinion. I disagree with them as strongly as I possibly can because I've been in this organization for 13 years. Tom Brady, I know. Bill Belichick, I know. If vouch is the word, vouch is the word I'll use. I vouch for these guys. I know their character. There isn't anything more that they can do or they can say in terms of what they know what happened” ("Dale & Holley," WEEI, 1/26). Meanwhile, in N.Y., Bob Raissman writes finding anyone with a "truly balanced take on Belichick isn’t easy." Yet ESPN’s Louis Riddick "makes a lot of sense when he opens his mouth" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/27).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2015/01/27/Franchises/Patriots.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2015/01/27/Franchises/Patriots.aspx

CLOSE