Patriots President Jonathan Kraft on Thursday in his weekly pregame interview on the team's flagship station, WBZ-FM, said that the organization "feels vindicated by a federal court decision to nullify a four-game suspension" for QB Tom Brady, according to Joe McDonald of ESPN BOSTON. Kraft also said that the team "will not try to regain its lost draft picks or fine as part of the original disciplinary action by the league." Kraft: "I would never say never to anything, but as we sit here today it's not our intention, and we're really excited to get going with this season." McDonald noted Kraft "was on a conference call" when the news of Judge Richard Berman's decision to overturn the NFL's disciplinary action against Brady "flashed across his computer screen." Kraft: "I yelled out an expletive and then told the people on the phone, 'Goodbye,' and we started from there." Kraft spoke with Brady on Thursday and said that, although the QB "was happy, the entire situation has been a strain on him and the organization" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 9/3). ESPN BOSTON's Mike Reiss noted Brady "wasn't even present for Thursday night's preseason finale" between the Patriots and Giants at Gillette Stadium, "departing early with other players who weren't dressed for action." However, the signs throughout the stands "captured the essence of the day," which was "unlike any other in franchise history." The "tremors heard around 10 a.m. in Foxborough were a result of screams from Patriots executives as they first learned of Berman's decision, with staff members relaying how it unfolded." The "raw emotion of the reaction -- coupled with the team tweeting a game picture of Brady pumping his right fist into the air -- highlighted how the Patriots, while hopeful of the outcome, realized that there are no sure things in court." As for Thursday night, the Patriots "saluted Brady early in the first quarter with a highlight montage on the videoboards" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 9/3).
PRESS YOUR LUCK: In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy writes, "So when does [Patriots Owner] Bob Kraft reverse himself once more and go after the NFL to reclaim the $1 million fine and loss of two draft picks? If Brady can win in court, why not the Patriots?" Kraft last month said that he "made a mistake when he accepted the historic Deflategate punishments." The Patriots "have Goodell dizzy and staggering on the ropes." Shaughnessy: "Why not go back to court for the cash, and the picks, and the team’s reputation?" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/4).
STILL GUILTY? In L.A., Bill Plaschke writes, "Just because the NFL was dirty, doesn't mean Tom Brady was clean." The suspension "wasn't lifted because Brady didn't do it." The suspension "was lifted because the NFL's penalty was ruled to have been 'legally misplaced.'" Nowhere in the report "does Berman comment on Brady's innocence or guilt." No matter "how badly the NFL handled this, Brady handled it equally as poorly, and 40 pages of legalese can not erase that" (L.A. TIMES, 9/4).
