Patriots Owner Robert Kraft yesterday said he wrote a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to point out what he termed new facts in the Deflategate case, suggesting he had asked for the first-round draft pick back that the team was docked and for Goodell to drop efforts to suspend QB Tom Brady four games. Kraft said, “I personally wrote a letter to the commissioner, responding to his comment that if any new facts came up he would take them into consideration, and I personally believe when the league made their decision that they did not factor in the ideal gas law, they admitted that publicly." Kraft said he sent the letter more than a month ago. Asked if Goodell had responded, he replied, “Umm,” then paused for a few seconds, and then added, “I am moving on from that.” Asked about Goodell’s job performance, he replied while the Patriots have their issues, the commissioner has done a “very good job,” and the health of the league has never been better. Asked if he requested Goodell drop the Brady suspension, Kraft replied, “You are a wise man,” and then said he was moving on. He had a similar comment concerning the first-round pick (Daniel Kaplan, Staff Writer).
STILL UP IN THE AIR: NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy said that the league and Goodell "have no comment on whether they are considering restoring the Patriots' pick." The NFL has said that it "conducted random spot checks at games last season to ensure proper procedures for the handling of footballs was followed." Kraft said, "They did their own testing, they have results, but for whatever reason, they haven’t shared them with any of us. And we actually requested at the beginning of the season that they test every game throughout the league and do that. But they chose to do it their way" (USA TODAY, 3/22). Kraft said that he "doesn't sense momentum among his fellow owners to overturn the penalties." Kraft: "I wish they would, because they could be in a similar position" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 3/21). Kraft added, "We have our issue, that we don’t think has been handled well, but it is what it is" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/22).
GIVING FANS WHAT THEY WANT: Kraft said, "When you join the NFL, it's a partnership, and you agree to abide by certain rules and conditions." In Boston, Ron Borges writes what Kraft "did yesterday was play to the mob." He "did a Donald Trump," and gave fans "what they wanted to hear." But owners "have no legal recourse in disciplinary matters" (BOSTON HERALD, 3/22). ESPN BOSTON's Mike Reiss wrote little Kraft "could say would appease part of the fan base that believes he too quickly accepted" Goodell’s penalties last May. So Kraft "essentially asked fans to consider the full body of his 22 years of work and give him the benefit of the doubt." Kraft yesterday "sounded like a boxer who had made it to the end of the fight, knowing that the judges holding the scorecards wouldn’t soon be announcing a decision in his favor" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 3/21). ESPN's Mark Dominik said, "I don't think anything's going to change, but it's just nice for Patriot Nation to know that their owner is still sticking up for them." ESPN's Adam Schefter added, "It's a fun storyline, but there's not a lot that the league can do about it right now" ("NFL Insiders," ESPN2, 3/21). In Boston, Jeff Howe notes Kraft "knows there has been criticism from the fan base and wanted to send a message that they have continued to fight the league over the issue" (BOSTON HERALD, 3/22). SI.com's Don Banks wrote Kraft was "addressing his team's outraged fans more than he was the commissioner." Kraft "wants to be seen as a good league guy, and he wants to also represent the fighting nature of his fans." It is "difficult to convincingly pull off that tricky little tandem, because it's two wildly different constituencies" (SI.com, 3/21).
LAST-DITCH EFFORT: In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy writes Kraft "is ridiculous" and he "wants it both ways." Kraft "wants his draft picks, but also wants to keep his seat at the table with the other big-boy owners." Shaughnessy: "You need to choose, Bob. Or keep quiet. You elected to roll over for the Commish and other owners last May. Don't try to impress your fans now. Own it" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/22). NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said, "Nobody -- nobody -- believes the Patriots have any chance of getting their draft picks back, especially their first-round pick" ("NFL Total Access," NFL Network, 3/21). CSN New England's Mike Felger said the Krafts "continue to just sort of passive-aggressively have one foot in, one foot out, and I can see that being frustrating to fans"("Early Edition," CSN New England, 3/21). In N.Y., Bart Hubbuch writes Kraft "tossed a Hail Mary that's sure to be batted down in the end zone" by Goodell. A league source said that there is "no chance" the Patriots get back their two draft picks (N.Y. POST, 3/22). NFL Network's Albert Breer said Kraft's effort "just felt halfway." Breer: "It doesn't feel like he is all in. He's not willing to go right at the league. ... It's not combative enough" ("Sports Tonight," CSN New England, 3/21). Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio said the Patriots have "no chance of getting back" their draft picks ("PFT," NBCSN, 3/22).
