NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell this morning confirmed there "would be no changes” in regards to the league returning the draft picks taken from the Patriots as part of the Deflategate punishment. Speaking at the conclusion of the owners' meeting in Florida, Goodell said there has not been any "new information ... that would cause us to alter the discipline" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/23). Patriots President Jonathan Kraft yesterday appeared on CSN New England and talked about how the Deflategate punishment has unfolded, saying the team is "extremely angry, disappointed, frustrated (and) confused." The team was docked a first-round draft pick this year, a fourth-round pick in '17 and $1M as part of the punishment, and Kraft said, "A lot has gone on behind the scenes over the last couple of months where we feel like we’ve presented a lot of evidence and a lot information which would hopefully lead the league to conclude that maybe the judgment that was initially made was not appropriate. The league has essentially decided otherwise, and it is very frustrating. It is very disappointing." He added, "When you sign up to be a part of this league, you agree essentially not to sue the league, but even if you did go to court ... you win money damages. It’ll take longer than the time before the draft happens, and the money isn’t the issue here. The issue is getting your draft pick back and at some point you just have to realize it’s not going to happen. The best revenge will be putting the best team on the field next year and hopefully having a very successful season.” He added, “I’m not sure the anger and the frustration at our end is ever going to subside, but you channel it away. There'll be a time I’m sure when that’ll drive us in a way that will allow us to do something that’ll be competitively good for the franchise” (“Quick Slants,” CSN New England, 3/22).
GIVE & TAKE: In Boston, Christopher Gasper writes Patriots Owner Robert Kraft is "like a senator who must satisfy his constituents back home while maintaining his carefully cultivated influence and power with his colleagues." He is "asking his fellow owners to do what he didn’t -- speak up and speak out when the league has clearly mishandled a situation that adversely affects another club." Gasper: "Where was Kraft during Bountygate?" Kraft "had his chances to take a stand against unfair punishments" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/23). YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Wetzel wrote Kraft's comments regarding the letter he sent to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "weren't an update on how things are going in the case." Instead, it was him "letting Patriots fans in on the concession of defeat" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/22).
SILENT TREATMENT: In Boston, Ben Volin writes Patriots coach Bill Belichick was "an integral voice at the NFL owners meetings" in '14 and '15, "drafting several rules proposals each season that in his view made the NFL more competitive on the field and a better product for the fans." Before Belichick spoke up in '14, teams "rarely proposed new rules for these meetings," but now every team "seems to have one suggestion or another." However, it appears Belichick at this year's meetings seemingly is "content to play the role of bystander." Belichick "undoubtedly was more involved with the meetings" the last two years. He "showed genuine concern about improving the league and leaving a lasting legacy about how the game is conducted." It "doesn’t take a genius to figure out what’s going on," as this is the "first owners meetings since the Deflategate penalties were handed down." Belichick is also "probably tired of his good ideas getting shot down by the NFL owners." The concept of expanding instant replay "has now been shot down in three straight years," and the NFL "still hasn’t added extra cameras to the sidelines and end zone." So, Belichick has "apparently disengaged from the NFL meetings this year." Volin: "No more rule proposals for the betterment of the game. No bother with the coaches’ photo." Belichick "apparently has had enough" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/23). Also in Boston, Jeff Howe writes Belichick "offered very little" yesterday in responding to questions from the media. He "didn’t want to debate the merits of the 19 rule proposals that have been on the table this week at the league meetings, among an array of other questions." His attitude is "understandable after a long run of his rule proposals was met mostly with resistance" (BOSTON HERALD, 3/23).
