Patriots' Jonathan Kraft Discusses Boston Herald's Apology
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Kraft Discusses Boston Herald's
Apology On WEEI Radio Show |
Patriots President Jonathan Kraft appeared Thursday on WEEI-AM's "Dennis & Callahan" show to discuss the recent developments in the Spygate scandal, including the Boston Herald's apology for John Tomase's report that the team had videotaped the Rams' Super Bowl XXXVI walk-through. Kraft: "We very much appreciated what the Herald did (Wednesday). In our view, it was probably a little delayed." Kraft: "It should never have been published. Now that being said, it takes a lot for a major U.S. daily newspaper to run an apology." Kraft said the team would "move on with the Herald, and support that this town be a two-newspaper town." When asked if he could quantify the damage to the Patriots brand, Kraft said, "The damage is significant." He added that people around the country "would probably not align our team with an undefeated season or some of the other successes. They would say, 'They're a team that taped the Rams' Super Bowl,' or 'They're a team that broke the rules.'" Kraft said the Patriots have been "under serious scrutiny from major media outlets like the N.Y. Times and ESPN, who have had investigative reporters all over this, and literally, there has been nothing new that's come out other than we were taping opposing coaches' defensive signals." Kraft added there are "certain people at ESPN.com who have shown journalistic standards that are not up to snuff." Kraft: "I'll give the Times credit for one thing: they gave us a chance to comment. … You'd have to ask the reporters or the editors if there's a personal agenda there" (WEEI, 5/15).
SPY-GONE: In DC, Tom Knott writes of U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) under the header, "Specter Needs To Set His Priorities Straight" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 5/16). In L.A., Sam Farmer writes under the header, "Arlen Specter Has Good Reason To Keep An Eye On NFL, Spygate: Senator Might Have An Agenda, But He Could Also Be Right." Farmer: "A greater degree of transparency is essential the next time a Spygate-type situation arises" (L.A. TIMES, 5/16). In N.Y., George Vecsey writes Specter "should not burn taxpayer money to get to the bottom of suspected skullduggery, particularly with other owners not making a public fuss over what [Patriots coach Bill] Belichick or other coaches might have done." Vecsey: "It's up to [NFL Commissioner Roger] Goodell to save us from a Senate hearing" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/16). In St. Louis, Bryan Burwell writes of Spygate, “Why does it still feel like this is being fast-tracked to a convenient conclusion without a truly categorical final chapter?” The Patriots “cheated for seven years, won three Super Bowls, created a dynasty and all it cost them was a $750,000 fine and the loss of one late first-round draft pick. Who says crime doesn’t pay?” (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 5/16).
MEA CULPA: The BOSTON HERALD's John Tomase this morning writes a mea culpa for his February 2 story about the Patriots taping the Rams' walk-through. Tomase: “I didn’t know what happened to the tape or if it ever found its way to the coaching staff, but I felt I had the basic story, and even though I didn’t feel great about going the anonymous source route, this one was ready for print. Turns out I could not have been more wrong." Tomase notes he intends to "continue covering the Patriots to the best of my abilities. … I have relationships to mend within the organization and with my readers. The process of regaining your trust will not be an easy one. … On Feb. 2, I let you all down. Today I hope to begin the long road back" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/16). ESPN.com's Matt Mosley writes, "I'm wondering if the Herald runs this embarrassing apology if Patriots owner Robert Kraft is threatening to sue." Mosley added, "Does John Tomase deserve a second chance? I think he does. But the Herald's plan to keep him on the Patriots beat seems completely misguided" (ESPN.com, 5/16).
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