The Patriots on Friday shared a February e-mail exchange with NFL Exec VP & General Counsel Jeff Pash on their Wellsreportcontext.com website, "highlighting their frustration with the league over what the team characterized as failing to correct certain Deflategate media reports and investigate where the information originated from," according to Mike Reiss of ESPN BOSTON. Patriots General Counsel Robyn Glaser "wrote to Pash that reporting by the media, including two ESPN reports, was 'profoundly damaging to our brand.'" Pash responded that he "did not condone any media leaks," and that he "didn't believe they came from the NFL" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 7/31). YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Wetzel noted just as a federal judge "told everyone to tone down the rhetoric," Patriots Owner Robert Kraft "went scorched earth" by releasing the email exchange. From the NFL, there was "mostly dismissive arrogance, if any response at all" to the Patriots e-mails. In one e-mail, Patriots VP/Media Relations Stacey James wrote to NFL Senior VP/Communications Greg Aiello, "What is unconscionable to me is that the league holds data that could very well exonerate us from any wrongdoing and completely dismiss the rampant reports and allegations of nefarious actions, but the league refuses to provide the date." Wetzel noted the Patriots released only select e-mails on Friday, so "who knows what else was written in the thread or what else it is holding back." What is "clear is that early on in this" is that the Patriots "should have stopped trusting the NFL." With "nothing left to lose," the Patriots may make NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "wish he handled things differently." These e-mails "aren't about exonerating the Patriots," as that ship "has mostly sailed." It is "about showing a league office drunk on power, overwhelmed by prejudice and completely ignoring the well-reasoned requests of a team" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/31).
YOU'VE GOT MAIL: ESPN BOSTON's Reiss wrote the e-mails "raise significant questions as to how the league handled everything relating to the investigation." It "seems obvious" that Kraft "feels betrayed" by Goodell for siding with Pash. Pash's "apparent indifference to correct the public record throughout the investigation was stunning." Reiss: "Then, to me, Pash's legal tactic to have the suspension confirmed in a New York court was viewed by the club as a low blow and the final straw that sparked the release of the emails" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 8/1). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio wrote the messages "make it obvious that the Patriots repeatedly asked the NFL to direct" Ted Wells to "explore the leaks as part of his investigation, and that the NFL refused to do so." That "directly contradicts" comments from Goodell at a May press conference. Goodell said Wells “had the opportunity to evaluate that" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 7/31).
MORT REPORT: PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Florio looks at ESPN's reporting of the story starting back in January and wrote it is "now clear that ESPN ... was indeed disseminating misinformation." The network "still has not adequately answered for that, beyond Adam Schefter’s recent suggestion" that Chris Mortensen "was indeed lied to by multiple high-level sources" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 8/2).
DAMAGE CONTROL? Dan Pfeiffer, a former senior adviser to President Obama, in a special to GRANTLAND, listed "three PR options" for Patriots QB Tom Brady in the Deflategate case. Pfeiffer: "One thing is clear: Tom Brady is very -- and I mean very -- bad at public relations. Brady’s situation is eerily familiar to anyone who works in politics. ... Here are the three strategies I have seen -- and used -- in countless crises in my eight years advising President Obama that Brady should consider now." Brady could either "apologize," laugh or "attack." If Brady choose to attack, he should "make Goodell -- his record, his process -- the issue; marshal your allies (and there will be plenty in a fight against the commissioner) and muddy the waters to the point that it becomes so messy that everyone moves on." The "rules of crisis communication are fairly simple: Get your story out fast and right, dictate the terms of debate, and look to move the focus on to something or someone else." Brady has done "none of these things." He waited "far too long -- and the longer he waits the harder it will be to regain control of his public narrative." Adopting these strategies "sooner rather than later will begin the process of turning this around" (GRANTLAND.com, 7/31). Meanwhile, BLOOMBERG NEWS' Kavitha Davidson wrote it will be "interesting to see" if Under Armour Founder, Chair & CEO Kevin Plank and the company "maintain their love for Brady." Now that he is suing the NFL, UA "could have a choice on their hands in a few years," as the NFL would "certainly be the white whale of exclusive apparel deals" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 8/1).
ODD BALL: In L.A., Lance Pugmire noted Deflategate is "receiving special treatment" from Las Vegas oddsmakers. One linemaker said that Goodell has "restored some calm to a situation that remains 'highly fluid.'" Because of the NFLPA's attempt to "overturn the suspension in court," MGM Resorts VP/Race & Sports Jay Rood and Westgate Las Vegas Superbook Dir Jay Kornegay said that they have "tightened limits on the amount that can be bet" on the Patriots (L.A. TIMES, 8/2).
