NFL pundits looking for Patriots brass to call out Commissioner Roger Goodell in wake of Deflategate and the team's Super Bowl win on Sunday have "been disappointed," as the team has "all but snubbed" Goodell since Sunday night, according to Ken Belson of the N.Y. TIMES. Patriots QB Tom Brady, coach Bill Belichick and Owner Robert Kraft instead of confronting Goodell "face to face" have "taken a subtler route." During both the Lombardi Trophy presentation Sunday night and yesterday's Super Bowl MVP ceremony, the three "spoke with their bodies, not their mouths." Goodell yesterday "made a humorless introduction." He said to Brady and Belichick, "It is a great honor for us, for me, personally, to have both these guys here this morning.” But after accepting his MVP award and answering questions, Brady’s actions "spoke volumes." Rather than "take a seat alongside Goodell while Belichick went to the lectern, Brady left the room -- leaving Goodell sitting alone off to the side as Belichick answered questions" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/7). In N.Y., Gary Myers notes Brady yesterday "smiled his way" through the MVP photo op with Goodell. Myers: "Call it Deflategate Détente" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/7). In Buffalo, Vic Carucci writes Brady "took the high road," as he "didn't bash the commissioner as others, including his father, had on his behalf." Goodell "took the high road, too." Deflategate "never was specifically addressed, but it was the overinflated elephant in the room" (BUFFALO NEWS, 2/7). Author Jon Acuff tweeted, "Just remember, nothing that happens to you this week will be as awkward as Roger Goodell handing Tom Brady the Super Bowl trophy." Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee tweeted Goodell "got owned by the Pat fans in Houston." ESPN's Linda Cohn: "Goodell owes a lot to the QB and team he tried to ruin. Best Super Bowl ever by the best QB ever. Your welcome. Signed, Pats fans." The Boston Globe's Dugan Arnett noted at today's Patriots championship parade, there are "a lot of not-so-nice signs and chants aimed at Roger Goodell." CBS News' Omar Villafranca: "What's the over/under on the number of Anti-Roger Goodell signs at the Patriots parade? Whatever it is....I'll take the OVER."
TAKING THE HIGH ROAD: The N.Y. Daily News' Frank Isola noted Brady and Belichick on Sunday “bailed Roger Goodell out" during the trophy presentation, as they "spoke to him, they shook his hand, they didn’t make it worse than it had to be." Isola: "They handled it with class.” ESPN’s J.A. Adande said Kraft “handled it in the classiest way possible.” But the Boston Globe's Bob Ryan noted Kraft "didn’t even look him in the eye when he took the trophy” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 2/6). The N.Y. Daily News' Pat Leonard noted Brady "did come off looking good and taking the high road" ("Daily News Live," SNY, 2/6). ESPN's Dan Le Batard said, "My favorite moment was when Bob Kraft was saying this was the sweetest one because of all the things we've been through the last couple of years, and you know what I'm talking about." Le Batard: "You see Goodell … sort of disappear in the background” (“Highly Questionable,” ESPN, 2/6). The N.Y. Daily News' Bob Raissman: “These owners have huge egos, they’re billionaires. He wanted, in his own way, to get revenge, his pound of flesh. This was planned out. ... If he really wanted to (speak his mind honestly) he would have said, ‘Look, we were falsely accused of something here by this man.’ He didn't go that far, so I don't give him a lot of credit. He beat around the bush” (“Daily News Live,” SNY, 2/6).
JUST GETTING STARTED: Falcons Owner Arthur Blank said of his team's Super Bowl loss, "It’s not ending of a journey for us. You have to raise the bar. That’s what you’re always trying to do in the world of business and it’s the same in the world of sports as well" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/7).
