Kraft sits on the NFL's finance and compensation committees, as well as the management councilNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The charges against Patriots Owner Robert Kraft for allegedly soliciting sexual services "could diminish" his standing among NFL owners "just as his skill sets and relationships are needed," according to Ken Belson of the N.Y. TIMES. The NFL's TV contracts are up for renewal in two years, and the league "would like new players like Amazon to jump into the fray." Negotiations are "likely to be complicated as the league and networks figure out how to value rights for streaming and other new technology." Amid the solicitation case in Florida, it is "unclear how involved Kraft will be in league business in the coming months." The NFL is preparing "not only for talks with television networks but also for negotiations with the players’ union, whose contract expires at the end of next season." Kraft "sits on the finance and compensation committees, and the management council, which represents the league in labor talks." In ownership circles, Kraft is "known to act as a kind of shadow commissioner, forming close relationships with sponsors, vendors, media companies and even" the NFLPA, while "pursuing back-channel communications that can sometimes circumvent his fellow owners and league officials" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/4). SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL's Daniel Kaplan notes Kraft "typically would be scheduled to go to this week’s NFL committee meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., but there is no word yet on whether he will attend." But the larger question "centers around Kraft’s standing within ownership circles and whether he’ll retain the same sway as a power broker in the upcoming broadcast and labor negotiations" (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/4 issue).
CRIME & PUNISHMENT? NBCSPORTS.com's Peter King writes regardless of the legal outcome in Florida, it is "more likely than not Kraft will be suspended" by Commissioner Roger Goodell (NBCSPORTS.com, 3/4). In San Diego, Nick Canepa wrote Kraft "should be removed" from the Patriots front office, as his situation has similarities to that of former Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson, who was "ousted for sexual harassment" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/3).
