Bob Kraft Statement

[resdubwhite]

And he didn't lose either one of them with this statement.

I hope not.

 

[reflexblue]

I just read Dez Bryant is suing the league over his catch being ruled no good for $88 million. Dez sez that that ruling deprived him and the team of moving on. While that suet is a little ridiculous i wish kraft had one tenth of bryants hutzpah and threatened to sue because the dog and pony show is ruining the teams preperation for the SB.

 

[Sicilian]

It may be smart business, but it says exactly what you state. I'm not betting my reputation means I'm not sure they did nothing wrong. Whether that's good PR is separate issue. But in this case perception is reality.

It's good PR if it helps his public relations. If this thread is the public (and they are), then no it was not good PR. It was a bigger failure then saying nothing.

Are YOU sure they did nothing wrong? I think it's very possible they did nothing wrong, and even if they did I think this has been blown way out of proportion, but if you asked me to bet $100 that they didn't intentionally deflate the balls, I wouldn't take the bet.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

How can you all expect Robert Kraft to issue an official statement defending his coach and quarterback when the NFL has not accused the Patriots of anything?

The NFL is investigating underinflated balls. That's very specific language. They're not investigating tampering, they're not investigating deflating balls, and they were very specific in saying that they were not in any judgment at this time.

I think the NFL is as inept as everyone else, but the language was precisely chosen so that no one could take the statement and then infer that the NFL was accusing the Patriots of deflating or tampering with the balls. So if that's their official statement, how can you then expect Robert Kraft to issue a statement that says, in effect, "the league's investigating the under-inflation of the balls, but my team didn't do it."

I mean, behind the scenes they could very well suspect tampering, but publicly they've not accused the Patriots. Only the media has done that. For Kraft to issue some fire and brimstone statement in defense of his team would be to defend against accusations that, officially, do not exist at this time.

Thanks...... that does put it into better context for me.

 

[Boots Electric]

I know what Kraft is doing, and I can go along with it, if he hadn´t rush to the defense of Goodell during the Ray Rice situation. That was a mess created by Goodell and Kraft stood by him.

This situation is looking more and more as an overblown situation and Kraft hasn´t said anything in defense of Belichick or Brady or his brand. Again, I get it why he´s taking this stance but this stance will upset Patriots fans.

 

[Dr Pain]

I know what Kraft is doing, and I can go along with it, if he hadn´t rush to the defense of Goodell during the Ray Rice situation. That was a mess created by Goodell and Kraft stood by him.

This situation is looking more and more as an overblown situation and Kraft hasn´t said anything in defense of Belichick or Brady or his brand. Again, I get it why he´s taking this stance but this stance will upset Patriots fans.

Kraft can take care of all Corleone family debts another day on his terms. Me I'd hire PI's to be all over Isray 24/7 and ruin him but I can be very mean.

 

[Bobsyouruncle]

I just don't see the upside for the NFL to find the Patriots guilty- before or after the SB.

They are better off saying the game day operations team had some operational mishaps and the league will be earnest and transparent in correcting the issue for the SB and 2015 season.

Sweep it under the rug and move on.

Sure, but next year it will be that the endzone was two inches too big, or something else. If the NFL doesn't want to deal with these ludicrous scandals every six months as seems to be becoming the norm they should deal with this the same way we learned to deal with baseless accusations as children. You point out the baseless accusations are sour grapes from sore losers. Something like, "After losing to the Patriots 45-7, Colts owner Jim Irsay accused the Patriots of altering balls. It appears there was no basis for that accusation."

People will think before making baseless accusations if they get humiliated for doing it.

 

[Kdo5]

Are YOU sure they did nothing wrong? I think it's very possible they did nothing wrong, and even if they did I think this has been blown way out of proportion, but if you asked me to bet $100 that they didn't intentionally deflate the balls, I wouldn't take the bet.

I would because I have faith that when Belichick and especially Brady are saying explicitly that they had no knowledge or tampered with the balls. Tom also said it to the team behind closed doors.

I've been blessed to watch TB12 through the years and have faith in his character that he wouldn't lie.

Apparently Kraft may not have that kind of faith in certain people.

 

[Bobsyouruncle]

Are YOU sure they did nothing wrong? I think it's very possible they did nothing wrong, and even if they did I think this has been blown way out of proportion, but if you asked me to bet $100 that they didn't intentionally deflate the balls, I wouldn't take the bet.

I would, but it doesn't matter. Kraft had three days to investigate and he knows them personally. The way I look at it, the way many will look at it is that if he must know by now of their guilt or innocence. And that statement didn't say innocence.

 

[BigEZPatsFan76]

Sure, but next year it will be that the endzone was two inches too big, or something else. If the NFL doesn't want to deal with these ludicrous scandals every six months as seems to be becoming the norm they should deal with this the same way we learned to deal with baseless accusations as children. You point out the baseless accusations are sour grapes from sore losers. Something like, "After losing to the Patriots 45-7, Colts owner Jim Irsay accused the Patriots of altering balls. It appears there was no basis for that accusation."

People will think before making baseless accusations if they get humiliated for doing it.

ON top of that, I think there should be severe consequences against the party(s) making allegations like this, that prove to be unfounded. Oh, I don't know, like say fining the organization a few million dollars, losing first and second round draft picks, and suspending the parties who make the allegations for a year or two (like Irsay). I think this crap would stop real fast. Make it a CRAPS SHOOT.

 

[FrodoBagginz]

Are YOU sure they did nothing wrong? I think it's very possible they did nothing wrong, and even if they did I think this has been blown way out of proportion, but if you asked me to bet $100 that they didn't intentionally deflate the balls, I wouldn't take the bet.

I don't believe Brady and Belichick would lie. They didn't lie about anything during spygate. I believe them 100%.

 

[PATSNUTme]

for kissing the NFL's ass way too much.

 

[DefenseRules]

I hope The Pats win this game. Then Brady can retire and go live his life in peace, BB too. If you guys think that this stuff doesn't bother them, think again. These guys are HUMAN. It does appear that Kraft is not supporting the QB and Coach from that statement. I hope it's not true, if it is, shame on him.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I think Kraft was playing it cautious. The NFL hasn't made any accusations or come to any conclusions yet. All they do know is that the balls used in the first half appeared to be underinflated and they have no clue how it happened or at least haven't shared that with us yet.

 

[FalconHeavy]

I have only one thing to say after reading this .....

Mark Cuban is a f****** oracle !

 

[Dr Pain]

I would, but it doesn't matter. Kraft had three days to investigate and he knows them personally. The way I look at it, the way many will look at it is that if he must know by now of their guilt or innocence. And that statement didn't say innocence.

Innocent of what? They have not been accused of anything by the NFL

 

[FrodoBagginz]

ON top of that, I think there should be severe consequences against the party(s) making allegations like this, that prove to be unfounded. Oh, I don't know, like say fining the organization a few million dollars, losing first and second round draft picks, and suspending the parties who make the allegations for a year or two (like Irsay). I think this crap would stop real fast. Make it a CRAPS SHOOT.

The problem with this is that, while the investigation might not turn up any evidence they did anything wrong, lack of evidence doesn't mean they didn't do anything. There simply would be no proof. What would have to happen is the NFL would have to find proof that they DIDN'T do anything. Only then can there be a possibility of the Colts being punished. But it doesn't look like that is going to be the case...it will be a lack of evidence the Pats did anything wrong.

 

[Sicilian]

I would, but it doesn't matter. Kraft had three days to investigate and he knows them personally. The way I look at it, the way many will look at it is that if he must know by now of their guilt or innocence. And that statement didn't say innocence.

I don't believe Brady and Belichick would lie. They didn't lie about anything during spygate. I believe them 100%.

I hope you're both right, and if there was nothing at stake I would guess they're telling the truth too. I just don't see any real benefit to Kraft sticking his neck out there based on what's come out so far.

I will concede this though: He didn't have to come out and say he believes their innocence outright. It probably would have been nice to hear him make some kind of comment about taking every rumored report with a grain of salt, or to wait for official reports from the NFL before drawing any conclusions. That would have gone a long way I think to showing his stance on the media storm, without tying him to a guilty/innocence belief (if he wants to avoid that).

So you're right in that the statement wasn't perfect, IMO.

 

[FalconHeavy]

Kraft... really REALLY ?? not even a hint of "we believe and support our HC and QB" If I'm BB or TFB, I will be mighty disappointed and pissed

 

[Big-T]

The league statement says they're investigating why there was an issue with the Footballs, not the Patriots.

The Patriots are just a part of the investigation, not the target of. If you read they're also looking at other teams and other possible factors when sabotage/doctoring is ruled out.

For Robert Kraft to say "we did nothing wrong!" would make the NFL think they did do something wrong.