Mr Kraft, The Time has Come To Ask: Whose Side Are You On?

AndyJohnson said:

What would that accomplish?
Do you really think a statement by Bob Kraft is going to affect anyone's opinion on this at all?
If you think the Pats are scum, you will dismiss it.
If you think the Pats did not wrong, you will not be moved.
If you are in the middle and waiting for facts, you will dismiss it as non-factual.

Other than fans wanting to feel their big brother threatened the bully, what is the point?

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You very well might be right. But I'm not as certain he couldn't impact media reaction - which trickles down to fan reaction. If you can get enough Tom Currans in the world who actually have some perspective and can frame these things in a rational light, then the Michael Wilbons start to look like the idiots they are - even to the idiots reading/watching him.

BradyManny said:

Ideally, shouldn't he though? Those are people who could be buying Patriots uniforms, supporting the New England Patriots. Very few fan bases in the country have loyal fans and/or teams worth rooting for. Isn't Kraft in the market for any football fans looking for a team bandwagon to hop on? Isn't that good business?

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People who are lynching the Patriots are not Patriot fans or potential Patriots fans.
People who are jumping to conclusion now are jumping because the New England Patriots are.... and what comes next does not matter. Any impartial observer will wait for the facts. Bob Kraft telling his version isn't going to influence anyone.

Because I'm not sure he can afford not to. It's part of his job, unfortunately. But, you might be right that he can only do more harm than good. I'm not sure if I agree, yet, but I do think it's a valid point that it might be pissing in the wind either way.

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Its not his job to publicly respond to unfounded rumors on a topic that is under investigation.
It is a perfectly valid response of an innocent man to let the investigation speak for him.

BradyManny said:

You very well might be right. But I'm not as certain he couldn't impact media reaction - which trickles down to fan reaction. If you can get enough Tom Currans in the world who actually have some perspective and can frame these things in a rational light, then the Michael Wilbons start to look like the idiots they are - even to the idiots reading/watching him.

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Again, who is your audience? Currans article hit home with Pats fans, and I'm sure Colts fans think Curran is a hack and Kravitz is a HOF writer.
What is wrong with letting it run its course.
You seem to want a national debate. Why engage the haters?

AndyJohnson said:

It is a perfectly valid response of an innocent man to let the investigation speak for him.

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I wish/hope you were right. These days, thanks to the speed at which news travels and at which people form opinions, I am not sure.

But overall, I would say your larger point has merit, and I am less sure now than when we started this debate if Kraft has any practical means in which to affect public opinion.

AndyJohnson said:

You seem to want a national debate. Why engage the haters?

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Oh believe me, I do not want to engage the haters. Again, I thought Brady's response was perfect - it put down the haters and made him seem like Goliath getting hit with a pebble from down below.

My hope was Kraft could do likewise - I find some of your points persuasive, and am not sure if my hopes were realistic.

BradyManny said:

I wish/hope you were right. These days, thanks to the speed at which news travels and at which people form opinions, I am not sure.

But overall, I would say your larger point has merit, and I am less sure now than when we started this debate if Kraft has any practical means in which to affect public opinion.

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The points on your side are it will make us feel better and give something from the Patriots mouths to refute the haters. I think the potential of making things worse outweighs the impatience of letting it run its course.

BradyManny said:

Oh believe me, I do not want to engage the haters. Again, I thought Brady's response was perfect - it put down the haters and made him seem like Goliath getting hit with a pebble from down below.

My hope was Kraft could do likewise - I find some of your points persuasive, and am not sure if my hopes were realistic.

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Kraft can't call a press conference and laugh it off as stupid though.
Worse case he will be interviewed in Az next week and then can brush it off.

AndyJohnson said:

Kraft can't call a press conference and laugh it off as stupid though.
Worse case he will be interviewed in Az next week and then can brush it off.

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Fair enough.

The team is judged by how they respond, what face they put on for the public. If Bob Kraft comes out with a defensive screed about how this needs to stop, he looks weak and guilty.

If he comes out and gives it the attention it deserves (none), it looks like we have nothing to hide, and we're on to Seattle.

A news cycle is so damn short these days. It's a 3 day cycle of:

1. event
2. reaction
3. reaction to reaction
4. 3rd hand reaction
5. nausea
6. vomiting
7. reaction to the vomiting
8. no one cares anymore

FCB02062 said:

Krafty Bob should go to one of his stooges in the national media, whoever that may be - and get them to write a piece discrediting "deflategate". They've done it before when they were receiving bad press - aftermath of Mankins & Seymour trades, aftermath of letting Welker go, etc.

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Ummmm..... the Mankins, Seymour and Welker "trades' (one was not a trade, btw) all happened to work out pretty damn well for the New England Patriots.

It wouldn't take a 'media stooge of Kraft' to write that each one had a lot of merit to it.

Everyone except the complete delusionals can see that the Mankins and Welker transactions are already turning out as big winners for the Patriots long-term........and we all loved Big Sey, but he never turned Oakland into a winning team and was watching from his couch Sunday night as the draft pick we got for him scored a "tackle eligible" TD in the AFCCG.

"...

AndyJohnson said:

So you don't know, and in response to that want to act like a little *****?
Why can't you just admit you were wrong? No one will think less of you. You made an incorrect statement, its not the end of the world.

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"...can't ...admit you were wrong..." Jesus, that's rich coming from you. See ya, you dink (after all, you did say I'm acting like a little *****.). Finally, you want to know how the Colts will benefit? If Michael Wilbon and Greg Doyel get their stated way, the Patriots will be vacated from the Super Bowl and the Colts will go. Think that's ridiculous? Check the internet because that opinion is spreading like wildfire.

AndyJohnson said:

What would you suggest he do?

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Note that I indicated that Mr. Kraft need not jump the gun immediately but can wait for a day or two to give time for the league to step in (and hopefully clear the air).

If league keeps quiet and allows such stupid smearing to go on unabted, here's a one way of making a statement:

------------------
FROM THE DESK OF
Bob Kraft
Owner
The Pats


TO:
The Commish
NFL


Yo,

Wassup?

Look bro, angst in my crib - patsfans.com.

Home boys buggin n bailing out pretty bad because some busta @ horseshoe claimed my playa's don't have juice and so took some air out of the pigskin.

yeah, true dat.

felt like clockin someone. My boy BB can handle this but in the meantime, can your crew get the media to chill? Know what i am sayin?

Peace out,
The Cadbury Man

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Hello ALL ,,,and let me just start by saying YESSSSSSSSSSS BABY ,,,,,ARIZONA HERE WE COME.
Ok congrats to all and i havnt slept in 2 days from being just happy. But this recent crap has made me angry and whats worse was just listening to butthurt Jerome Betis on First Take ! I just loved Stephen A and how he responded,,,please try to listen to it. Your the man Mr. Stephen A.,,,although admitting he is a New Yorker has nothing but total respect for the Patriots. Bit disappointed in Skip's response to that idiot Betis.
Than again this total nonsense might be a good thing for us going into Arizona ! Just might make the players play angry and prove to the haters by winning and sticking 2 fingers up to them.
I wanted Seattle watching the NFC Game,,,,,and i am so confident we will win INSHALLAH.
Going to be there to witness History and watch Tommy get his fourth Ring. God Bless and love and greetings from Bahrain.

I have totally Embraced The Dark Side

PatsWickedPissah said:

I have totally Embraced The Dark Side

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Have some cookies.

AndyJohnson said:

What would you suggest he do?

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Sorry about the previous post andy, couldn't resist it.

btw, I am on the side of waiting for a few days until the facts come out and not react blindly. But then, I would not like to stretch it for weeks.

Here are a few thoughts on why and how this could be handled either by Mr. Kraft or the Pats FO.

- Any claim that casts one's integrity into doubt has to be dealt with. Especially by the owner of such a popular and successful franchise, who has already been smeared in the past.

- I read somewhere that saying nothing may be noble but fatal in public relations. Can't agree more in this case given that even the national media are reporting it as if we just committed murder.

- in this age of internet and instant communication, why not give out the facts to clear public misconception and then a simple rebuttal (I know, it is not our duty, but it is our name that is being sullient by ignorant morons in the media)?

So, what can Mr. Kraft do?

- as some suggested, have a PR person (But NOT the guys who worked on camera-gate in 2007!) issue a pointed rebuttal.

- Call Goodell and demand that he address the issue right away instead of allowing it to snowball and disract everyone next week.

- leak the above to the press.

- if BB is confident that there is nothing to be questioned in the team's process/methods with respect to this issue, have - or HIRE - a savy media footbal person to hold a PC and address the questions. Humor and a positive presentation will go a long way in muting this nonsense and hopefully put us back on a positive limelight. (this will not work for the Pats because BB and Brady are the face of this franchie; maybe have Brady do the PC with his usual charm?)

If above does not work, just win the SB a few more times baby.

Nothing succeeds like success.

GO PATS!!

NYCPatsFan said:

Note that I indicated that Mr. Kraft need not jump the gun immediately but can wait for a day or two to give time for the league to step in (and hopefully clear the air).

If league keeps quiet and allows such stupid smearing to go on unabted, here's a one way of making a statement:

------------------
FROM THE DESK OF
Bob Kraft
Owner
The Pats


TO:
The Commish
NFL


Yo,

Wassup?

Look bro, angst in my crib - patsfans.com.

Home boys buggin n bailing out pretty bad because some busta @ horseshoe claimed my playa's don't have juice and so took some air out of the pigskin.

yeah, true dat.

felt like clockin someone. My boy BB can handle this but in the meantime, can your crew get the media to chill? Know what i am sayin?

Peace out,
The Cadbury Man

-----------------

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Also, enclose the bill for the couch cleaning.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...s-nervous-to-be-around-kraft-tonight.1115186/

If the comimissioner wrote this today:

Any reporter who intentionally spreads falsehoods about the league or any team will not be allowed to attend games, NFL events, or press conferences. That is all, thank you.

Sports media soap opera reporting would be largely cleaned up by tomorrow. Reporters are parasites, threaten to remove their host.

Perception is everything. I know someone, casual NFL fan, definitely not a Pats hater, thought practices were taped. Why? Because the Pats did a piss poor job of defending themselves. That's why I think the Pats need a definitive response to kill this silly accusation.

patsfan13 said:

BB will play the us against the world card. The players will be told they are disrespected and enraged by the time they take the field in Phoenix. The Hawks will suffer the consequences.

BB is probably thrilled by this as a tool to prepare the team.

That said the OP is correct, Kraft should call out the drug addict owner of the Dolts for leaking this to his fluffer beat reporter Kravitz.

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Yep, and as far as I am concerned since the Colts seemed to have filed a "formal complaint" here, this should now be a craps shoot. If the Pats are cleared of any wrong doing, the Colts should suffer a million dollar fine, and lose both their first and second round draft picks in 2015 Draft, and Irsay suspended for an entire year. I am sorry, but they made the allegation. If they can't prove it, the hammer should drop on them