Kraft's response

NEPats1 said:

Rappoport on NFL network just said Kraft will still accept the punishment.

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So which one is it? I took his words to mean quite clearly, something's coming. No way in hell would it make any sense to accept that punishment.

But I dont want to get myself too excited.....

There is a group of lawyers across the nation salivating at having a shot at this one.

Big-T said:

Isn't Kraft buddies with John Kerry and a number of other political types?

With this + the use of past tense, hopefully Kraft is going to go nuclear.

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Don't hold your breath.

PATSNUTme said:

"Despite our conviction that there was no tampering with footballs, it was our intention to accept any discipline levied by the league. Today’s punishment, however, far exceeded any reasonable expectation. It was based completely on circumstantial rather than hard or conclusive evidence."

The bolded words!!!!!! I don't know what the hell some of you guys want. This is a declaration of war by Kraft.

Just remember his legal options could be limited because of his contractual obligations of being an NFL franchise owner. Let's see what actions he take in the coming days and weeks.

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At least he is admitting he was wrong. One step on a thousand mile journey, Bobby.

patsinthesnow said:

Too weak. No call to action to fight.

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Your reading comprehension is lacking.

".....it WAS our intention to accept any discipline levied by the league. Today’s punishment, however, far exceeded any reasonable expectation.

Pretty obvious that he is signaling that their intention is now changed.

sb1 said:

Statement from Robert Kraft
Statement from Robert Kraft: “Despite our conviction that there was no tampering with footballs, it was our intention to accept any discipline levied by the league. Today’s punishment, however, far exceeded any reasonable expectation. It was based completely on circumstantial rather than hard or conclusive evidence.

“We are humbled by the support the New England Patriots have received from our fans throughout the world. We recognize our fans’ concerns regarding the NFL’s penalties and share in their disappointment in how this one-sided investigation was handled, as well as the dismissal of the scientific evidence supported by the Ideal Gas Law in the final report.

“Tom Brady has our unconditional support. Our belief in him has not wavered.”

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pathetic. unless theres more to come. i was hoping for something a lot stronger then that.

NE_Zealot said:

Yeah. I believe they are and have additional punishments as well. I can't believe the idiots had an electronic paper trail about screwing with the footballs. If Brady has damning emails/texts on his phone he is also an idiot. If I were engaging in subterfuge it would be verbal communication only. There's a reason people meet under bridges at midnight in the movies.

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That would be circumstantial evidence though, and that's only good enough for the accusing party, unless of course it's the NFL being accused. I agree with you, though. It occurred to me that any decently run deflation scheme someone would have said hey maybe lets keep this to verbal in person meetings. In fact it didn't need anything more than one meeting. I would have said, look deflate the balls as much as you can legally, and if they're to my liking I'll throw you some autographed memorabilia. This conversation ever happened. This message will self destruct in 5..., 4...

Kraft could call for godell's removal at the next owners meeting.

festy1986 said:

Weak as weak gets. Are they still not doing anything about this?

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Read what he said. "it was our intention....far exceeded any reasonable expectation."

That's CEO speak for "See you in court, mother ****er."

Also, I think there's a lot else he might do.

This is your defining moment Mr. Kraft - your supporters want to fight and defy. How will you handle it?

sb1 said:

Statement from Robert Kraft
Statement from Robert Kraft: “Despite our conviction that there was no tampering with footballs, it was our intention to accept any discipline levied by the league. Today’s punishment, however, far exceeded any reasonable expectation. It was based completely on circumstantial rather than hard or conclusive evidence.

“We are humbled by the support the New England Patriots have received from our fans throughout the world. We recognize our fans’ concerns regarding the NFL’s penalties and share in their disappointment in how this one-sided investigation was handled, as well as the dismissal of the scientific evidence supported by the Ideal Gas Law in the final report.

“Tom Brady has our unconditional support. Our belief in him has not wavered.”

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Thanks for that, Bob. Now go take your 6 billion net worth, or whatever it is, and your power and your connections and set about destroying Roger Goodell's life and career.

But our Bob won't do that because he's a lamb, not a lion.

Better then I expected in truth. The past tense of his statement reads to me like.

"Hey Rog, we were prepared to take just the tip in the interest of making this all go away, but you took advantage of my good, natured personality and decided to give us the full shaft. Homey don't play that".

I think it means war... perhaps not the Shock and Awe we all want, but the slow, deliberate unmerciful kind that will do long term damage. At least I hope so.

There's not much he can do. The commissioner has finally say in these types of punishments unfortunately. The only thing he could've done was not support Goodell so much after the last Spygate punishment, but he did. That was his biggest mistake. Goodell's an idiot and shouldn't be in charge.

Good opening salvo from Kraft. He has stated his disappointment and indicates more to come.

Agree with most people here, talk is cheap and Lawyers aint...let's see what happens.

Kraft wasn't going to come out and give a "f*ck the NFL" type statement and it is naive to think he is going to snap his fingers at 9pm on a Monday and Goodell will be gone as the commissioner.

But that statement if he is 100% sincere speaks loudly.

At this point it is lip service. I will wait to see if he actually takes action.

Good start, I like how he closes with "as well as the dismissal of the scientific evidence supported by the Ideal Gas Law in the final report". It's maddening that things like this and the ref not knowing which beat up gauge he used.. or the fact that they measured two different psi levels or.. the other numerous holes in the report, not to mention evidence of the sting right there in the report.. get glossed over.

The collective media is so stupid they missed the best controversy sitting right there in front of them. Maybe it's not to late. This should be the downfall of the current rein in the NFL office. If the Pats fight this from the top down then I'm happy with that. If they have to drag the league down with them.. F**K it. A great Boston sports icon once said "THIS IS OUR F*CKING CITY!!" Well this is our f-ing team and you cant do this **** to us! This aggression will not stand!!

(yes I have been drinking)

Nothing will come of this. Surprised Kraft even went this far. I'm over Kraft. He can go to hell.

OR he gets the current commissioner FIRED. And gets the NEW commissioner to REPEAL the actions of the FORMER commissioner. That scenario APPEALS to me! ;-)

SUING the hell out of the NFL, Roger Goodell, and Troy Vincent, would also be fun to watch!

BradyToAmendola said:

There's not much he can do. The commissioner has finally say in these types of punishments unfortunately. The only thing he could've done was not support Goodell so much after the last Spygate punishment, but he did. That was his biggest mistake. Goodell's an idiot and shouldn't be in charge.

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shmessy said:

Your reading comprehension is lacking.

".....it WAS our intention to accept any discipline levied by the league. Today’s punishment, however, far exceeded any reasonable expectation.

Pretty obvious that he is signaling that their intention is now changed.

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I sure hope so.