What does the future hold for Robert Kraft (poll included)

Robert Kraft faces a very difficult balancing act in handling this whole situation. I can count at least 9 distinct constituencies that he must address, some of whom want diametrically opposed outcomes. He has to balance the effects of each action that he takes and decide whether the tradeoff of downside risk with one party is worth the upside gain with another. As a student of complex problem solving and management, I find the whole thing pretty fascinating to watch.

The key stakeholders and my perceptions of their desires are as follows:

1. The Patriots' Fans
   • Want complete exoneration, the picks back, Brady's suspension vacated, an apology from the NFL League HQ, and removal of the bad actors at NFL HQ.
2. The Patriots Coaches & Staff
   • Want to know that their powerful owner will not stand idly by a second time and allow the organization that they work for be railroaded and take the pride they hold in their accomplishments.
3. The Players
   • Want their field general, whom they trust and respect to be protected from slander and debasement by the outsiders, because it undermines and tarnishes their accomplishments too.
4. The Kraft Family (Team Ownership)
   • Want the long term value of their assets to be maximized, which cannot be done if they face a concerted effort to tax them by levying fines and taking draft picks in a kangaroo court.
5. The NFL Owners' Circle
   • Want the public relations messes and the threat of losing their anti-trust exemption to go away. They may be willing to tolerate a certain low level of discord to enable their teams to be more competitive, but they don't want to face wholesale changes in operational structure - especially the smaller market teams.
6. The NFL League Office
   • Want the Patriots to be hobbled to restore 'competitive balance', believing the equality of outcomes is somehow better than equality of opportunity, and putting their thumb on the scale is a justifiable means of doing so 'for the good of the league', because the are 'more enlightened and well intentioned' than the rabble.
7. The Media
   • Want a **** show so they can shout at each other incessantly, convinced that volume is an indication of coherence, moral authority, and intelligence.
8. The General Public
   • Wants everyone involved to stop talking about balls (ewww) and sciences (double ewww), because it's too complicated to follow.
9. The Politicians
   • Want any opportunity to grandstand and whack the rich (everyone involved, I think!) and expand their influence

What did I forget? Oh, and I tried ranking them in order of what I perceive their actual power ranking would be in their ability to wreak havoc if their desires are unsatisfied

#1

Nothing else matters.

Kraft should realize this.

If he doesn't. He should sell the team.

Owners should have a look at the Green Bay Packers and realize this: the NFL needs fans. The NFL doesn't need owners.

balance is not necessary when you can bag the front office trying to set up your team

the bigger point is that at some point, some other team will be subjected to this and the owners need to consider how they would feel if this was them

take a step back, and ask 'how has the league acted in the name of 'integrity of the game?'

The easiest solution to all those you listed is for Kraft to grow a backbone. Once you have respect, you must fight to keep it. That is what Brady is doing. It is what Kraft must do.

Which one of your points contradict Kraft attacking the NFL full-on? Maybe I missed it.

upstater1 said:

#1

Nothing else matters.

Kraft should realize this.

If he doesn't. He should sell the team.

Owners should have a look at the Green Bay Packers and realize this: the NFL needs fans. The NFL doesn't need owners.

Click to expand...

Its not that simple though.
They will have fans almost no matter what he does, so doing only what is best for the fans is usually not the best strategy.
To use the list above, there are many things he could lose in that list that would hurt him more than 1,000 fans or so.

AndyJohnson said:

Its not that simple though.
They will have fans almost no matter what he does, so doing only what is best for the fans is usually not the best strategy.
To use the list above, there are many things he could lose in that list that would hurt him more than 1,000 fans or so.

Click to expand...

There are franchises all over the league with hated and reviled owners. I've noticed over the years that this never ends well. Many of them leave after screwing things up for a little bit.

The Dolphins owner right now is on a short leash. The Vikings guy is not very well liked.

About the only guy I can think of who has made it through many years, while being despised, is Brown with the Bengals.

Robert Kraft is no Al Davis....he has more connections, is wealthier, and is smarter too. He's easily one of the most powerful owners in the League, and if there's anyone who stands a chance against the NFL, it's him! The only question is whether or not he has the willpower or willingness to carry this battle to the end. I hope he doesn't let this franchise down...so much is at stake

JJC said:

Robert Kraft faces a very difficult balancing act in handling this whole situation. I can count at least 9 distinct constituencies that he must address, some of whom want diametrically opposed outcomes. He has to balance the effects of each action that he takes and decide whether the tradeoff of downside risk with one party is worth the upside gain with another. As a student of complex problem solving and management, I find the whole thing pretty fascinating to watch.

The key stakeholders and my perceptions of their desires are as follows:

1. The Patriots' Fans
   • Want complete exoneration, the picks back, Brady's suspension vacated, an apology from the NFL League HQ, and removal of the bad actors at NFL HQ.
2. The Patriots Coaches & Staff
   • Want to know that their powerful owner will not stand idly by a second time and allow the organization that they work for be railroaded and take the pride they hold in their accomplishments.
3. The Players
   • Want their field general, whom they trust and respect to be protected from slander and debasement by the outsiders, because it undermines and tarnishes their accomplishments too.
4. The Kraft Family (Team Ownership)
   • Want the long term value of their assets to be maximized, which cannot be done if they face a concerted effort to tax them by levying fines and taking draft picks in a kangaroo court.
5. The NFL Owners' Circle
   • Want the public relations messes and the threat of losing their anti-trust exemption to go away. They may be willing to tolerate a certain low level of discord to enable their teams to be more competitive, but they don't want to face wholesale changes in operational structure - especially the smaller market teams.
6. The NFL League Office
   • Want the Patriots to be hobbled to restore 'competitive balance', believing the equality of outcomes is somehow better than equality of opportunity, and putting their thumb on the scale is a justifiable means of doing so 'for the good of the league', because the are 'more enlightened and well intentioned' than the rabble.
7. The Media
   • Want a **** show so they can shout at each other incessantly, convinced that volume is an indication of coherence, moral authority, and intelligence.
8. The General Public
   • Wants everyone involved to stop talking about balls (ewww) and sciences (double ewww), because it's too complicated to follow.
9. The Politicians
   • Want any opportunity to grandstand and whack the rich (everyone involved, I think!) and expand their influence

What did I forget? Oh, and I tried ranking them in order of what I perceive their actual power ranking would be in their ability to wreak havoc if their desires are unsatisfied

Click to expand...

I agree with your analysis. I disagree with you rating at who can wreak the most havoc. The priorities depend on how you evaluate the various groups. From the posts here for the last week, I would think that it the NFL League office and Media who can create the most havoc. The public also matters. Over 70% of the public thinks the SB should be taken away!

If you are asking for how Kraft views the priorities, I think that you get a different order than how a fan views priorities, of course putting himself at the top.

ChoWZa said:

Which one of your points contradict Kraft attacking the NFL full-on? Maybe I missed it.

Click to expand...

I guess we should collect a group of the top 100 from the fans for what attacking the full-on means. I think that there is exactly ZERO chance of Kraft doing what most posters here have suggested. after all, it been over 4 days, and there isn't even a lawsuit.

mgteich said:

I guess we should collect a group of the top 100 from the fans for what attacking the full-on means. I think that there is exactly ZERO chance of Kraft doing what most posters here have suggested. after all, it been over 4 days, and there isn't even a lawsuit.

Click to expand...

Why would you expect a lawsuit filed in 4 days?
Am I the only one who sees today's disembowelment of the Wells report to be Kraft's shot across the bow to Goodell that the gloves are off? The logic for this is that Kraft would rather not go to court, so by showing Goodell what the future will hold, he gives him a chance to bail on Wells, accept that the Patriots have met the standard and remove the sanctions?
You don't do what Kraft did today, then stop.

Not to mention, it makes all the sense in the world for Kraft to let the Brady case play out first.

AndyJohnson said:

Why would you expect a lawsuit filed in 4 days?
Am I the only one who sees today's disembowelment of the Wells report to be Kraft's shot across the bow to Goodell that the gloves are off? The logic for this is that Kraft would rather not go to court, so by showing Goodell what the future will hold, he gives him a chance to bail on Wells, accept that the Patriots have met the standard and remove the sanctions?
You don't do what Kraft did today, then stop.

Not to mention, it makes all the sense in the world for Kraft to let the Brady case play out first.

Click to expand...

I agree, I think this was him putting SOME of his cards on the table showing what he can do. There are some strong defamation points in the Context document. He is basically saying to the other owners "you're move" because he is done dealing with the "League". The owners meetings are next week and I would love to be a fly on the wall in those meetings. Much can be resolved then.

All that being said, I wouldn't mind if he went nuclear on the league. I would love it if he threatened the Antitrust exemption.

AndyJohnson said:

Am I the only one who sees today's disembowelment of the Wells report to be Kraft's shot across the bow to Goodell that the gloves are off? The logic for this is that Kraft would rather not go to court, so by showing Goodell what the future will hold, he gives him a chance to bail on Wells, accept that the Patriots have met the standard and remove the sanctions? You don't do what Kraft did today, then stop.

Click to expand...

Totally agree with you. This is all blocking and tackling. You need to know where all the players are positioned and start moving your pieces in place to force them or lead them to where you want them to be at the moment you strike. They make choices in the process too, but you leave your decision tree open for future adjustment, if they don't follow the path you want. That's what I find fascinating.

There is a slim chance that if Kraft is angry enough, that he has the necessary pieces to walk away from this as THE King maker - or even the King himself. Take away the anti-trust exemption when you own one of the three most valuable franchises in one of the largest markets and you increase your relative wealth and power in the league.

It's a magnificent chess game. I wonder how much poker is involved too - will the NFL offices call Kraft's bluff, or is it a bluff?

BSR said:

I agree, I think this was him putting SOME of his cards on the table showing what he can do. There are some strong defamation points in the Context document. He is basically saying to the other owners "you're move" because he is done dealing with the "League". The owners meetings are next week and I would love to be a fly on the wall in those meetings. Much can be resolved then.

All that being said, I wouldn't mind if he went nuclear on the league. I would love it if he threatened the Antitrust exemption.

Click to expand...

Brady is the one to fear. He can go nuclear on the league, and has the attorney who will beg him to do it. Also, they literally have zero evidence against Brady.
Kessler will turn it into not a trial about Brady's punishment, but about Goodell's entire reign, the personal conduct policy, the gaffes with other suspensions, and put the Anti-Trust exemption cherry on top.

Kraft wants to protect his franchise / family, but he also knows the NFL front office is a cesspool. He has to take this approach and he will have to sue in order to clean it out. As such time, when he has the legal leverage, he will use it to oust Goodell and his lemmings in the NFL front office.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

Robert Kraft is no Al Davis....he has more connections, is wealthier, and is smarter too. He's easily one of the most powerful owners in the League, and if there's anyone who stands a chance against the NFL, it's him! The only question is whether or not he has the willpower or willingness to carry this battle to the end. I hope he doesn't let this franchise down...so much is at stake

Click to expand...

Not saying you are but, but people tend to discredit Al because of his late years but Al was pretty smart at one time before he totally lost his mind in the mid 2000's. Guy is an all time great owner. Have really come to appreciate what the dude did lately after finding out he took on the league multple times.

upstater1 said:

#1

Nothing else matters.

Kraft should realize this.

If he doesn't. He should sell the team.

Owners should have a look at the Green Bay Packers and realize this: the NFL needs fans. The NFL doesn't need owners.

Click to expand...

Could be wrong but I believe Green Bay pretty much has an owner with that being the majority share holder. I don't think they run much differently than any other franchise.

mgteich said:

I guess we should collect a group of the top 100 from the fans for what attacking the full-on means. I think that there is exactly ZERO chance of Kraft doing what most posters here have suggested. after all, it been over 4 days, and there isn't even a lawsuit.

Click to expand...

The reason Kraft will not do anything right now is because he's waiting to see how Goodell handles Brady's appeal. Goodell has Kraft's next move looming over his head, Kraft is waiting to see if he missteps and tries to assign himself or another one of his cronies to handle the appeal. If Kraft acted now, Goodell would have nothing left to fear and take on Brady's appeal himself. That's not to say that Kraft won't sue regardless, but the chess match must be played.

Goodell just tried to royally screw Kraft. He shouldn't be concerned with anything other than what's right for Robert Kraft and the Patriots.

Jim Colclough fan said:

Kraft wants to protect his franchise / family, but he also knows the NFL front office is a cesspool. He has to take this approach and he will have to sue in order to clean it out. As such time, when he has the legal leverage, he will use it to oust Goodell and his lemmings in the NFL front office.

Click to expand...

The NFL and fans need to learn one thing......they are a little slow, but they got it
Now they see that Kraft makes the rules here. He runs this *****. And now they about to bounce