EDIT: Schefter Patriots get taken through the back channel by NFL

Chiuba E. Obele said:

Adam Bogdan ‏@PatriotsInform 27s27 seconds ago
Essentially, the NFL is trying to get to numbers where both the #Patriots & the NFL are comfortable, to avoid lawsuits & more embarrassment.

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"...numbers where...the Patriots... are comfortable..."? That would zero, as in zero fine, zero lost draft picks and zero games suspension for Brady. Oh, yeah, and zero days left on Kensil's NFL employment contract.

TomPatriot said:

And Jonathan would be right in this instance.

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I'm all for the "burn it down approach". Robert, however, is now more businessman than fan. If he were more fan than businessman, he'd have only one thing to say:

If Goodell came out and said the Wells report was flawed and inconclusive. Then dropped Brady's suspension entirely, reduced Brady's penalty to a small monetary fine (five figures) exclusively and expressly for "non-cooperation", and dropped the team penalty to a small monetary fine (five figures) and perhaps a late day 3 pick exclusively and expressly for "non-cooperation" and Mcnally and Jazstremski stay banned from employment by the Pats (I don't want those two knuckleheads anywhere near the Pats anyways). I could live with that. Even though I'm convinced the "non-cooperation" was total BS provoked and manufactured by Wells.

Anything more than that and Goodell can go bleep himself.

I don't like this "back channel" BS.Just makes us look guilty of something and somehow in cahoots with The Dope and the league.

Peachhead said:

If Goodell came out and said the Wells report was flawed and inclusive. Then dropped Brady's suspension entirely, reduced Brady's penalty to a small monetary fine (five figures) exclusively and expressly for "non-cooperation", and dropped the team penalty to a small monetary fine (five figures) and perhaps a late day 3 pick exclusively and expressly for "non-cooperation" and I could live with that. Even though I'm convinced the "non-cooperation" was provoked and manufactured by Wells.

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There we go with still being penalized....

"NO!"

This 'negotiation' better have been the NFL coming to Kraft asking if he wanted to compromise and Kraft saying no.

nowayback said:

So godell allows framegate to blow up, doesn't correct mortensons false 2 psi below report, messes up Pats SB week. gives biggest punishment ever to Pats and taints their name( which you cant take back, no matter what, USA besides NE think they cheated and their SB is tainted) . This Sb was supposed to be shut everyone up who said PAts haven't won since they were caught cheating. grigson, kensil irsay got what they wanted. And now he wants to negotiate? GFU. I would assume the other owners have pressured him in this.

counter proposal lets negotiate about spygate !

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Agree completely.
These meetings are going to tell us a lot about the mindset of Robert Kraft.
I'll be shocked if he agrees to anything. Goodell can't deliver what the Patriots would want and survive.

Peachhead said:

If Goodell came out and said the Wells report was flawed and inclusive. Then dropped Brady's suspension entirely, reduced Brady's penalty to a small monetary fine (five figures) exclusively and expressly for "non-cooperation", and dropped the team penalty to a small monetary fine (five figures) and perhaps a late day 3 pick exclusively and expressly for "non-cooperation" and I could live with that. Even though I'm convinced the "non-cooperation" was provoked and manufactured by Wells.

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There was a time when I might have agreed with you. But that time is now past. The league has shown it was in this to hurt the Patriots brand, and Mr. Kraft had better wake up and realize that unless he fights this as a knock-down, drag-out affair that can only end with a complete exoneration of New England, then he isn't the man I thought he was.

Thing is, if the league prevails with this nonsense, then it will be a clear sign to the other 31 teams that the front office can do whatever it wants, to whomever it wants, whenever it wants. Kraft needs to huddle up with the rest of the owners and explain this to them, because otherwise, there'll be a new Frankenstein's Monster to contend with, and things will NOT be pretty for anyone.

Bet Troy Vincent is feeling great right about now. A sacrificial tool with no self- respect.

Gwedd said:

There was a time when I might have agreed with you. But that time is now past. The league has shown it was in this to hurt the Patriots brand, and Mr. Kraft had better wake up and realize that unless he fights this as a knock-down, drag-out affair that can only end with a complete exoneration of New England, then he isn't the man I thought he was.

Thing is, if the league prevails with this nonsense, then it will be a clear sign to the other 31 teams that the front office can do whatever it wants, to whomever it wants, whenever it wants. Kraft needs to huddle up with the rest of the owners and explain this to them, because otherwise, there'll be a new Frankenstein's Monster to contend with, and things will NOT be pretty for anyone.

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Next time the Pats are unlikely to be so clearly in the right as they are now.

I can envision the league leaking this to Schefter saying "yeah Adam we are negotiating " to try to make Kraft appear less powerful, when in reality they are just begging Kraft to stop holding them over the fire.

Ross12 said:

I would be OK with a reduction down to just taking a 5th rounder (same punishment as Atlanta) and a reduced fine. I would hope that Brady's suspension was also reduced or rescinded, but we all know Brady will fight it no matter how long it is and will win, so it doesn't really matter as much, ultimately.

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**** that, that's accepting guilt.

Froob said:

**** that, that's accepting guilt.

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Could be framed around "non-cooperation", and not the deflation nonsense, even though I think the cooperation stuff was crap.

Wouldn't be surprised if Kraft accepts fines. He did say he was willing to accept the punishments the NFL was going to give them before the punishment was released. He was probably expecting some fines but the suspension and loss of draft picks were beyond anything he imagined so he chose to fight.

But he believes Brady is innocent and the evidence does not support any wrong doing. The evidence does support a conspiracy. I would be disappointed if Kraft accepts anything other than a public apology by the NFL.

... who's leaking all this info?!?! I know it's not the Pats... NFL/Godell can't be this stupid... if any negotiations were actually take place, this "new report" would table everything...

Chiuba E. Obele said:

Adam Bogdan ‏@PatriotsInform 27s27 seconds ago
Essentially, the NFL is trying to get to numbers where both the #Patriots & the NFL are comfortable, to avoid lawsuits & more embarrassment.

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That's interesting, makes me a little more hopeful than the Schefter tweet. If the NFL prompted talks then I think they realize they dun F'd up on this one, they're trying to extend the peace pipe and see what they can do to minimize damage.

If I'm Kraft I sit down and respectfully listen to every word. Then I say 'unfortunately, for you, my organization did nothing wrong, we were railroaded by false leaks by NFL officials and had to scramble during Super Bowl week while the team was skewered in the media. We attempted to cooperate with the investigation but it turned out to be far more prosecutorial than independent and rejected all of our statements while ignoring scientific evidence. Despite their best efforts the report could find no evidence of wrongdoing, and even still my team was hammered with penalties far exceeding past precedence. We'll see you in court, here are subpoenas, start preparing your documents now because we'll expect full cooperation. Thanks Rog, nice knowing you'.

I want to see the NFL burn on this one.

Just goes to show the NFL doesn't want anything to do sith Kraft and Brady being pissed off...they know they ****ed up and now are backtracking

Wonder if Goodell is worried that Kraft might have those 23 votes and this would be the exact place to have the vote of no confidence.

And no I don't take any stock in any owners publicly backing Goodell.

NFL knows the Wells report will get demolished in court and the NFL would get embarrassed. They are trying now to save what they can. Kraft has them by the balls so let's see what Kraft does.

You guys are going to be disappointed. I personally hope they accept nothing less than a full retraction of all sanctions and a public apology but it's not going to happen. A million bucks is a lot of money even to Robert Kraft so if Goody removes that piece of the penalty Kraft may suddenly be willing to eat the draft picks.

Brady on the other hand has motivation to fight this to the end. His endorsement deals are on the line and he's gotta be thinking future deals are in jeopardy now too. Not to mention hall of fame consideration and the legacy. If I'm him I don't budge an inch.