Kraft to speak at 1PM

FirstAndGoal said:

It's very simple. Assuming this ends up in court and not just Roger's court. Kraft becomes a credible witness for the defense. It opens up a line of questioning as to whether the NFL operated in good faith. If Kraft says "no", then his acceptance of guilt comes into question and he hurts his credibility as a witness to Brady. If he says "yes", then he supports the NFL's notion of operating in good faith.

It certainly is important in a court of law how he handles his end of the issue and it 100% affects Brady's ability to defend himself in court.

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I understand it sucks that Kraft rolled over. Now tell me, did he comment on guilt or innocence in the press conference? Didn't catch it all but I believe I heard something to the effect that we believe we did not act improperly.
If memory is correct and he did say that, yea that would be a real awesome move for the NFL lawyers to call Kraft as their witness to have him restate his "I believe we did nothing wrong (so, by extension, the QB did not wrong)". At that point whatever the NFL is paying its legal team is probably too much.

Disgusted. I feel betrayed as I'm sure everyone else here does.

I don't want to work in absolutes here, since declaring myself no longer a fan of the team would be an extreme reaction to today's events. On the other hand, I'm really not in the mood to defend the honor of the team when its own owner refuses to do so, and chooses to protect the same commissioner and fellow owners that openly root for him to fail, over the team and its fans.

I want to be optimistic and say the loss of draft pick won't effect the team, but following that 2008 Draft the Patriots didn't win a playoff game for three consecutive years (no playoffs, then two one-and-dones). Do not underestimate the impact of losing a potential franchise player from that pick...for nothing.

I guess the question I need to answer to myself is, why should I care at this point? I'm going to need some time. Kraft has disappointed me in a way that there is no recovering from.

hambone1818 said:

Sad thing is he called himself a lifelong Patriots fan. Doesn't he realize that every lifelong Patriots fan who still show up to games will be booing him now, that he's completely alienated his entire fanbase?

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His little speech about being a fan first and then being awed by attending the meetings really shows he's in over his head. Awed? Really? Is that what your role is? Shouldn't it be looking out for the interest of your team? If nothing else, think about that $1B asset you own and intend to pass on to your heirs, if you're not going to think of your fan base.

Sadly, it's time for Bob Kraft to turn the team over to a younger more vigorous owner, like his son Jonathan. Either that or cash it in so you can avoid dealing with things you clearly can't deal with.

Would Kraft have accepted the NFL taking 2 First round picks, 3, 4? Where does it end Bob?

"For the good of the league, we forfeit all of our draft picks until 2021."

Come on man!

WOnder how long before the Patriots change all their Social Media art back ...

sc patriot said:

Goodell to Brady, "why should I reverse your suspension when your team owner accepted his penalty and didn't want to appeal?"

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Brady to Goodell "you may be dumb but you might want to recognize Bob Kraft is Bob Kraft, Tom Brady is Tom Brady. You may have rock solid contractual wording to make Bo Kraft collapse like a house of cards, I do not have that contractual limitation. I'll see you at the appeal then at the legal proceeding I will be driving toward. But I cannot talk to you any further Rog. My legal team will be calling you as a witness, and your communications will be subpena'd, so it is improper of you to be talking with me. Unlike some in your office, I feel an obligation to follow proprieties".

How's that for a response?

BoTown said:

Disgusted. I feel betrayed as I'm sure everyone else here does.

I don't want to work in absolutes here, since declaring myself no longer a fan of the team would be an extreme reaction to today's events. On the other hand, I'm really not in the mood to defend the honor of the team when it's own owner refuses to do so, and chooses to protect the same commissioner and fellow owners that openly root for him to fail over the team and its fans.

I want to be optimistic and say the loss of draft pick won't effect the team, but following that 2008 Draft the Patriots didn't win a playoff game for three consecutive years (no playoffs, then two one-and-dones). Do not underestimate the impact of losing a potential franchise player from that pick...for nothing.

I guess the question I need to answer to myself is, why should I care at this point? I'm going to need some time. Kraft has disappointed me in a way that there is no recovering from.

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It's so true, I'm so tired defending this team. I've been a fan since 1975, FORTY ****ing years, and that ****sucking mother ****er Kraft just ripped my heart right out. How DARE he just accept everything after that phony interview with King yesterday. He had to know he was going to take it in the ass the next day, why even give that interview and lie and look like a ****ing moron ?

Bottom line, if he doesn't care enough about his team, defend his team's honor, than why the **** should I ? Unlike him, it doesn't put one penny in my pocket.

I'm feeling conflicted about what I should be rooting for in 2015. While I'm still a huge fan of Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the rest of the Patriots players, I'm feeling nothing but disdain for the owner.

Bottom line is that I'll still be a Patriots fan for now, but if Belichick and Brady leave before Kraft then that might not be the case going forward

TheBostonStraggler said:

I understand it sucks that Kraft rolled over. Now tell me, did he comment on guilt or innocence in the press conference? Didn't catch it all but I believe I heard something to the effect that we believe we did not act improperly.
If memory is correct and he did say that, yea that would be a real awesome move for the NFL lawyers to call Kraft as their witness to have him restate his "I believe we did nothing wrong (so, by extension, the QB did not wrong)". At that point whatever the NFL is paying its legal team is probably too much.

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It goes back to whether Kraft felt the NFL was operating in good faith. That's why I didn't say guilty or innocent.

There's an element to Brady's defense that has to do with whether the NFL operated in good faith. It goes to the credibility of an independent investigation. If Kraft says they did operate in good faith, it weakens Brady's case. If Kraft says the NFL didn't operate in good faith, then I (the NFL lawyers), start hammering away at Kraft's "for the good of the NFL" statement and how he's willing to accept the NFL's punishment "for the good of the league". If that's true, then why would he not accept Brady's statements "for the good of the team"? If the NFL operated in good faith and came to that conclusion, that conclusion was accepted by the organization, then why shouldn't Brady accept the ruling as a result of that "independent" investigation. If I were the NFL, I would certainly call Kraft to the stand. If I were Brady's lawyers, Kraft has now become a potential witness for the NFL that I now have to devise a strategy on...

This case is about the NFL overreaching in a labor dispute. It's not about Brady's guilt or innocence.

Bob Kraft is your typical billionaire. Like his fellow owner, interested in increasing the net value
of his team with the aid of an insensitive, bumbling commissioner. Not interested either in maintaining
the reputation of his team and quarterback and keeping the goodwill of his faithful fans.

Since it has been stated in the past Kraft has almost no recouse people on here were looking for Kraft to sue the nfl and owners? Just like Sterling and David did? Just wondering how far fans expected Kraft to take this.

FirstAndGoal said:

It goes back to whether Kraft felt the NFL was operating in good faith. That's why I didn't say guilty or innocent.

There's an element to Brady's defense that has to do with whether the NFL operated in good faith. It goes to the credibility of an independent investigation. If Kraft says they did operate in good faith, it weakens Brady's case. If Kraft says the NFL didn't operate in good faith, then I (the NFL lawyers), start hammering away at Kraft's "for the good of the NFL" statement and how he's willing to accept the NFL's punishment "for the good of the league". If that's true, then why would he not accept Brady's statements "for the good of the team"? If the NFL operated in good faith and came to that conclusion, that conclusion was accepted by the organization, then why shouldn't Brady accept the ruling as a result of that "independent" investigation. If I were the NFL, I would certainly call Kraft to the stand. If I were Brady's lawyers, Kraft has now become a potential witness for the NFL that I now have to devise a strategy on...

This case is about the NFL overreaching in a labor dispute. It's not about Brady's guilt or innocence.

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The NFLPA appeal is aimed at multiple things with one of them being actual guilt. You need look no further than the signature I have that came directly from the NFLPA filing (that I put on there days ago when the appeal was filed). "If Ted Wells and the NFL believe, as their public comments stated, that the evidence in their report is “direct” and “inculpatory,” then they should be confident enough to present their case before someone who is truly independent".
Are you arguing that is not an appeal of Brady actually being guilty? To me it is rock solid crystal clear that is exactly what is being argued. And, IMHO, the NFLPA will be very active with this too. They have to know that if Goody can find some guilty on such weak evidence, the flood gate is open. Further they recognize that Goody saying he will hear the appeal is a reassertion/future avoidance of the embarrassments he has been handed/NFLPA victories for its members. If Goody is now the appeal hearer the NFLPA knows suspension overturning just became far more unlikely.

This fight for Brady (and the NFLPA) is likely barely started.

Edit: Go read Kraft's PC transcript. Kraft says, basically, that the contract he has with the league means they get to hand out punishment to a team, period. That's the deal the Patriots have with the league. He is crystal clear he does not agree with the finding.
There is nothing he did today that changes Brady's/NFLPA's case one iota.

turkeyneck said:

And, back at NFL HQ, it's tee shirts, hats and champagne showers all around as Kensil, Grigson, Vincent, Wells, etc celebrate their victory.

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I can't ****ing believe that I live in goddam New York City and have been taking the heat and defending this team to colleagues and friends and Kraft leaves all of us who stood up for his Franchise hanging out to dry, most importantly Brady and Belichick. I really hope they both ask to be released from their contracts, unless this was part of a deal to get Brady's suspension lifted.

Hell, I'd love to buy tickets to the Meadowlands to see the new NYJ HC and QB.

TheBostonStraggler said:

The NFLPA appeal is aimed at multiple things with one of them being actual guilt. You need look no further than the signature I have that came directly from the NFLPA filing (that I put on there days ago when the appeal was filed). "If Ted Wells and the NFL believe, as their public comments stated, that the evidence in their report is “direct” and “inculpatory,” then they should be confident enough to present their case before someone who is truly independent".
Are you arguing that is not an appeal of Brady actually being guilty? To me it is rock solid crystal clear that is exactly what is being argued. And, IMHO, the NFLPA will be very active with this too. They have to know that if Goody can find some guilty on such weak evidence, the flood gate is open. Further they recognize that Goody saying he will hear the appeal is a reassertion/future avoidance of the embarrassments he has been handed/NFLPA victories for its members. If Goody is now the appeal hearer the NFLPA knows suspension overturning just became far more unlikely.

This fight for Brady (and the NFLPA) is likely barely started.

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I've said all I'd like to say about this. You don't think Kraft has affected Brady's case at all and I would be upset with him if I were Brady's lawyer...I'm not his lawyer so it doesn't matter. I stand by what I said though. If you weaken part of the case, you weaken the entire case.

Also, what is filed in his NFL appeal, will not be what is filed if he takes it to court. It will be a labor dispute case.

This team feels like Julius Caesar. With all the bastards across the league getting their slashes in, here comes Bob Kraft (Brutus) to drive the final dagger in our heart.

hambone1818 said:

Sad thing is he called himself a lifelong Patriots fan. Doesn't he realize that every lifelong Patriots fan who still show up to games will be booing him now, that he's completely alienated his entire fanbase?

Capitulating on cameraplacementgate was one thing, there was at least a 'smoking gun' and a clear violation there. Caving on this one is spineless and pathetic, and Kraft has officially abandoned his fanbase to appease billionaires and the establishment.

Screw him.

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I hope all of you who have season tickets turn them the **** in, once we are sure that this wasn't part of a deal to have Brady's suspension lifted ("lifted," not "reduced").

FirstAndGoal said:

I've said all I'd like to say about this. You don't think Kraft has affected Brady's case at all and I would be upset with him if I were Brady's lawyer...I'm not his lawyer so it doesn't matter. I stand by what I said though. If you weaken part of the case, you weaken the entire case.

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The logic of that is completely compelling. I'm still holding out a very tiny little bit of hope that this was part of a deal to lift Brady's suspension.

Beethree said:

Cutting a deal to get Brady's suspension removed is the unkindest cut of all. It takes away any chance for Tom to have his day in "court", figuratively or literally. If I were Tom, and if Tom is not culpable, I'd ask for my walking papers if that were the case.

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that's another way of looking at it. yes.

wilmingtonpatsfan said:

Don't going to the game is the best response as a real Pats fan to this debacle.

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no, turning in your season tickets is the best response. Because THAT hits him in his pocketbook. If the fans don't pay, the value of his investment goes down.

TheBostonStraggler said:

Brady to Goodell "you may be dumb but you might want to recognize Bob Kraft is Bob Kraft, Tom Brady is Tom Brady. You may have rock solid contractual wording to make Bo Kraft collapse like a house of cards, I do not have that contractual limitation. I'll see you at the appeal then at the legal proceeding I will be driving toward. But I cannot talk to you any further Rog. My legal team will be calling you as a witness, and your communications will be subpena'd, so it is improper of you to be talking with me. Unlike some in your office, I feel an obligation to follow proprieties".

How's that for a response?

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I think it should go more along the lines of, "Bob, I want to be released from my contract."